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Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana-Central Indiana is committed to providing the opportunity for all qualified individuals to participate in the academic process. Students with documented disabilities requiring support to access academic activities are encouraged to seek assistance from Disability Support Services (DSS), at 317-921-4982 if attending the North Meridian Campus, at 317-917-5975 if attending the Fairbanks Center at the Lawrence Campus, or by email at r8-dss@lists.ivytech.edu
Registration Process
Registration with DSS is a separate process from applying for admission to Ivy Tech Community College. The following steps will be followed when registering with DSS:
• Student makes an appointment to meet with a DSS counselor (r8-dss@lists.ivytech.edu)
• Student completes a DSS Intake Request Form with DSS counselor.
• Student and counselor discuss eligibility under Learning, Psychological, Physical/Medical, ADHD, Vision, and Hearing Documentation Guidelines and discuss accommodation process.
• Student provides documentation of disability according to DSS guidelines. The documentation forms should be presented to the student’s physician/ psychologist / psychiatrist for completion. Completed forms are to be returned to DSS in a sealed envelope or sent by fax.
• Documentation will be reviewed and if determined eligible, student will be required to pick up an accommodation packet to be presented to his/her instructor. DSS will send an email notification to the students Ivy Tech email account (Online Technology Help) acknowledging eligibility status. Prospective students that do not yet have an Ivy Tech email account will be notified via paper letter sent to their home address.
• Once eligibility is determined, students need only meet with their DSS counselor to complete their Accommodation Request Form and turn in their Note taker Stipend Request Form, and/or Audio License Agreement Form each semester.
Academic Advising & Supportive Counseling
Disability Support Services seeks to enhance access to Ivy Tech-Central Indiana programs, as well as to support completion of an educational goal. To this end, counselors support students with disabilities in many ways, including but not limited to:
• Offer pre-admissions information concerning services and accommodations that are available to enrolled students.
• Scheduling and registration advice
• Certify eligibility for services
• Determine reasonable accommodations
• Refer students to appropriate services, such as the Tutoring Labs, Vocational Rehabilitation, Counseling services, diagnostic testing, etc.
Classroom Supports & Accommodations
To reduce the impact of a disability on academic functioning, students may receive accommodations appropriate to their disability, such as:
• Testing accommodations (testing in a distraction-reduced environment, extra time, etc.)
• Visual aids (magnifying software, CCTV, etc.)
• Auditory aids (screen reading software, audio books, etc.)
• Note taking assistance
• Interpreter services for students who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired
Faculty Consultation
DSS staff work with faculty to help them understand individual student needs and how to address those needs without compromising academic integrity. Faculty are encouraged to make all students aware of the process by which they may request an accommodation. For faculty questions or concerns, please call 317-921-4982 at the North Meridian Center, 317-917-5974 at the Fairbanks Center, Lawrence Campus or email us at r8-dss@lists.ivytech.edu.
Legal Protections
Legal protections, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), require that academic adjustments or reasonable accommodations be made available to eliminate discrimination based on disability. Things to keep in mind about these laws:
• Accommodations are determined based on the impact of a particular student’s disability on their functioning, both academic and otherwise. These determinations are made on an individual basis after careful review of the student’s request and the medical documentation provided.
• While academic adjustments may be necessary to accommodate a student’s needs, it is important that faculty and staff avoid significantly altering the fundamental nature of a service, program or activity to meet a disability request.
• Accommodation requests may be made based on the presence of any condition which “substantially limits one or more major life activities”.
• Neither the ADA nor Section 504 identifies specific disabilities protected under the law, but protected conditions may include Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Learning Disabilities, Psychiatric Disabilities, Visual Impairments, and other conditions.
Disability Support Services Resources and Links
• Learning Disability Testing Information
• Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know your Rights and Responsibilities
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html
• GED Classes and Testing Information
http://www.adultedu.ips.k12.in.us/default.aspx
• Central Indiana Human Services Database