OVERVIEW OF DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) Location: Building 111, Room 207 Phone Number: 254-526-1195

ADA’s Definition of a Disability The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions

Common Eligible Disabilities ADD or ADHD Dyslexia or other reading disorders Various learning disabilities Autism or Asperger's Disorder Depression Anxiety Hearing impairment Visual impairment TBI (traumatic brain injury) PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Cancer and other medical/health conditions

Student Responsibilities as Outlined by Postsecondary Disability Laws Colleges are not responsible for identifying or seeking our students with disabilities as students are responsible for self-identifying his/her disability to the college’s disability service if accommodations are needed/wanted by the student Students are responsible for obtaining their own evaluations and responsible for any related evaluation expenses (IEP’s, VA Ratings, Treatment Progress Notes are not considered sufficient documentation of a disability for college level courses) Students are responsible for arranging accommodations with the disability office every semester

Documentation Requirements for College Accommodations Documentation must be recent (less than 3 years old) Documentation must be typed on an official letterhead with a signature and license number of the evaluator who is qualified/trained/licensed to perform valid testing to support his/her diagnosis within the specific area for which you will be identifying a disability Documentation must clearly identify a specific diagnosis(es) with all appropriate diagnostic codes (i.e. DSM, ICD, and/or ICF codes) Documentation must contain a list of all tests and/or exams that were conducted and used to determine the specific diagnosis/disability; Documentation must contain a summary/explanation of all test/exam results/findings Documentation must contain a statement explaining the current impact the student’s disability/diagnosis has in an educational setting and overall academic performance; Documentation must also contain recommended learning and/or classroom accommodations in accordance with the diagnosis/disability along with explanation/rationale of why the recommended accommodations are needed and related to the documented disability

Common Accommodations for College Courses Extended testing time and/or separate testing area (DSS students test at the DSS Testing Office – students are required to schedule their tests with the DSS Test Proctor at least 3 business days before the test date) Test reader and/or test scribe Preferential seating Tape recorders Books in alternative format Scanner pens Language master Note takers and/or copies of class notes Sign language interpreter *Approved accommodations are determined by the student’s specific disability and medical documentation

How to Request Accommodations Student must self-identify to DSS & complete the DSS Student Intake e-Form Students may request accommodations at any time, but DSS recommends student require accommodations as soon as registration has been completed because accommodations are NOT retroactive Student must also submit required documentation to substantiate his/her disability and the need for academic accommodations Students are responsible for following up with the DSS office once they have completed the student intake e-form and submitted the required medical documentation Once the student has completed the required DSS Student Intake e-Form, has had his/her required medical documentation reviewed/approved by a DSS Coordinator, and registered for classes, the student is then required to complete and submit the Online Accommodation Request Form found on the DSS website to his/her assigned DSS Coordinator Students are responsible for submitting the Online Accommodation Request Form found on the DSS website EVERY semester the student wants accommodations

Accommodation Forms Accommodation Forms are emailed to the student and course instructors after the student has completed the Online Request Form (DSS Coordinators email these forms) Accommodations begin the day the instructor receives the student’s Accommodation Form from the student’s DSS Coordinator Students are responsible for discussing approved accommodations with their course instructors and are responsible for reporting any issues with their accommodations to their DSS Coordinator *If an instructor has NOT received an Accommodation Form directly from a DSS Coordinator, that means the student does not have approved accommodations from DSS or the student did not request accommodations from DSS.

Disability Laws: Providing Accommodations for College Level Courses In providing an academic adjustment, postsecondary schools are not required to lower or substantially modify essential requirements. For example, although your school may be required to provide extended testing time, it is not required to change the substantive content of the test. Postsecondary schools do not have to make adjustments that would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program, or activity, or that would result in an undue financial or administrative burden. Postsecondary school do not have to provide transportation, personal attendants, individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study, or other devices or services of a personal nature, such as tutoring and typing (CTC does offering tutoring services for college courses at the Academic Studio for all students).

DSS Website Please visit our website www.ctcd.edu/disability-support for additional information. The following topics can be found on our website: Student and faculty FAQ sections Documentation requirements How to request accommodations Student responsibilities DSS testing policies TSI testing accommodations Housing accommodations Pregnancy accommodations Service animal policies DSS Student Procedures Manual/Handbook DSS Faculty Handbook