The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, located in room AC-1G02, is a subdivision of the Counseling Center and within the Division of Student Development. The disabilities program was established as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1973, and insures college-wide compliance with section 504 of this bill. Our program provides a wealth of support and services for the student with a documented disability, aiming at ensuring a “level playing field”.

“Reasonable accommodation” is the term used to describe services that are offered through this program. These individualized services are meant to facilitate the student with a disability's adjustment and development throughout his or her course of study.

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

The ADA is a landmark civil rights law for the disabled. It stipulates that colleges and universities receiving federal assistance must assure that the same educational programs and services offered to other students must be available to students with disabilities.  Academic ability must be the sole basis for participation in post-secondary education.

Legal Implications for Higher Education

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. According to these laws, no otherwise qualified individual with a disability will, solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of a public entity.

“Qualified” with respect to post-secondary educational services means “a person who meets the academic and technical standards prerequisite to admission or participation in the education program or activity with or without reasonable modification to rules, policies or practices and with the removal of architectural or communication barriers or the provision of auxiliary aids and services.”

“Person with a disability” means any person who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (including walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working), (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.

According to Subpart E of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended in 1992, students who provide disability documentation indicating that audio taping (and under certain circumstances videotaping) classes is necessary in order for them to gain equal access to course lectures must be permitted to tape course lectures.  Accordingly, it is the College’s policy to permit taping of course lectures for students who provide the required documentation to the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. While a faculty member cannot prevent authorized students from taping in their classes, they may require such students to sign a memorandum of agreement.  By signing this document, students agree that the contents of the tapes are the exclusive property of the faculty member and may not be used by students for any purposes other than studying for their class without the express written consent of the faculty member.  Faculty members may also require that students turn over the tapes to them at the end of the semester.

Under FERPA, the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities holds students’ disability documentation, like medical information, in strictest confidence.  Students are not to be questioned by faculty about the nature of their disability.  If faculty members have any questions regarding students’ accommodation needs, they should contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities.

Filing a Complaint

1. Any student who wishes to file a complaint regarding alleged discrimination based upon a handicap shall make such complaint in writing to the 504 Coordinator, Room AC-2H05. The Committee works in conjunction with the Office of Student Development/Counseling, Room AC-1G02.
2. Upon receipt of the complaint, the Coordinator will:
1. Investigate the circumstances of the complaint.
2. Consult with the designee of the Office of Student Development/Counseling.
3. Within 14 calendar days after receipt of the complaint, render a decision and notify the student in writing of the decision.
3. The Complainant will have seven calendar days to notify the 504 Coordinator in writing of his/her acceptance of or disagreement with the decision. Failure of the Complainant to respond will be considered an acceptance of the decision.

About the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities

The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities often receives inquiries regarding York College’s procedures for providing reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities.  As you may know, the College is required to provide these reasonable accommodations under Section #504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities, act of 1990.

We look forward to working with you during the semester. In order to provide our students with quality services, we would like to share with you the following information.

Services are available to students with disabilities. Such services include “reasonable accommodations” that a student may require to have a successful academic experience. Students interested in more information should contact a counselor in room AC-1G02. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9 am – 7 pm.

Each student receiving reasonable accommodations from this office must submit an Accommodation Request draft, which will help the counselor determine what services the student needs. An Accommodation Request form will be given to each professor describing the specific needs of the student. This will serve as notification to the professor that the student has a “documented” disability. Only the approved accommodations should be given, as it is unfair to other students to provide additional assistance beyond what is needed. Students are advised to alert professors as to any special needs as soon as possible so they can prepare any special arrangements.

An Incident Report form will be filled out for proctored exams if a student does not follow set guidelines. A copy will be sent to the professor.

Exam Accommodations

York College Exam Accommodations are as follows:

• Extended time. (Time and a half or double time only.)
  
• Distraction reduced space
• Large print
• Tape recorded exams
• CCTV
• Reader and or scribe
• Note-taker
• Adjustable table
• Computer
• Computer with adaptive technology

Explanation of Accommodations:

1. Extended time
   Students commonly served with this accommodation include students with visual, auditory, motor deficits, learning medical, psychological, and attention deficit disabilities.
   • Extended time may be time and a half or double time only.
   • Instructors need to indicate the standard amount of time for an exam. Extended time is calculated based on the time the exam the instructor indicates is standard.
   • Extended time does not mean unlimited time.
2. Distraction reduced space (low distraction environment)
   Students commonly served with this accommodation include students with psychological, learning and attention deficit disabilities in addition to students with traumatic brain injury.
   • Carpeting 
   • Secluded rooms
   • Ear plugs
3. Large Print
   Students commonly served with this accommodation include those with visual impairments.
   • Exams are generally enlarged to 150, however an exam may be enlarged to a specific percentage indicated by the student.
   • Enlarged exams are generally printed on 11x17 paper
   • Students should request enlarged exams when submitting proctoring requests.
4. Tape Recorded Exams
   Students commonly served with this accommodation include students with visual impairments, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders and mobility impairments.
   • Exams are recorded onto a audio cassette tape by Disability Services Staff.
   • Exams needing to be taped must be available at least 72 hours in advance.
   • Following the exam the audiocassette will be erased.
5. Closed Captioned Television (CCTV)
   Students commonly served with this accommodation are visually impaired.
   • This device enlarges text in various degrees.
   • This device allows the student to be independent of a reader / scribe.
6. Reader and/or Scribe
   Students commonly using a reader and or scribe include but are not limited to those individuals with learning disabilities, visual impairments, mobility impairments, brain injury, medical disability, psychological disabilities and temporary disabilities.
   • A reader reads test materials to a student as written. No clarification or elaboration is permitted.
   • A scribe writes only what the student dictates to him/her.
   • If a reader or scribe feels the student is asking for assistance beyond the parameters of his/her function he/she should fill out an incident report form immediately.
7. Note-Taker
   Students commonly using a note-taker include but are not limited to those individuals with visual impairments, mobility impairments, brain injury, medical disability and temporary disabilities.
   • A note-taker will only take notes for 15 minutes and then leave if the student does not show up.
   • If the student leaves for more then 15 minutes or leaves class early then the note-taker will leave also.
   • The note-takers employed by this office are there only to take notes for the student receiving services. They should not be called on to answer questions or for their input during discussions.
8. Adjustable Tables
   Adjustable tables are available in Room AC-1G02 and the Adaptive Technology Room in the Library. They can be requested by students who are wheelchair bound.
9. Computer
   • Word processing programs may be substituted or preferred over a scribe.
   • It is preferable to have a private testing room with computer access.
10. Computer with Adaptive Technology
    The computer allows a person with disabilities increased independence. There is also a decrease for the need of readers or scribes in exam situations using adaptive computers. The following adaptive technology devices and programs are available at York:
    • Text to speech software
    • Text magnification
    • Voice recognition software
    • Document scanning software

Disability Accommodations Request

A disability accommodations request form acknowledges that a student has a disability, is receiving services from The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities and is approved for exam accommodations based upon documentation. This form is sent to the professor at the beginning of the semester at the student’s written request.

Procedure:

• Student must see his/her counselor
  
• Counselor and student must fill out an Accommodations draft
• Student must sign and date the accommodations draft
  
• Letters are sent out to the professors within 72 hours

Exam Scheduling at York College

Students at York College have three options for completing their exams and may choose one or all of the following methods depending on the class.

• Disability Services with accommodations: Students must be familiar with and follow exam policies and procedures for scheduling exams with this office.
• Accommodations set by the instructor and student: The exam is proctored by the instructor and should be accompanied with a verification letter, identifying the approved accommodations the student may receive.
• In the regular classroom with or without accommodations: Students choosing this option must follow the directions of the instructor.

Proctor Requests

These forms are available at the front desk in Room AC-1G02 by request. This form must be filled out in its entirety and left at least 72 hours in advance of the exam that is being scheduled.