AIDES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

SERVICE ANIMALS

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines services animals as “.any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to intruders or sound, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.

The College reserves the right to ask for verification of the training the service animal has had and a description of the services being performed.  The College reserves the right to ask that the service animal receive additional training or be removed if does not fit the ADA description or if it has become disruptive.  Disruptive behavior includes barking, jumping, growling, and urinating or defecating indoors.  Such behaviors indicate that the service animal has not been successfully trained to function in public settings. 

The service animal must be in good health, licensed, and leashed on campus. If the animal is in ill health, the owner may be asked to remove it from the College.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SERVICE ANIMALS

• Speak first to the person
• Do not pet a service animal without asking permission, the animal is working
• Do not feed a service animal
• Do not make noises or startle a service animal
• Do not be offended if the person does not want to talk about the service animal and the assistance it provides.

NOTE TAKER OR COPY OF NOTES

A note taker or copy of notes is an accommodation that may be appropriate for students with hearing impairments, certain learning disabilities, and certain physical disabilities.  The student and the Special Services Coordinator will discuss this accommodation.   Note takers volunteer to take notes at Herkimer County Community College.

• Students are asked to attend at least one class to determine the need for a note taker or copy of notes.  Some classes are hands-on, or notes may be available online or on Powerpoint.
• Students are asked to identify a peer who could serve as a note taker.  However, students with a disability are not required to disclose a disability and may choose not to ask a prospective note taker for assistance.

• If the student with a disability cannot identify a peer for the purpose of note taking, the Coordinator of Special Services will ask the professor for his/her input regarding a note taker.
• Students are expected to attend class regularly.  Students are also expected to take their own notes (as able), and the note taker’s notes supplement the notes of the student with a disability.

PERSONAL AIDES AND SERVICES

Personal aides and services, such as help with bathing, or a reader for personal use, are not provided by postsecondary institutions. 

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

If a question arises about your disability and an academic adjustment, conflict resolution should first occur with a dialog between the student, the professor, and the Coordinator of Special Services.  If a satisfactory solution cannot be found then Dr. Matt Hawes, the Dean of Students and the 504 Coordinator, is contacted.

SELF-ADVOCACY

Students at the postsecondary level are considered to be adults.  You will need to be able to speak for yourself.  You need to:

• Understand your disability

• Keep copies of your disability-related documentation

• Understand your disability-related documentation

• Be able to explain what accommodations have worked for you in the past

• Know what learning style(s) work for you

CAMPUS SAFETY

Campus safety is responsible for ensuring the safety of HCCC’s students, faculty, staff and visitors.  In case of a weather emergency or other emergency, those who may have special needs are requested to contact Mr. Michael Lemm, Director of Campus Safety, to discuss these needs before any emergency may exist.  The Campus Safety number is (315) 866-0300 Ext. 8276 or 1-888-464-4222 Ext. 8276.