Services for Students with Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states:
"No otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity."
"Otherwise qualified" in the ADA means that only those people who are able to meet the technical and academic qualifications for entry into a school, program or activity are protected by the ADA. This means that accommodations which are a "fundamental alteration" of a program or which would impose an undue financial or administrative burden are not required.
The college has no responsibility for identification and evaluation of students with disabilities. If an evaluation is needed, the expense is the student's responsibility.
Downloadable documents:
- Guidelines for Documentation of Psychological Disability
- Guidelines for Documentation of Medical Disability
- Guidelines for Documentation of Specific Learning Disability
- WCC Request for Accommodation (Form 1A)
- WCC Student Intake and Information
Procedure for Requesting Reasonable Accommodations
To initiate the request for accommodations the student must:
- Meet the admission requirements: application for admission; transcripts; and placement testing. Alternate placement testing format must be arranged in advance.
- Self-identify in Student Services that he or she has a disability 90 days prior to enrollment.
- Arrange an appointment with disability services counselor in Student Services to determine if he or she qualifies for reasonable accommodations.
- Provide appropriate documentation (see the guidelines which follow) of the disability.
- Request specific accommodation(s) 90 days in advance of the first day of class.
- Discuss the disability with his or her academic advisor and instructors and provide them with a copy of the request for accommodations.
Guidelines for Documentation of Disabilities
Students seeking academic accommodations are required to submit documentation verifying eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
All documentation is confidential and is not considered a part of the academic transcript. The following guidelines are provided in the interest of identifying evaluation reports appropriate to document eligibility.
- Documentation must be current (within three years) and comprehensive.
- Reports must contain the names, titles, and license information of the evaluator(s), and the dates of evaluation(s).
- Reports must be submitted on professional letterhead. Prescription pads and copies of letterhead are not acceptable.
- Reports should contain recommendations for reasonable accommodations suitable to a post secondary academic setting. Specific suggestions to best assist the identified student are also very helpful.
WCC's Assistive Technology
WCC offers these programs to assist students with disabilities:
- JAWS for Windows – screen reader that works with a PC to provide access to software applications and the Internet
- Zoom Text – magnifies all text and graphics in computer applications
- Dragon Naturally Speaking – allows computer access and use by voice
- Track-ball mouse – Large mouse that is easier to manipulate than standard mouse
- CCTV – magnifies hard copy – Primary users: individuals with low or compromised vision
- Spell Checkers – provides auditory feedback with comprehensive dictionary
- Cassette Tape Recorders – records auditory information mobility issues
Other assistive technology requests will be reviewed on an individual basis and may be the responsibility of the student.
American with Disabilities Act Complaint Procedure
Wytheville Community College has adopted an internal procedure which provides for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Americans with Disabilities Act states, in part, that "no otherwise qualified disabled individual shall, solely by reason of such disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits, of, or be subjected to discrimination" in programs or activities sponsored by a public entity.
Complaints should be addressed to the Dean of Student Services, who has been designated to coordinate disability services for students.
- A complaint should be filed in writing, contain the name and address of the person filing it, and briefly describe the alleged violation of the regulations.
- A complaint should be filed within 30 calendar days after the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation.
- An investigation, as may be appropriate, shall follow the filing of a complaint. The investigation shall be informal but thorough and afford all interested persons and their representatives, if any, an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint.
- A written determination as to the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, shall be issued and forwarded to the complainant no later than 10 calendar days after its filing.
- The complainant can request a reconsideration of the case in instances of dissatisfaction with the resolution. The request for reconsideration should be made to the Dean of Student Services within 10 calendar days.
- The ADA coordinator shall maintain the files and records relating to the complaints filed.
- The right of a person to a prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint filed hereunder shall not be impaired by nor shall the use of this procedure be a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies.
Other remedies include the filing of an ADA complaint with the federal EEOC, or other responsible federal agency.