WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A COLLEGE STUDENT?

It is your responsibility to identify yourself to DSS and to provide professional documentation of your disability in order to qualify for academic accommodations. Accommodations can be provided only after these conditions are met. The type of documentation will depend upon the nature of the disability.

It is also your responsibility to contact instructors each semester to present the Accommodations Notification Form, which identifies the necessary accommodations for your classes.

You must take the same responsibility for your education as students without disabilities: learn effective time management skills and study habits, maintain required academic levels, and comply with standards of appropriate behavior. In addition, to continue support services, meet with DSS at least a month before each new semester. At that time, you can discuss your responsibilities for attendance, note taking, and test taking.

DO STANDARDS OF APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR APPLY TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES?

Yes. All students are expected to abide by the College rules of conduct. The Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Catalog lists these rules and states that students are "entitled to a learning atmosphere free from discrimination, sexual harassment, or intimidation." Ivy Tech will help a student meet the code of conduct by discussing the behavior, by allowing the student the opportunity to address the
issue(s), and by suggesting resources or strategies to manage the behavior. Students may exercise their right of due process by following the Student Grievance Policy explained in the College Catalog. In addition, the Informal and Formal Grievance Procedures for Accommodations are explained on pages 9-10 in this booklet. The ADA does not require the College to accept threatening and disruptive behavior from college students or employees with disabilities, even if the disability itself may be directly or indirectly responsible. Title III-3.8000 of the ADA states the following:

A public accommodation may exclude an individual with a disability from participation in an activity, if that individual's participation would result in a direct threat to the health or safety of others. The public accommodation must determine that there is a significant risk to others that cannot be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by reasonable modifications to the public accommodation's policies, practices, or procedures or by the provision of appropriate auxiliary aids or services. The determination that a person poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others may not be based on generalizations or stereotypes about the effects of a particular disability; it must be based on an individual assessment that considers the particular activity and the actual abilities and disabilities of the individual.

IS THE PROCESS DIFFERENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL?

Yes. The laws that apply to kindergarten through twelfth grade are different from those applicable to post-secondary institutions. While primary and secondary schools are required to identify and provide remediation to students with disabilities, post-secondary institutions have a different requirement: to provide equal access. Students at the college level must take the responsibility to contact DSS to make their needs known. Accommodations recommended by the College may differ from those provided in high school.

WHEN SHOULD I TAKE THE COLLEGE ASSESSMENT?

You are not required to identify your disability prior to admission to Ivy Tech. If you need accommodations for the assessment, however, you must document these needs with Disabilities Support Services prior to the assessment.

I NEGLECTED TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT MY DISABILITY WHEN I TOOK THE ASSESSMENT. MAY I RETEST?

Yes, you may retest once per semester. If you are requesting accommodations, you must first supply current and sufficient documentation of your disability for DSS evaluation.

WILL EVERY STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY RECEIVE ACCOMMODATIONS ON THE ASSESSMENT?

No. Legally, accommodations must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Some students may need to listen to the assessment because of visual impairment, while others may need extended time because of difficulty with auditory or visual processing. Some students with disabilities will not need testing accommodations. DSS must determine specific accommodations based on documented individual needs.

IS THERE A CHARGE FOR STANDARD DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES?

Not to you, the student. However, some accommodations and services do require funding. You may apply to Vocational Rehabilitation Services for possible support services.

WHAT IF MY REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS ARE DENIED?

Grievance Procedures
The College encourages students to resolve their complaints informally. The informal grievance procedures are designed to accomplish a quick resolution that is most expeditious and effective.

Whenever the informal process does not result in a satisfactory resolution, the College Formal Grievance Procedure is also available.

Informal Grievance Procedure
The student shall initiate the informal process with the student working one-on-one with the Disability Services Officer and must be started within thirty (30) calendar days of the denial of the request. A conference with the student will be scheduled as soon as possible and within 5 working days (Monday - Friday) of notice of the student grievance, at the latest. The intent of these conferences is to ensure an early discussion of the issue, that the issue has been raised in a timely fashion, and that if possible, a mutually acceptable resolution can be reached.

A student who feels that the conference would be futile because of that person's involvement or the concern cannot be resolved, the student should bring the disagreement in writing to the supervisor of Disability Support Services. The conference will be held as soon as possible and at least within 5 working days of notice of the disagreement. Such conferences are to be conducted in proper sequence of supervisors. If the disagreement is not resolved with the disabilities support services officer, the student may elect to request a conference with the department head, or the chief academic officer or chief student affairs officer, as appropriate.

Formal Grievance Procedure
If a student is not satisfied with the results of the informal process, the student may proceed with the formal grievance as described below.

Students and applicants may appeal decisions regarding their requested accommodations, or qualifications as disabled persons. If the decision is not resolved to the student's satisfaction through the informal procedure, the student shall reduce the grievance to writing. The formal grievance must:

• Clearly state the facts giving rise to the disagreement
• Describe the efforts to informally resolve the disagreement
• State the remedy sought by the grievant
• Be signed and dated

Students must file grievances within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days, after the informal grievance process has been exhausted. Students must file a grievance within thirty (30) days of the end of the term in which the incident occurred.

Original copies of the formal written grievance document shall be filed with the Office of Student Affairs. The chief administrative officer shall assign a three-member Accommodations Review Committee to review and hear the grievance. Replies to the grievance will be provided within 45 working days, with the goal of providing an equitable decision for all involved. In individual cases, time for response to appeals may be extended upon written agreement of the parties. The decision of the Committee will be final.

WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME FOR REQUESTING ACCOMMODATIONS?

You must meet with DSS and request general accommodations one month or more prior to enrollment for each academic term. Some requests will take more time. Every effort will be made to provide accommodations in a timely manner, but last-minute requests may not be feasible. Distribute the Accommodations Notification Form each semester, and meet with your instructors at the beginning of each semester to discuss accommodations.

WHERE CAN I OBTAIN DOCUMENTATION OF A DISABILITY?

If you received disability services during high school, you can authorize the school corporation to release a copy of your most recent psychological testing explaining the disability. An IEP provides useful information but is insufficient as documentation. Alternately, you might request a doctor to supply a formal medical statement verifying the disability. In addition, Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) and other agencies may be able to supply needed testing or verification of disability.

DOES IVY TECH PROVIDE ATTENDANT CARE OR TRANSPORTATION?

No. Students are responsible for their own transportation and self-care. Title III-4.2600 of the ADA states the following:

A public accommodation is not required to provide individuals with disabilities with personal or individually prescribed devices, such as wheelchairs, prescription eyeglasses, or hearing aids, or to provide services of a personal nature, such as assistance in eating, toileting, or dressing. . . However, the phrase 'services of a personal nature' is not to be interpreted as referring to minor assistance provided to individuals with disabilities.