Eligibility for Disability and Access Services
Disability and Access Services (DAS) is committed to providing equal opportunity accommodations for visitors and qualified students with disabilities in accordance with:
- Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
- ADA Amendments Act of 2008
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Washington State Law
To be eligible, students must have a disability as defined by the above laws and show how the disability affects a major life function. Under the ADA and Section 504, a person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (e.g. walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, standing, breathing, learning, and working). Students must request accommodation each quarter that they attend LCC.
Deadline for Students to Request Accommodations
DAS will acknowledge requests throughout the quarter:
However, students are encouraged to contact the DAS Office early, preferably 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the quarter. Accommodation requests may take several weeks to implement. For example equipment, ergonomic equipment, ergonomic furniture, interpreters, alternate format, audio books, and braille books can take 6 and sometimes 8 weeks. (Equipment may need to be ordered, staff such as interpreters may need to be hired, and alternate format may need to be secured from publishers and created.)
Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Request accommodations or chose not to request accommodations each quarter, (participation is voluntary).
- Equal access to programs, activities, and services at Lower Columbia College.
- Receive assistance from the DAS Office in the form of reasonable accommodations.
- Appeal decisions regarding the determination of accommodations to the Section ADA/504 Coordinator:
Current Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Kendra Sprague, Vice President of Foundation, HR & Legal Affairs
Administration Building, Room 115
(360) 442-2301
ksprague@lowercolumbia.edu
Academic Adjustments & Auxiliary Aids Appeals Procedure
If a student believes that Disability and Access Services (DAS) has not identified or provided appropriate academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, the student has the right to appeal.
Students are encouraged to meet with the DAS Director to informally resolve the issue.
If the issue cannot be resolved, the following procedure applies:
- The student shall submit a written appeal to the Section 504/ADA Coordinator or designee. The appeal should minimally address the following points:
- The nature of the disability and its current impacts and functional limitations in the academic setting.
- Details of the academic adjustment and/or auxiliary aid being requested and why.
- A description of all academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids presently or in the past provided and/or offered by the DAS Office. Include an explanation as to why these adjustments and/or aids are insufficient or ineffective.
- The Section 504/ADA Coordinator or designee shall investigate the appeal and will issue a written response to the appeal. The written response shall ordinarily be issued within ten (15) working days of receipt of the written appeal. Circumstances that may prolong the written response may include quarter breaks, holidays, or other such circumstances which may render persons unavailable for interview.
- The decision of the Section 504/ADA Coordinator or designee is the final decision of the institution.
By submitting a written appeal, the student grants the Section 504/ADA Coordinator or designee and other appropriate individuals in connection to this appeal access to his/her DAS file. The DAS file contains disability documentation and other written information concerning the student's disability, academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and other relevant disability, academic, and personal information.
- Self-identifying to the DAS Office.
- Requesting assistance from the DAS Office.
- Completing an Intake Interview with the DAS Director.
- Providing formal, written documentation of my disability from a qualified professional, according to documentation guidelines provided by DAS.
- Requesting services in a timely manner: 4-6 weeks prior to the beginning of EVERY quarter.
- Requesting reasonable accommodations to DAS every quarter through a Quarterly Request form.
- Every quarter a student is requesting academic accommodations from DAS, he/she needs to come to the DAS Office and complete a quarterly request form and attach a copy of his/her class schedule. In turn, DAS will provide Letters of Accommodation for the student to give to each of his/her instructors.
- Inform DAS if I add, drop, or change a class during the quarter by submitting an updated copy of my schedule.
- Inform DAS if I want to add, drop, or change an accommodation by submitting an updated Quarterly Request form.
- Contact DAS in a timely manner when problems or questions arise about their accommodations or academic progress.
- Meet the academic and conduct standards of LCC required for all students.
DAS Rights and Responsibilities
- Request current documentation that meets eligibility guidelines to verify the need for reasonable accommodations.
- Select effective accommodations, or academic adjustments once consult with the students and on a case-by-case basis.
- Refuse a request for accommodations if documentation is not valid or current.
- Refuse to provide an accommodation that is inappropriate or unreasonable in such a
manner as to:
- Pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others,,
- Constitute an alteration to an essential element of course or program,
- Or pose an undue financial or administrative burden to Lower Columbia College.
- Meet with a student and complete an Intake Interview, and identify reasonable accommodations.
- Review and interpret documentation in order to determine student eligibility for services or reasonable accommodations.
- Determine accommodation needs based on documentation on case by case basis.
- Prepare an Accommodations Summary for each student to give to their instructors.
- Coordinate accommodations between student and instructor.
- Work with campus staff to assure accessible facilities, programs, and activities.
- Answer questions students may encounter about DAS accommodations.