DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) Preparing for Postsecondary Education

Disability Laws in Postsecondary Education Colleges are not required to seek out or identify students with disabilities If a student taking college courses would like to receive accommodations for his/her disability, the student must self-identify to DSS as having a qualifying disability, student must provide appropriate medical documentation in accordance with postsecondary federal disability laws/guidelines, and complete the DSS intake e-forms Unlike secondary school, evaluations and obtaining required documentation of disability (and any related expenses) is the student’s responsibility when taking college level courses (postsecondary education)

Disability Laws in Postsecondary Education In accordance with postsecondary federal disability laws, IEPs and ARDs are considered INSUFFICIENT DOCUMENTATION at the college level and cannot be used as documentation to substantiate a disability. Colleges do NOT utilize, follow, or create IEPs for college level courses. In providing an academic accommodation, colleges 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 content of the test. Colleges 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.

Disability Laws: Documentation Requirements Documentation must be recent (less than 5 years old) and completed by a licensed professional who is qualified/trained to perform valid testing to support the diagnosis/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/used to determine the specific diagnosis/disability and must contain summary of results/findings Documentation must contain a statement explaining the current impact the student’s disability/diagnosis has on the student’s overall academic performance Documentation must also contain recommended accommodations and rationale for the recommended accommodations

Disability Laws: Providing Accommodations for College Courses Appropriate/reasonable classroom accommodations will be approved based on the student’s specific disability and medical documentation. Common accommodations: extended testing time separate testing area tape recorder, language master, and/or scanner pen note taker and/or sign language interpreter books in alternative format (electronic copy of book) Students are responsible for requesting accommodations through his/her assigned DSS Coordinator EVERY semester accommodations are needed (accommodations are NOT retroactive)

DSS Office & Website Information: Location: Building 111, Room 207 Telephone Number: 254-526-1195 Website: www.ctcd.edu/disability-support