Services for Students with Disabilities

HERKIMER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

STUDENT HANDBOOK

SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

FALL 2007

Welcome to Herkimer County Community College. The Services for Students with Disabilities office (SSD) is located on the first floor of the Library Building. The SSD office provides accommodations and services for students with disabilities. Tutoring is available through the Academic Support Center.

Going to college is a major transition and there are many considerations. You may be leaving home for the first time and there are more choices and freedoms but there are also more responsibilities.  Here is a good site that contains a lot of information. It is the Student Advocacy Handbook for High School Juniors and Seniors Transitioning to College.

ADMISSION TO HCCC

HCCC does not have an alternative admission process for students with disabilities.

PLACEMENT TEST

• Students who plan to attend on a full-time basis are required to take a placement test.
• To request alternative testing accommodations for the placement test, call the SSD office at 866-0300 Ext. 8331.  Once you have spoken to the SSD Office, you will then reserve your placement test date by calling 866-0300 Ext. 8878.
• Students must send a copy of their IEP/504 Plan and psychoeducational evaluation and/or other pertinent medical information to the College at least thirty days in advance of their test day.  Please note that an IEP or 504 Plan alone is insufficient documentation at the postsecondary level but may be included as part of a more comprehensive assessment battery.  You have to request that your school sends this information; it is not automatically sent to HCCC.  Request copies of your documentation while you are enrolled in high school; documentation may be difficult to get from your high school in the summer because of staff vacations.   

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Students with disabilities at Herkimer County Community College have the right to:

• An equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from courses, programs, services and activities offered at the College. 
• Reasonable and appropriate accommodations, and academic adjustments in an effort to diminish the effect of the disability on academic functioning.
• Self-determine who will receive student-released disability-related materials and information within and outside the College.

Students with disabilities at Herkimer County Community College have the responsibility to:

• Meet the qualifications and essential technical, academic and institutional standards of the College.
• Self-identify as an individual with a disability, and if requesting accommodations must seek information, counsel, and assistance as necessary in a timely manner.
• Provide appropriate documentation in a timely manner from an appropriate professional source that verifies the nature of the disability, the functional limitations of the disability, and the need for specific accommodations
• Adhere to College procedures for obtaining reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services,

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF HERKIMER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Herkimer County Community College has the right to:

• Identify and establish the abilities, skills, knowledge and establish essential functions that are fundamental to its academic programs and courses, and to evaluate a student’s performance on this basis.  Fundamental programs and course objectives are not subject to accommodation.
• Request and receive, through the SSD office, current documentation that supports requests for accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services.
• Deny a request for an accommodation, and/or auxiliary aids and services if the documentation demonstrates that the request is not supported.
• Deny a request for an accommodation and/or auxiliary aids and services if the student does not provide appropriate documentation.
• Select from equally effective academic accommodations and/or auxiliary aids and services.
• Refuse an unreasonable academic accommodation, adjustment, and/or auxiliary aid and/or service that imposes a fundamental alteration of a program or activity of the College.

Herkimer County Community College has the responsibility to:

• Ensure that College courses, programs, services, and activities, when viewed in their entirety, are available in the most integrated and appropriate settings.
• Provide information to students with disabilities in accessible formats when requested.
• Evaluate students on their abilities, not their disabilities.
• Provide reasonable, appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services for students with disabilities.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of records and communication except where disclosure is required by law or is authorized by the student.

ADDITIONAL TOPICS, INFORMATION

ASTHMA

Please do not wear perfume, aftershave, etc. in the SSD office.  There is a person with asthma who works in the office and there are students registered with the SSD office who have asthma.   Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects millions of people in the US.

ATTENDANCE

It is expected that students with or without disabilities consider their academic responsibilities and attend class regularly.   Attendance may be fundamental to course objectives.  Please refer to your class syllabus and the HCCC Student Code of Conduct.

CELL PHONES

• Are not to be used in classrooms,  are not to ring in the classroom,  also check your class syllabus for possible further information
• Are not to be used in the SSD, are not to ring in the SSD. 
• Are not to be used in the hallway outside the SSD
• Are not to be used in the Academic Support Center
• Will be collected by the test proctor prior to testing, for the duration of any test administered in the SSD.
• Conversations and ringing phone impact those with and without disabilities

• Please refer to your class syllabus and the HCCC Student Code of Conduct.

DIVERSITY

• There are students with many different disabilities on campus and there are students from many different parts of New York, the US, and the world.  Please appreciate our diverse student body.

NOTE TAKERS

A note taker is an accommodation often necessary for students with learning/attention deficits, and certain physical impairments.  Students with disabilities are expected to take their own notes in class, as they are able, and notes from note takers serve to supplement these notes.   Meet with the Special Services Coordinator to discuss this accommodation.

NOTE TAKING SKILLS  

Make an appointment with a tutor in the Academic Support Center, also see “Useful Websites” below.

PARENTS 

Students at the postsecondary level are considered to be adults and are learning how to be independent for the next stage in their lives.  The parental role changes to become more of a mentor or guide for their student.  Go to http://www.ncset.org/topics/sdpse/default.asp?topic=7  for an article on self-determination for students.

TIME MANAGEMENT

Make an appointment with a tutor in the Academic Support Center, see “Useful Websites” below

WHAT IS A SYLLABUS?

• A syllabus is a document that each instructor will hand out during the first week of class.  It is very important that you read, understand, and keep the syllabus and refer to it during the semester. 
• May contain a calendar of events including due dates for assignments, tests, etc. (Dates may be subject to change, not all tests, quizzes may be included)
• Describes the course content, the grading policy, contains classroom rules
• Lists the instructor’s office hours and contact information

WHAT IS VESID?

Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) is an office within the New York State Education Department that serves individuals with disabilities.  Certain services may be available if you are determined to be eligible.  Visit VESID’s site at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/

Those who are legally blind are served by the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.   Go to http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main

THINGS I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME ABOUT COLLEGE:

• Know yourself.  You probably know what your disability is, be able to explain it and know what modifications have worked for you in the past.
• Know your abilities.  Concentrate on your strengths.
• Go to the Services for Students with Disabilities office early in the semester to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
• Use campus resources such as the Academic Support Center, or the Counseling Center
• Read the class syllabus, keep the syllabus, and refer to the syllabus.
• Go to class. 
• Make friends on campus.  Socialize.  There are lots of programs, activities, and movies available to you. 
• Study.  College is your job.  If you already do have a job, then you will have to find a balance between work and college.

• Know who your advisor is. 
• Know the names of your professors and refer to the class syllabus for office hours.
• Work hard now.  It will pay off later.

THINGS I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME ABOUT LIFE AFTER COLLEGE:

• If you have never had a job, volunteer so that you can start a work record.  Check with Career Counseling at HCCC for job fairs on campus.
• Talk to your guidance counselor, family, friends, etc. about the work world, network.
• Talk with your professors about their work experiences.
• If you are going to transfer to another college, see the Transfer Counselor early.

REFERENCES

            Consumer Law Page.  Home Page. 14 July 2004

                        http://consumerlawpage.com/brochure/disab.shtml.

            “Definition of a Disability.”  Whatsada. 15 July 2004

                        http://www.adata.org/whatsad-definition.html.