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Students with Disabilities

DeKalb Technical College is committed to assisting students with learning, physical, emotional, and mental impairments. The Special Services Office coordinates academic adjustments. It is the student's responsibility to self disclose and complete all paperwork required by the Special Services Office in order to receive support. Documentation provided must be submitted from an authorized physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or certified counselor on their professional letterhead. Documentation should be three years or younger. To facilitate the success of students with impairments, DeKalb Tech provides a variety of services.

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Special Services Office Contact Information
Paula Greenwood, Special Services Advisor
404/297-9522, ext. 1155
greenwop@dekalbtech.edu
Clarkston Campus - Room A-170F

Resource Information

Tools for Life - Assistive Technology (404)638-0385 www.gatfl.org Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) (800)-221-4792 www.rfbd.org Test Anxiety/Study Skills Test Anxiety - ACE Test Anxiety - UF Study Skills - UB/SUNY Shepherd Center's Benefits Navigator Project Sally Atwell 404/350-7589 Curtis Rogers 404/350-7598 MARTA - L Van Service 404/848-5826 www.itsmarta.com National Federation of the Blind www.nfb.org Center for the Visually Impaired (404)875-9011 Georgia State University Psychological Testing 404/651-2859

Goodwill Industries 404/486-8400 Job Accommodation Network http://www.jan.wvu.edu/ Americans With Disabilities Act http://www.ada.gov/ Disability Resources Guide http://www.disabilityresources.org/ Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation http://www.vocrehabga.org Area Offices: North DeKalb Office: 770/414-2602 Peachtree Street Office: 404/206-6000 Central DeKalb Office: 404/638-5200 Hapeville Office: 404/669-3900 South DeKalb Office: 404/298-4900 Monroe Office: 770/207-4220

Documentation

All disabilities that affect learning and/or that necessitate a physical alteration will require medical or psychological documentation that verifies the disability, clarifies the areas of learning affected, and states the academic adjustments recommended by the physician or other qualified professional as appropriate in the educational setting. In addition to documentation, a disabled student must be otherwise qualified for admission to or participation in a program of study with or without a reasonable accommodation. A qualified individual with a disability is one who meets the essential eligibility requirements for the program or activity offered by a public entity. The following are diagnostic documentation requirements by disability:

Criteria for Disabilities

Learning Disabilities

• Psychological Evaluation not more than 3 years old or Adult normed and signed by a physician or other qualified individual with credentials to make the diagnosis.
• Specific learning disability must be diagnosed and stated.
• Individually administered intelligence test.
• Oral language skills, social emotional status, specific academic deficits assessed.
• Achievement assessment: math, reading, written language skills.
• Assessed using appropriate age norms.
• Suggestions on possible academic adjustments in educational setting.
• Information processing must be clearly defined.

ADD/ADHD

• Medical and/or Psychological Evaluation not more than 3 years old or Adult normed written on letterhead and signed by an individual with the credentials to make the diagnosis.
• ADD/ADHD must be diagnosed and stated.
• Symptoms reported before age 7.
• Clear evidence/documentation of interference with developmentally appropriate academic, social, or vocational functioning.
• Observation of current ADHD symptoms from 2 professionals working independently, under direction and time constraints.
• Schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, autism or mental retardation not the primary disability.
• Suggestions on possible academic adjustments in educational setting.
• Self report of at least 3 major behaviors from DSM-IV.
• Documentation of 2 scales of ADHD behaviors.

Brain Injuries

• Medical and/or Psychological Evaluation not more than 3 years old signed by the specialist and written on letterhead and signed by an individual with the credentials to make the diagnosis.
• Documentation written on letterhead and signed by the specialist detailing the impact of the limitations on ability to participate in post-secondary education.
• Current assessment using adult norms of cognitive and psychological strengths and limitations, readiness to participate, and preferred learning style from a Neurologist or other appropriate medical specialist.
• Evidence that impairment substantially limits one or more major life activities.
• Suggestions on possible academic adjustments in educational setting.

Visual, Hearing, Health, and Mobility Impairments

• Medical Documentation not more than 3 years old written on letterhead and signed by an individual with the credentials to make the diagnosis.
• Include the specific diagnosis for visual/hearing/health/mobility impairment and attach any test results that measures limitations on learning.
• Report should include any medications or aids used by student, including effects these have on the learning limitations.
• Suggestions on possible accommodations in educations setting.

Psychological Disorders

• Report written on letterhead of diagnostician and signed by individual with credentials to make diagnosis.
• DSM-IV diagnosis/date of diagnosis.
• Assessment procedures used to make diagnosis and attach any tests used to measure learning limitations.
• Major symptoms currently being manifested and date of last visit.
• Level of symptom severity (Global Assessment of Functioning) and what is treatment plan and prognosis.
• Report should include current medications student is taking and the impact it has on learning.
• Suggestions on possible academic adjustments in educational setting.

Policies & Procedures

Complete all paperwork required (including disability documentation as outlined in the Special Services Packet) and submit to the Special Services Office.

Disability Documentation is not considered a transcript and is not released from the Special Services Office for any reason. Please retain copies of all documents submitted.
Talk to your instructors about specific needs. An academic adjustments letter is sent to your instructor(s) each quarter. You have to contact the Special Services Office each quarter to receive services. This letter outlines the academic adjustments you are eligible for based on the documentation submitted to Special Services. This letter is sent after drop/add.

If academic adjustments are not being met, make an appointment with your instructor to discuss your concerns. If this does not resolve the matter, make an appointment with the Special Services Advisor. Self-Advocacy is Important!
If you require testing academic adjustments, based on your documentation, be sure these adjustments are in place before you begin testing. Do not take a test without adjustments. If you choose to do this, you have no recourse after the fact.

Grievance and Unlawful Harassment and Discrimination Procedures are outlined in the Student Handbook and the DeKalb Tech Catalog.

Students are responsible for being informed of ALL DeKalb Technical College policies and procedures. READ all publications released by DeKalb Tech: Catalog, Student Handbook, Schedule of Classes, Campus Newsletters, etc.
You are required to follow DeKalb Technical College rules and regulations as outlined in the Catalog and Student Handbook. A disability does not excuse or exempt any student from following these policies.

If you need additional time on a test, a test reader, test scribe or testing outside the classroom, and arrangements cannot be made with the instructor, contact Special Services 5 working days before your test. If your instructor provides a test calendar then use this schedule to arrange alternate testing for the quarter.

If you need a tape recorder, tapes, duplicating paper, or other assistive devices it is your responsibility to get these items from the Special Services Coordinator.

If you are experiencing problems in a class(es), it is your responsibility to let your instructor and the Special Services Advisor know. Keep in touch with your instructor(s) and the Special Services Advisor on a continual basis. Do not wait until you are having problems or failing to get help. Be Proactive.

Please call the Special Services Advisor and make an appointment if you need assistance.

Be on time for appointments. Call ahead if you anticipate being late or need to cancel and reschedule. For initial appointments, a 10-minute grace period is given. For all other appointments, there is no grace period. If you are not currently registered to vote, you may register through the Special Services Office. Please make an appointment.

You have the choice to accept or decline academic adjustments. If you decline academic adjustments, you always have the right to change your decision. However, during the time that services are declined, you have no recourse. You must notify the Special Services Advisor of any changes in a timely manner.

VERY IMPORTANT!! The Special Services Advisor does not advise you on academic issues. Academic advisement is handled by your Program Advisor before or during registration. Make an appointment to discuss class scheduling.
The Special Services Office will send a mid-term progress report to instructors. You will be contacted by this office, via your student e-mail, if you have a "C" or lower. If contacted, you are expected to respond by making an appointment with your instructor and the Special Services Coordinator.
VERY IMPORTANT!! You will be assigned a student e-mail account. Activate this account immediately. This is the primary communication tool used by Special Services. You will receive information from the Registrar and Special Services via your student e-mail. Special Services sends a quarterly update letter, and quarterly satisfaction survey, as well as other need-to-know items to this e-mail. You are expected to read and respond, when appropriate, to these e-mails. If you are having trouble with your e-mail account, contact student support, at 404-297-9522, ext. 5399 or studentsupport@dekalbtech.edu.

Academic Adjustment Guidelines

In order to be eligible for Special Services a student must:

1. Make an appointment with the Special Services Advisor, Paula Greenwood, at 404-297-9522, ext. 1155 or greenwop@dekalbtech.edu
2. Provide documentation of disability. Documentation should be 3 years or younger. Keep a copy of all documentation submitted.
3. Complete the Special Services forms as indicated by asterisk (*) below. See form links at end of this page.

Disability documentation must clearly state the disability, effects on learning, and recommendations for appropriate academic adjustments in an educational setting. See documentation link in menu on left.

Documentation provided must be from an authorized physician, psychologist, psychiatrist or certified counselor on their professional letterhead. See documentation link in menu on left.

During the initial appointment with Ms. Greenwood, the following paperwork will be given to the student:

• Overview of academic adjustments
• Documentation requirements by disability
• Special services adjustments
• Special services policies/procedures*
• Adjustments letter sample
• Support services request form*
• Confidential disclosure statement*
• Continuing education application for special services*
• Student e-mail/banner web information flyer
• Special services web page flyer
• Community resource list

The paperwork above marked with an * (asterisk) must be completed and submitted to the special services office, along with documentation of disability, before services are initiated. All other forms are to be kept in the student's personal records.

To insure uninterrupted adjustments: contact the special services advisor once registration is complete.
The student's instructors will be notified quarterly concerning requested classroom adjustments. This information is forwarded to instructors after drop/add. Instructors will not be notified if you have not contacted special services with your registration.

It is the student's responsibility to discuss changes, concerns or questions about academic adjustments with their instructor(s) and with the special services advisor.

The special services office is located in the Building A, Room 170F on the Clarkston campus. Office hours are posted. Please make an appointment by calling or emailing the Special Services Office, 404-297-9522, ext. 1155 or greenwop@dekalbtech.edu.

The following forms are available in PDF format and may be filled in on-screen then printed out for signatures before submission. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to access these forms. If you do not have Acrobat Reader you can download it by clicking on the button.

• Special Services Continuing Education Application
• Confidential Disclosure Statement

This office is committed to serve each student on an individual basis and to provide the most effective and appropriate academic adjustments possible.

Compliance Statement

STATEMENT OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY