• A disability is defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as a “mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities.” Learning is an example of a major life activity. If you have a mental or physical condition, a history of such a condition, or a condition which may be considered by others as substantially limiting, you may have a legally defined disability.

Q2.    To receive accommodations or support services, what documents must I submit?

Submit to the SPO a hard copy of the test/assessments documenting your disability. In addition, you must make sure that the appropriate licensed clinician includes:

• Current (assessed 3 years ago or less) diagnostic statement/assessment identifying the disability (hard copy of the assessment or test).
• Date of the most current diagnosis and evaluation.
• Description of the diagnostic test(s), methods, and/or criteria used. (Include a COPY of the test/diagnostic assessment.)
• Description/narrative interpretation/result(s) of the assessment/test(s) given and the current functional impact.
• Current treatment plan, medications, assistive devices, services prescribed (past and present).
• A description of the expected progression or stability over the next 3 years, and recommended higher education support services.
• Credentials (licensure and qualifications to diagnose) of the diagnosing professional on letterhead stationery.

• The (SPO) provides support services and accommodations to students with documented disabilities. The College recognizes its responsibility under the American with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to provide equal access to education for students with disabilities. Support services are available to the hearing impaired, learning disabled, visually impaired, and students with other documented disabilities. All information documenting the disability must be filed with the SPO at least 30 days prior to beginning classes at Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC).

• The SPO serves any student who requires special accommodations based on his or her documented disability. The office is located in the Student Center Room 143, and is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Summer hours vary.

Q4.     What are the responsibilities and rights of a student with a disability if he or she would like to receive accommodations?

• A student with a disability is responsible for requesting accommodations through the SPO, Tony Rand Student Center, Room 143. A student with a disability is also responsible for providing acceptable documentation of his or her disability.
• Students with disabilities have the right to equal access to courses, programs, activities, services, and facilities offered at FTCC. Students are also entitled to reasonable accommodations.
• All information about the student’s disability is confidential. Students have the responsibility to provide acceptable documentation of disabilities and to register with the SPO if they would like to receive accommodations. If students deem it necessary to receive accommodations for a particular class, students have the responsibility to deliver/request that the accommodations letter verifying the approved accommodation(s) be forwarded to the instructor and to discuss how their educational needs can be met.

• Reasonable accommodations/adjustments create an equal access to education, as long as they do not require a substantial change in an essential element of the curriculum. This is determined by the institution. Such modifications may include an adjustment in the amount of time, a course substitution of degree requirements, and the adaptation of the manner in which specific courses are conducted.

• There is a need to anticipate students’ individualized needs. The actual modifications may require preparation such as modifying textbooks;  rescheduling classes to an accessible location; early enrollment options for students with disabilities to allow time to arrange accommodations; allowing service animals in the classroom; providing students with disabilities with a syllabus prior to the beginning of class; clearly communicating course requirements, assignments, and due dates.

• An instructor has the right to confirm a student’s request for accommodations and to ask for clarification about a specific accommodation with the SPO. Instructors do not have the right to refuse to provide an accommodation or to review a student’s documentation nor diagnostic data. Instructors have a responsibility to work with the SPO in providing reasonable accommodations, keeping all records and communications with students confidential, and referring students to SPO who requests accommodations.

• A student with a disability who is disruptive in class should be treated as an instructor would treat any student who is disruptive in class. If an instructor feels that there is a medical reason for the student’s behavior, the instructor can discuss this with the Special Populations Counselor to determine if there is a solution to the problem.

• A school may not discriminate on the basis of disability. It must ensure that the programs it offers, including extracurricular activities, are accessible to students with disabilities. Postsecondary schools can do this in a number of ways: by providing architectural access, providing aids and services necessary for effective communication, and by modifying policies, practices and procedures.

• Qualified interpreters, assistive listening systems, captioning, TTYs, qualified readers, audio recordings, taped texts, Braille materials, large print materials, materials on computer disk, and adaptive computer terminals are examples of auxiliary aids and appropriate services

Q10.   Are students with disabilities required to disclose their disability?

• If a student does not desire accommodations, he/she has the right not to disclose disability information. Students with appropriate documentation to receive support services/accommodations must submit a request for accommodations 30 days prior to classes. Each semester re-submit a course schedule to reactivate the accommodation requests, and deliver the “Special Populations Request for Accommodations Process Form” to his/her instructor(s). A student may decide that he/she will not submit the accommodation form to the instructor. The instructor accommodates the student ONLY when the form is submitted. NOTE: Accommodations and support services are not retroactive.

“Serving a diverse population”