Disability Services

The ADA/Disability Services Office at Georgia Northwestern Technical College is committed to working with students to assist with program accessibility and academic accommodations that may be necessary and appropriate due to students’ disabilities.

Students who have a physical or mental impairment, as defined by the Americans Disability Act, which substantially limits one or more major life activities, are eligible for services. For more information visit: http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor62335.

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The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504/The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, provides the foundation for equal access for students with disabilities. Under this law, qualified individuals with disabilities are defined as persons with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include caring for one's self, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks and learning. Some examples of impairments which may substantially limit major life activities, even with the help of medication or aids/devices, are: AIDS, alcoholism, blindness or visual impairment, cancer, deafness or hearing impairment, diabetes, drug addiction, heart disease and mental illness. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 furthers civil rights of persons with disabilities by mandating equal education opportunity. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is directed by these laws to serve students with disabilities.

A person with a disability is any person who:

has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities including walking, talking, seeing, hearing, breathing, learning, and working
has a record of such an impairment
is regarded as having such impairments

Some common disabilities are:

Visual Impairments
Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Orthopedic/Mobility Disorders
Psychiatric/Psychological Disabilities
Specific Learning Disabilities
Acquired Brain Injury

Some accommodations or services include:

Individualized Classroom Accommodation Form
Extended time for class/work projects/test
Preferred seating in classrooms
Permission to audio record classroom lectures
Tutoring Services
Sign language interpreters
Readers
Volunteer note-takers
Magnification software
Other assistive technology
Referral to agencies serving people with disabilities

Student Responsibilities

To be eligible for these services students must:

Self-identify at the ADA/Disability Services office on the appropriate campus.
Participate in an intake interview to determine suitable accommodations.
Provide appropriate documentation of the disability which supports accommodation requests.
Meet all admission’s requirements to be admitted to Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
Meet all requirements to be admitted in the Program of Study of your choice.
Request classroom accommodations each and every quarter.
Understand that other student services (Financial Aid, Admissions, Career etc.) are the responsibility of the student
Adhere to the Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook.

Accommodations are determined on an individual basis, based on documentation provided, and the interview with the student. The intake interview, documentation review, and arrangements for accommodations can be a lengthy process. Students are encouraged to apply for services early to ensure that accommodations will be in place once classes begin.

Grievance Procedures

Please refer to the Student Catalog, 2010-2011 Grievance Procedures for information.

Confidentiality

All disability documentation and information is confidential between the student and Disability Services staff but may be disclosed on need-to-know emergency circumstances.

Who Is Eligible?

Students requesting services must provide official documentation to support the evidence of the disabling, limiting, or impairing conditions. The documentation should describe diagnosis, characteristics of the disability, as well as functional limitations for a college environment. Eligibility determination will be based on the degree (if any) to which the disability will affect a student's program of study and participation.

Accommodation Delivery

The primary form of service delivery will be Accommodation Letters, which will describe recommended accommodations. The student is responsible for requesting services and providing an Accommodation Letter to each faculty member the student is taking a class with each quarter.

Instructors do not supply accommodations to a student who has not followed the procedures of self-identifying, providing appropriate documentation, and providing an Accommodation Letter from the ADA/DS office.

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations must contact the ADA/Disability Services Coordinator and set an appointment to meet with a Disability Services staff member to begin the documentation approval and accommodation process. Please contact the ADA/Disability Services office at the campus location you plan to attend:

Sheila Parker - Floyd Campus (Rome), Gordon Campus (Calhoun), and Polk Campus (Rockmart)

Dorenda McConnell - Walker Campus (Rock Spring)