Introduction

Individuals with disabilities who attend or plan to attend Northeast Community College may need reasonable accommodations, modifications, or auxiliary aids/assistive technology, in order to have equal access to programs and services offered. Students who need accommodations are responsible for requesting these services from and for meeting with the Disability Services Coordinator at Northeast Community College for the following reasons:

• To provide documentation that supports request for services; and
• To discuss the request, the nature of the disabilities, and individual experiences.

All documentation is sent to the Disability Services Coordinator at NECC 801 E Benjamin, Box 469, Norfolk, NE 68702-0469. All documentation will be treated as confidential and secured in a locked file cabinet at NECC main campus.

Purpose

These documentation guidelines have been provided to assist students in obtaining appropriate documentation from qualified professionals. Appropriate documentation of a disability is only one part of determining eligibility for services and identifying necessary accommodations.

Documentation is used:

• To verify the existence of a disability;
• To assist in the collaborative determination of eligibility for accommodations to include auxiliary aids and services to minimize the impact of a disability.
• To personalize the student's right to physical and program/instructional access.

The provision of adequate documentation not only provides for the student's right to physical and program/instructional access through appropriate accommodations but also supports NECC mission to respond to the diverse needs of all students.

Documentation students provide will include the following information:

• A clearly stated diagnosis from a qualified professional.
• Diagnostic criteria and evaluation methods used to include procedures, test with scores, clinical narratives, and date evaluation and diagnoses was completed.
• Functional limitations of the disability and side effects of treatments on academia. A statement of the functional impact or limitations of the disability on learning or other major life activities and the degree to which it impacts the individual in physical and program/instructional access for which accommodations are being requested.
• If relevant, the prognosis and stability of a diagnosis.
• Recommendation for accommodations, adaptive equipment and services, and compensatory services in the post-secondary setting with rationale is helpful.
• Testing and assessments used for diagnosis should be recent enough to reflect the impact of the disability on current life functioning and or age appropriate.

Recent high school graduates should provide a copy of their IEP, MDT, Psychological Test reports, and or other relevant documentation that gives consideration to their current level of functioning as an adult; therefore, testing should reflect they have been compared to an adult population. A student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is typically not sufficient documentation in and of itself.

People with medical and psychiatric conditions should have documentation not more than 12 months old reflecting current limitations and impact of treatment on major life activities such as learning. How current the documentation needs to be relates to the nature and stability of the condition. Disabilities that are sporadic or degenerative may require updated documentation if accommodation needs change.

Inadequate or Missing Documentation

NECC has the right to determine the appropriateness of the submitted documentation and request(s) for accommodations on case-by-case bases using the professional judgment of the Disability Services Coordinator and the Dean of Enrollment Management. NECC has the right to request additional information to determine eligibility and the appropriate accommodations. If you do not provide sufficient information, Disability Services will grant only those services that can be adequately supported by the documentation provided. Disability Services cannot provide services if you refuse to provide any documentation.

When a student does not have the required disability documentation she/he should set up an appointment with Disability Services Coordinator to assist in identifying resources that may aid you in getting adequate documentation.

Costs incurred for obtaining appropriate documentation is the student’s responsibility. The college has no responsibility to pay for testing to determine if a student has a disability.

Note: NECC reserves the right to deny services or reasonable accommodations while the receipt of appropriate documentation is pending if the student has not provided any information to the Disability Services Coordinator that suggest there is a disability that requires accommodations. Students must not only request services but must complete the application process before considerations for accommodations and services are considered.

Disclosure and Confidentiality

Student disclosure of a disability is voluntary. NECC considers disability-related information as confidential material, and it will not become a part of a student’s academic record at the College. This information will be released only under the following conditions:

• if required by law
• with the student’s written consent
• on a need-to-know basis

Helpful resources:

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/taman2.html#II-3.5000

http://www.vocrehab.state.ne.us/

More Information

Maureen Baker
(402) 844-7258
maureen@northeastcollege.com