DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES

Transcription

1 DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES Catalog Subtitle BECAUSE A DISABILITY ISN T ALWAYS A VISIBILITY Disability Support Services Updated August 2011

2 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS New Student Welcome Letter 3 Introduction 4 Disability Law and Higher Education 5 About Disability Support Services 7 Student Checklist 10 Testing Accommodations 12 Student ID 13 Student 13 PIN 13 Parking 14 Student Financial Aid 14 Scholarships 15 Contact 16 Notes 17 Disability Support Services

3 Dear Student: On behalf of the entire staff in Disability Support Services, we want to congratulate you on your recent choice to attend Gulf Coast State College. We want to let you know that our office and staff are dedicated to ensuring that each student has access to all educational opportunities offered at Gulf Coast State College. As you know self-advocacy and self determination skills are critical to a successful experience for all college students. The Disability Support Services staff members are committed to working with you as a student to help you attain your educational goals. With this as part of our guiding philosophy, our staff would like to get to know you as a student and member of the Gulf Coast College community. If you want to receive academic accommodations while studying at Gulf Coast State College, you will need to work closely with DSS staff and your professors/instructors to help make sure that everything you need in terms of support and/or accommodations are in place and ready when you begin classes. 1. Please contact the DSS office to let us know that you wish to use our services. You may contact Linda Van Dalen at Ext or Diane Randall at Ext They will meet with you to review your class schedule and determine the accommodations that will be provided. 2. Letters will be sent to your professors informing them that you are registered with DSS and that you will be receiving certain accommodations. 3. Our staff can assist you with developing study skills, organization skills and learning strategies. They also provide tutoring in specific academic areas including Math, Reading and English. Contact the Learning Managers at Ext or Diane Randall at Ext to schedule assistance in these areas. 4. If you want to take your tests with DSS, please let us know as soon as possible. Bring your syllabi to the DSS office as soon as classes begin. Our staff will make a copy and log the dates so that we can obtain a copy of each test from your instructors. Also, it is very important to let your instructors know that you wish to take your tests with DSS. 5. Please plan to attend the DSS Orientation Meeting in the Fall Semester. You will meet our staff and other students who are in the DSS program. As soon as the date is set, we will let you know. 6. Feel free to call our office if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to help your time at GCCC be as successful as possible! Sincerely,

4 SERVICE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Gulf Coast State College encourages the enrollment of students with disabilities and recognizes their special needs; thus the Disability Support Services program at GCSC is comprehensive in the services offered and the range of disabilities served. Its focus is academic support through human support services and technology to help students reach their potential. The college endeavors to provide equal access to a quality education by providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals. To promote academic success, we offer a wide range of assistance and support services. Services include but are not limited to assistance in course registration, information about and referrals to campus and community services, academic and personal counseling, learning specialists, testing accommodations, readers, note takers, interpreters, listening systems, and adaptive equipment. Students who have a disability requiring special assistance should contact the Office of Disability Support Services. Gulf Coast State College has developed and implemented policies and procedures for providing reasonable course substitutions for eligible students with disabilities. Students who may be eligible for substitutions are those who have documented visual impairments, hearing impairments, or specific learning disabilities. Documentation must be provided to substantiate that the disability can be reasonably expected to prevent the student from meeting requirements for admission to the institution, admission to a program of study, entry to upper-division, or graduation. Disability Support Services Page 4

5 DISABILITY LAW AND HIGHER EDUCATION The two pieces of legislation that are considered primary in protecting the rights of students with disabilities in postsecondary education settings are Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. These are civil rights laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities to participate fully in the programs and activities of public entities including postsecondary institutions. These laws further require that postsecondary institutions make reasonable accommodations to provide students with disabilities equal opportunities to participate. "A person with a disability" is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment. In both Section 504 and the ADA, physical access and program access are covered. Accommodations provided in a postsecondary education setting may include academic adjustment and auxiliary aids and services. Academic adjustments are changes such as: Reduced course loads Course substitution or waiver Extra time on exams Provision of exams in a reduced-distraction setting Extension of time to complete assignments Extension of time allowed for degree completion Permission to tape record classes Information obtained is a product of Project PACE, a program of Disability Support Services at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Disability Support Services Page 5

6 Auxiliary aids and services may include but are not limited to: Materials on tape, in Braille, or in large print Note takers Interpreters Readers Talking calculators Open and closed captioning Voice synthesizers Raised-line drawings Assistive listening devices Institutions are not required to provide accommodations that fundamentally alter the requirements or nature of the program or activity, create a safety risk, or create an undue administrative or financial burden. BECAUSE A DISABILITY ISN T ALWAYS A VISIBILITY The Disability Support Services Program offers a variety of services and expert assistance to allow students with special needs to get the most out of their college education. If you have a disability and feel that you can benefit from any of the services that the program offers, please contact us. We are eager to meet and assist you during your course of studies at Gulf Coast State College. Disability Support Services Page 6

7 WHAT IS THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES? We offer learning centered academic support and provide equal access to quality education. Our program is free and offers comprehensive services to meet the needs of a wide range of disabilities. We are responsible for counseling, planning, and coordinating programs and support services. Our mission is to assist students in reaching their academic potential and achieving their educational goals. The college encourages the enrollment of students with disabilities and recognizes their special needs. Students who have a disability that requires special assistance should contact the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS). WHO IS ELIGIBLE? If you have a disability that is documented, you may be eligible for our service. Eligible disabilities include learning disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impairments, speech impairments, physical impairments, chronic illness and/or emotional/psychological impairments. If you believe you have a disability, even if it is not documented, you should contact the Office of Disability Support Services to determine your eligibility for the program. WHEN SHOULD I REQUESTR SERVICE? If your documented disability affects your academics or your ability to participate in college programs, and you believe accommodations would be helpful, bring your documentation to the Office of Disability Support Services as soon as possible. If you suspect you have a disability or have questions or concerns about your eligibility, you should contact our office immediately. OW DO I R HOW HOULD I R I REQUEST SERVICES? Students who choose to disclose their disability to receive accommodations must complete the Student Disability Information Sheet and Release of Information forms, which are available in the Office of Disability Support Services. In addition, students must provide documentation of their disability. Because requirements vary according to disability, please contact our office for your individual documentation requirements. WHAT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY? All documentation given to the Office of Disability Support Services will be kept confidential. This information will only be used for aiding you, the student, in achieving your fullest potential while at Gulf Coast State College. Staff members sometimes need to work with your instructors to arrange accommodations. Disability Support Services Page 7

8 WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE? Reasonable, appropriate accommodations are based on your documented needs. The Office of Disability Support Services routinely offers a wide variety of student oriented workshops on study skills, transfer tips, and many other subjects. In our office you will also find a wide variety of equipment, software, and educational supplies. Some of the items available for checkout include but are not limited to: Franklin Spellers Micro and Standard cassette recorders Calculators (talking, scientific, & standard) Large-print dictionaries Large-print thesauruses Video collection Audiocassette collections Book bags on wheels Adjustable foot rests Disability Support Services Page 8

9 In addition, we offer a wide range of services, which include, but are not limited to: For Students with Visual Impairments Adaptive Equipment Assistance with library materials Enlargers Materials in alternative format Note taker and/or scribe Registration assistance Reader Referral to recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic for textbooks on tape Testing accommodations, i.e. readers, scribes, alternative format, adaptive equipment, and/or extended time Tutorial assistance For Students Who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired: Access to TDD equipment Assistive listening devices Note taker Priority classroom seating Registration assistance Sign language interpreters Testing accommodations Tutorial assistance When possible, course outlines, lecture notes, and list of technical terms Disability Support Services Page 9

10 STUDENT CHECKLIST Students who are working with the Office of Disability Support Services and who are NOT FIRST TIME students at Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) need to follow steps 8-13 EACH SEMESTER they attend GCSC Contact Disability Support Services (DSS) Identify yourself as a new student who qualifies for DSS services Schedule an appointment with DSS staff to discuss your personal career goals and the accommodations you will need Provide documentation of your disability to the DSS office. This can be done either by requesting the information yourself or by signing a release form and allowing the DSS office to request the information for you Discuss the types of accommodations used successfully in high school and what accommodations you will need in college Submit an admission application to GCSC. This can be done by requesting an application package or via the GCSC web site Take the college placement test. (Check with the DSS coordinator or a counselor in the Counseling Center to see if the placement test is needed.) 7. Attend a summer freshman orientation if you are beginning classes in the fall semester. Disability Support Services Page 10

11 8. 8. Check dates for advising and registration and meet with your academic advisor. If you have any scheduling problems, a member of the DSS staff will be available to assist you Let t he DSS office know you have registered and provide them with your class schedule Begin classes on the scheduled date. If you need additional accommodations that have not been discussed with DSS, please let us know immediately. Some accommodations may take additional time to arrange Attend a DSS orientation (fall semester only). This will be for new and returning students. This orientation will provide updated information concerning DSS student needs and procedures. 12. The DSS office will send a letter making your instructors aware that you qualify for DSS services. In order for there to be better communication with your instructors, speak with your instructors at the beginning of each semester concerning the accommodations you will need. (This includes your intent to take your exams with DSS.) Provide a DSS staff member a copy of the syllabus for each course you are registered for in order to schedule test dates. Disability Support Services Page 11

12 TESTING ACCOMODATIONS If you are testing with DSS, please make sure that you provide a learning specialist a copy of the syllabus for each course you are registered for. If your syllabus does not provide test dates, notify a learning specialist of the dates and times of your test at least three (3) working days prior to the test date. All tests will be taken the same test date and test time as the class unless prior approval has been given. (If you have questions please check with the DSS coordinator.) FINAL EXAMS: You must register with a DSS staff member for all final exams you plan to take with DSS at least one (1) week prior to the final exam. Even if you have provided DSS with a syllabus, you must register to take your final exam with DSS. This is extremely important to ensure that your exam is administered at the proper time. DSS STAFF MEMBERS ARE AVAILABLE DURING THE SEMESTER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL, AND HELP WITH PROBLEMS. Disability Support Services Page 12

13 GCSC S GCSC STUDENT ID All currently enrolled students will need to get a Student Photo ID. The ID s will have the student s ID# printed on the front under the student s picture and encoded on the magnetic strip on the back. Without a Student ID students may be turned away from various places on campus as well as campus functions. Photo Student ID cards are available in the E.A. Gardner Advising Center located in the Enrollment Services Building on the main campus. Other locations include: the main office at the Gulf/Franklin Center and the GCSC office at Tyndall Air Force Base. Students must present current photo identification (driver s license or military identification) and a current registration receipt that shows the student s ID number to have the photo ID taken. There is no charge for the original ID card; however, a fee is incurred for replacement cards. STUDENT All currently enrolled students at Gulf Coast State College have a student account through the college s system. New students will be given an account the day after their admissions application is processed. This is the official form of communication at GCSC. Please remember to check your periodically to receive important information. For more information, visit the college website ( under Current Students and click on Student . PIN Your GCSC Personal Identification Number (PIN) is used to access your academic records on the *State of Florida, Florida Academic and Counseling Tracking for Students ( web system. This PIN number is also used for WEB registration. For new students, a default PIN number (month/year of birth i.e., 0587) is assigned when the student applies to GCSC. When your application for admission has been processed You will be required to change your default birth month/year PIN to a unique 4-digit PIN of your choosing. Information on how to apply for and obtain a PIN is located on the college website ( under Current Students and click on Oasis/Web Registration for the PIN information form. Disability Support Services Page 13

14 PARKING Effective with the 2009 fall semester, all vehicles on the GCSC Panama City campus, the North Bay Center, and the Gulf/Franklin Center will be required to display a parking decal or temporary permit, as appropriate. The cost of the first decal or permit is included in the student s fee and additional decals are available for fee-paying students at a small additional cost. Parking decals are administered by SAB. STUDENT FINANCIAL AID Gulf Coast offers a variety of financial assistance for students. Students may apply based on financial aid need or merit. Financial assistance may be awarded from one or any combination of federal and state grants; part-time employment; institutional, state, and private scholarships; and student loans. Information and applications are available on the college website at or contact the financial aid office in the Student Union East. Disability Support Services Page 14

15 SCHOLARSHIPS GCSC FOUNDATIONF SCHOLARSHIPS The Foundation has awarded more than $5 million in scholarships for GCSC students in its 42 year history. In addition to two-year Honors Scholarships for students having just graduated from high school, the college provides scholarships for students who have demonstrated academic excellence, have academic potential or specific talents, and students with demonstrated financial need. The application process for the GCSC Foundation Scholarship is quick, easy, and free! Visit and enter the requested information. This is your permanent account and may be accessed at any time online. Log on to your student account to view which scholarships your are interest in and submit your applications. The application dates are January 1 to March 1 of each year. Any application received after the deadline will be kept on file and deemed as late. Scholarships are awarded annually. The Foundation Office is located on the second floor of the Administration building. For more scholarship information, please visit the Foundation webpage on the GCSC website, or or please call COUNCIL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOLARSHIP (CEC) Applications for this scholarship are available from Linda Van Dalen or Leigh Bailey. Due date for this scholarship is March 23rd. The CAREER CENTER, located in the Student Union East building, has a listing of other possible scholarships. If you will be attending another college or university in the fall, check with that institution on possible scholarships. Disability Support Services Page 15

16 OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES STAFF: Linda Van Dalen Coordinator Diane Randall Co-Coordinator ext Tamara Nguyen Student Services ext LEARNING SPECIALISTS Elaine Poston Learning Specialist ext Kristi Krutchek Learning Specialist ext Holli Mast Learning Specialist ext Phillip Joiner Learning Specialist ext SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS Kiki Hendrix Interpreter ext Sandra Thompson Interpreter ext Florida Relay 711 OFFICE HOURS Monday Friday 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. The coordinator, counselor, learning specialists and tutors are located in the Student Union East building. The interpreters and assistants are located in the Student Union West building in Room 80 and Student Union East building Room Blog: Disability Support Services Page 16

17 NOTES Disability Support Services Page 17

18 Disability Support Ser vices 5230 West Highway 98 Panama City, FL Phone: Toll Free: ext Blog: Other forms of this catalog (i.e. an enlargement) may be obtained through the Office of Disability Support Services in the Student Union East.