Disability Services

Students who are not in the TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) program should contact

Dr. Trina Jones (Franklin Campus)
Admissions Office, Room 126
757-569-6720
tjones@pdc.edu

Tasha Taylor (Franklin Campus and Center at Smithfield)
Room 136E
757-569-6779
ttaylor@pdc.edu

Students who are participants in the TRiO Student Support Services program should contact:

Tisha Evans (Franklin Campus)
Suite 120, Room 120C
757.569.6780
tevans@pdc.edu

Students who are dual enrolled should contact:

Judith Wachsmann
Room 109
757.569.6081
jwachsmann@pdc.edu

Disability Support Services Handbook

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT

Paul D. Camp Community College promotes and maintains equal employment and education opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupation qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors.

DEFINITION OF DISABILITY

An Individual with a disability is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act as “a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment”.

It is your (the student) responsibility or decision to inform us (Camp) of your disability and request accommodation(s).

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Camp Community College adheres to two Federal Mandates that govern Disability Services; Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Camp also complies with the Virginians with Disability Act of 1985.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA provides comprehensive civil rights protection that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, state and local government, public accommodation and services, transportation, and telecommunications. Community College students with disabilities are covered in Title II of the ADA. Title II requires that State and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services and activities. Public entities are not required to take actions that would result in undue financial and administrative burdens. They are required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures where necessary to avoid discrimination.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

This section protects qualified individuals with disabilities. In this law, individuals with disabilities are defined as persons with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. In 1973, Congress passed Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability that states, no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall, solely reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Virginians with Disability Act of 1985 (VDA)

It is the policy of this Commonwealth to encourage and enable persons with disabilities to participate fully and equally in the social and economic life of the Commonwealth and to engage in remunerative employment. The Act protected Virginians with disabilities from discrimination under any state program or activity, by employers in hiring and promotion, by educational institutions receiving state funds, in the use of public places and in places of public accommodation, in housing, and in the exercise of the right to vote.

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY

Camp Community College provides accommodations to students with a disability that reflects a substantial limitation to physical and/or learning abilities. To ensure the provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations for our students, Camp requires current and comprehensive documentation of the disability from the appropriate diagnosing professional.

Eligibility for Services:

To receive services and/or accommodations:

• Self-identify with one of the individuals listed on page 2.
• Request accommodations at the beginning of each semester (if needed).
• Discuss accommodations with a disability services liaison or officer to review official appropriate documentations and recommended accommodations.
• Evaluation of disability documents will be made to determine any qualified eligibility requirements within seven – ten (7-10) business days.
• Pick up accommodation form before classes begin to take to your instructor.
• Return a signed copy of accommodation (by instructor(s)) to the Disability Services Officer within seven (7) business days

Requirements for Services:

• A completed Impairment and Disability Assessment Form. This form is to be completed by your provider.
• Documentation will be reviewed by a disability services staff. If information is incomplete, additional documentation will be required for determination of accommodations.
• An IEP from a previous school is not considered adequate documentation in higher education. Public schools, grades PreK-12, accept IEPs, not at the postsecondary level. It is your responsibility to obtain additional information if requested.
• A prior history of an accommodation without demonstration of current need does not, in and of itself, warrant the provision of the same accommodations.
• Current documentation/accommodations from another college are not acceptable.

Determining Reasonable Accommodations:

A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, service, activity, or facility that enables equal access to programs and services to otherwise qualified students with disabilities. In turn, equal opportunity refers to the opportunity to attain equal benefits and privileges par with those available to students without a disability. Your disability services officer will make the final determination of reasonable accommodations with careful evaluation of documents within seven to ten (7 – 10) business days. The disability services officer will meet with the student to review his or her accommodations.

TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY

Camp Community College provides academic accommodations to students with substantial limitation to physical and learning disabilities. To ensure the provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations for our students, Camp requires current and comprehensive documentation of the disability from the appropriate diagnosing professional.

For circumstances in which a student needs additional time to obtain complete documentation to determine eligibility, the counselor/advisor can approve temporary accommodations, not to exceed one semester. The temporary accommodations allow for appropriate time, which is defined as one semester for the student to obtain the complete documentation to determine eligibility for services. The following are reasons that a temporary accommodation may be considered:

1. Incomplete documentation
   Incomplete documentation is defined as documentation that does not have all required and specific information. The student has the remainder of the semester to provide the missing information.
2. Not meeting current eligibility criteria
   If the documentation does not meet current eligibility, the student will be informed that in order to continue services beyond the immediate semester, a new assessment or further documentation must be submitted to determine eligibility for future services through Camp. Temporary accommodations will be provided for the remainder of the semester.
3. Request for additional accommodation(s)
   Upon request for an additional accommodation, it must be determined if the current documentation supports the new accommodation. If further documentation is needed to support the request for an additional accommodation, a temporary accommodation will be issued for the current semester.

*The extent of services is determined on a case-by-case basis. Camp is under no obligation to provide accommodations unless the student has completed and submitted all required documentation.

TYPES OF ACCOMMODATIONS AND SERVICES

The following accommodations and services are only available if the specific accommodation is an approved service for you (student) based on your most recent documentation by a qualified medical professional.

Classroom Accommodations

Students are responsible for informing instructors about needed accommodations within the classroom. Faculty will need official accommodations from the Disability Services office in order to provide accommodations.

Examples of classroom accommodations include providing for priority seating, permitting recording of classes, and permitting attendance at a duplicate lecture section.

Note Taking

Note takers may be students who are enrolled in the same class as the students eligible for this accommodation. If you are eligible for a note taker, you must request this service two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester. You must attend your classes in order to utilize note-taking services. Absences from class may result in the cancellation of note-taking services. Digital Voice Recorders may be provided in place of a note taker for classes.

Testing Accommodations

Testing accommodations may include extended time, distraction--reduced space for testing, and use of computer lab setting for testing.

If you qualify for testing accommodations, you may…

1. Take the exam with the class
2. Oral testing - if the student needs to have oral testing, a reader can be provided. A minimum of 48 hours of advance notice is required to provide this accommodation.
3. Test scribe - if a student qualifies for writing assistance during testing, a scribe may be provided. A minimum of 48 hours of advance notice is required to provide this accommodation.
4. Extended time - students may be approved for extended time during testing or completing assignments. The length of time must be specific, for example, one-half (1/2) time longer.

Tutoring

Individual tutoring is available at no cost to the students. Normally, students receive a maximum of three hours per week. However, depending on a student’s needs, the number of hours can be increased when justified. Students needing tutoring must complete a Tutor Request Form from the SSS Office.

Individual tutoring is also available at no cost to the students using the online tutoring program, Brainfuse. Students have free access to online tutoring 24/7 in most subjects through the learning management system (LMS), Canvas.

Sign Language Interpreters

Due to the limited availability of sign language interpreters in the college’s service area, a minimum of four weeks’ notice is required to obtain this service. Request for interpreters for out-of-class course assignments or other college-required work will be provided with reasonable notice and cost.

Taped Textbooks

Students who have difficulty with standard textbooks are encouraged to contact the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired for assistance (www.vdbvi.org/library) or 800.622.2155. Students can request adaptive technology, large print textbooks, etc. to assist in their education. Request for taped textbooks should be made at least three weeks prior to the beginning of a semester.

Online and Zoom Classroom Accommodations

As students continue to enroll in online and Zoom classes, Camp is committed to providing disability services for them. Students with disabilities are eligible to receive accommodations in their online and Zoom classes; however, the services may be different from the traditional classroom setting. Accommodations will be provided to faculty, as it is appropriate for online and remote learning. Students who are in remote classes can also create a less distracting environment while in their living spaces.

1. Designate a specific class space.
2. Use a “Do Not Disturb” sign.
3. Identify a specific space for testing.
4. Set up your computer and space at least 15 minutes prior to the class beginning.
5. When taking a test, use a clock to track your time.

Priority Registration

Students with disabilities register in the same manner as other students. If students require a certain schedule due to their disability or are unable to wait in lines, the student will receive priority registration. Students needing priority registration on the Franklin Campus should contact Dr. Trina Jones for Non SSS participants, and Trina Ferguson for SSS participants; on the Suffolk Campus, Dr. Hyler Scott for SSS and Non SSS participants; and Tasha Taylor at the Center at Smithfield. Students should contact an advisor two weeks prior to registration.

Parking

All spaces that are marked “Handicapped Parking” may be used by individuals who have a handicap license plate on their vehicle or display a current handicap card in their front window.

Suggestions for Students with Disabilities on How to Approach Faculty to Discuss Approved Accommodations

1. Make an appointment during the faculty member’s posted office hours, or ask instructors when it would be convenient for you to meet. 
2. Be on time for the appointment.
3. Introduce yourself to the instructor and inform him/her of your specific class.
4. A good approach is to say, “I have a form from disability services which verifies that I have a disability. I would appreciate discussing with you the best way to work out the accommodations listed.”
5. If you are unclear about anything discussed during your session, ask for clarification.
6. Take notes on the instructor’s suggestions.
7. At the end of your meeting, summarize the discussion to double check for clarity and agreed procedures.
8. If instructors have questions that you cannot answer, please refer them to the disability services officer.

Dispute Resolution Procedure for Eligibility for Services and Determination of Reasonable Accommodations

If a student wants to appeal a decision regarding eligibility for services or determination of accommodations, the following procedure has been established:

1. Request an appointment to meet with your disability services officer. If the concern cannot be resolved at this level, initiate Step 2.
2. Request an appointment to meet with the Vice President of Academic and Student Development with input from the Operations Manager. The decision of the Vice President is final.