Student Affairs

    Board of Trustees Policy

    SUBJECT:

    Services for Students with Disabilities

    		 NUMBER:
    4.3
    DATE:
    January 2004
    SUPERSEDES:
     

    Purpose

    Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) welcomes qualified students with disabilities and endorses the principles of nondiscrimination and reasonable accommodation as described in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The College's policies and procedures for serving and accommodating students with disabilities are designed to ensure equal access to its educational programs, services, and activities. Students, faculty, and staff are required to utilize these policies and procedures to request, authorize, and implement reasonable accommodations.

    Policy

    Eligibility for Services and Accommodations

    To be eligible for services and reasonable accommodations, a student must meet the following criteria:

    • Be a person with a disability as defined by 504/ADA

      A person with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity (for example, walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, caring for oneself, and learning). A substantial limitation exists if the manner, duration, or condition under which the activity is performed is significantly limited compared to most people. With respect to post-secondary education, a qualified person with a disability is one who, with or without accommodation, meets the standards for admission to or participation in an educational program, service, or activity. (Adapted from Subpart E: The Impact of Section 504 on Postsecondary Education, Association of Higher Education and Disability.)

    • Submit appropriate documentation of a disability that supports the need for services and accommodations (see documentation requirements) to:

      Director of Services for Students with Disabilities, Central Campus Counseling Center, College Hall, (215) 641-6575 or 6577, (215) 641-6574 TTY, (215) 619-7183 FAX; or

      Coordinator of Disability Services, West Campus Student Success Center (W-152), (610) 718-1853 Voice/TTY; (610) 718-1837 FAX.

    • Contact the Director or Coordinator to request accommodations in a timely manner. Information about accessing services and accommodations will be included in all appropriate publications and communications to students and faculty, including the College’s catalog and web site, student and faculty handbooks, and admissions and welcome back letters. The College will make every effort to implement reasonable accommodations whenever they are requested. However, accommodations will not be implemented retroactively.

    Disability Documentation

    In general, all documentation should be typed on letterhead stationary (physician’s prescription pad notes are not acceptable) and should include the following information:

    • a clearly stated diagnosis of a disability
    • the student’s functional limitations in an academic environment
    • a statement that the disability is a substantial limitation to a basic life process (such as hearing, seeing, speaking, learning, etc.)
    • the signature, printed name, title, and professional credentials of the evaluator
    • the date of evaluation

    Learning Disability Documentation

    A psycho-educational evaluation by a licensed psychologist or an Evaluation Report by a school district within three years of enrollment date at MCCC, which includes:

    • a clearly stated diagnosis of a learning disability
    • a statement that the learning disability is a substantial limitation to learning
    • a description of strengths and weaknesses (functional limitations)
    • all test and subtest scores (scaled, standard, and percentile) from a cognitive evaluation (WAIS-III) completed within three years of enrollment at MCCC
    • all test and subtest scores (grade equivalent, standard and percentile) from recent reading (decoding and comprehension), math (computation and application), spelling, and written language achievement tests (Woodcock-Johnson III, WIAT, or other appropriately normed tests) completed within three years of enrollment at MCCC
    • recommendations for accommodations appropriate for college students with learning disabilities, based on the student’s functional limitations in an academic environment

    Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) Documentation

    An evaluation by a psychiatrist, neurologist, licensed psychologist, or an Evaluation Report by a school district within three years of enrollment date at MCCC, which includes:

    • a clearly stated diagnosis of ADD/ADHD and the last contact with the student
    • a statement that the ADD/ADHD is a substantial limitation to learning
    • a description of the symptoms which meet the criteria for the diagnosis, instruments/procedures used to make the diagnosis (including all scores from cognitive and academic tests), and current medications, including dosages and frequencies
    • recommendations for accommodations appropriate for college students with ADD/ADHD, based on the student’s functional limitations in an academic environment

    Psychiatric, Neurologic, or Medical Disability Documentation

    An evaluation by a medical doctor, psychiatrist, or licensed psychologist, within three years of enrollment date at MCCC that includes:

    • a clearly stated diagnosis (DSM-IV diagnosis if applicable) and description of the disability
    • a statement that the disability is a substantial limitation to learning or other basic life process
    • the functional limitations in an academic environment as well as other settings
    • relevant information regarding current treatment and medications
    • recommendations for accommodations appropriate for college students based on student’s functional limitations

    Mobility, Visual, and Hearing Impairments

    Documentation may be required from a qualified professional, depending on the disability and accommodations requested. See general documentation requirements on previous page.

    Disclosure and Confidentiality

    Student disclosure of a disability is voluntary. MCCC considers disability-related information as confidential material, and it will not become a part of a student’s academic record at the College. This information will be released only under the following conditions:

    • if required by law
    • with the student’s written consent
    • on a need-to-know basis

    Appealing Accommodations Decisions

    Students who follow the College’s procedures for requesting accommodations and believe the Director, the Coordinator, or a professor has denied them a reasonable accommodation may appeal the denial. Appeals should be made in writing using an accommodation appeals form within ten (10) workdays of the disputed decision to ensure a timely resolution.