Accommodating Students with Disabilities: Understanding the

Purpose, Policy, and Procedures at SVI

Al Souma, MARehabilitation CounselorDisability Support ServicesSeattle Central Community College

Vicki Moseley, M.A.CounselorDisability Support ServicesSeattle Central Community College

Agenda

Laws that govern disability in higher education District ADA statement SVI’s policies and procedures Obligation to address allegations Internal and external complaint process

(grievance procedure) Role of DSS office Examples of Disabilities Examples of Harassment Q & A

Laws Requiring Reasonable Accommodations

1973 Rehabilitation Act, Section 504 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, Title II Core Services Bill, Washington State

ADA Statement for the District

Each of the colleges offers consultation to faculty, staff, and classified employees of the college for the purpose of designing accommodations that provide equal access to otherwise qualified students.

To be eligible for disability-related services, students must have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Under the ADA and Section 504, a person has a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities (walking, standing, seeing, speaking, hearing, sitting, breathing, and taking care of oneself).

Compromise Academic Standards

Suspend Student Code of Conduct

ADA laws do not ask

institutions to:

EEOC Statement & Accommodations

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT AND ACCOMMODATION FOR DISTRICT STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES The Seattle Community College District is committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity for all its students, employees, and applicants in education, employment, services and contracts, and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, color, age, national origin, religion, marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, Vietnam-era or disabled veteran status, or presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability, except where a disability may impede performance at an acceptable level. In addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations for all otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. (SCCD Policy 201)

Examples of Disabilities

Spinal Cord InjuriesLoss of Limbs

Multiple SclerosisMuscular Dystrophy

Cerebral PalsyHearing ImpairmentsVisual Impairments

Speech ImpairmentsLearning Disabilities

Head InjuriesPsychiatric Disabilities

DiabetesCancer

AIDSPTSD

Accommodation

The removal of barriers to participation

The Emphasis is on Access Not Outcome

Role of Disability Support Services

Obtain Documentation

Identify Functional Limitations

Determine Academic Adjustments

Assist in Implementation

Provide Support

Purpose of Non-discrimination policies and grievance processes

To enforce the Districts position prohibiting discrimination in the Seattle Community College District and to set forth the investigation and complaint handling procedures for discrimination claims.

Policy

The Seattle Community College District is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment.  The college does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, age, marital status, religion, disability or on any other unlawful basis.  The college is committed to preventing and stopping discrimination, including harassment, on any of these unlawful bases, and any associated retaliatory behavior. 

All employees and students must be allowed to work and learn in an environment free from discrimination.  The College will comply with applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, educational programs, and admissions, including Titles VII and IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the state law against discrimination, chapter 49.60 RCW.

Formal Complaint Process

Any person may begin the formal complaint procedure by filing a written complaint as follows: – A complaint by a student should be filed with the

SVI Executive Dean– SVI Executive Dean will review complaint, meet

with faculty/staff and respond to student in two weeks.

– Student may file with outside agencies if not satisfied with internal process

Out-side Agencies

These complaint procedures are internal college procedures, and serve to resolve complaints within the college’s administrative framework. An aggrieved party also has the right to direct inquiries to, and/ or to file a complaint of discrimination with, any appropriate state or federal agency. These may include:

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission909 First Avenue Seattle, WA 98104(800) 669-4000

Department of EducationOffice for Civil Rights915  2nd Avenue Room 3310Seattle, WA 98174(206) 220-7900

Washington State Human Rights Commission1511 Third AvenueSeattle, WA 98101(206) 464-6500

DSS District Contacts

North Seattle: Disability Services    

Rebecca Cory at (206) 526-7808 South Seattle: Educational Support Services      

Roxanne Tillman at (206) 763-5137 Seattle Central/SVI: Disability Support Services      

Al Souma at (206) 587-4169

SCCC

Norwood Brooks-SVI 587-4940

Create an environment of trust and confidentiality that allows the person to feel comfortable discussing his or her condition

Examples of Disability Harassment

1) Interfering with role of sign language

interpreter

2) Physical barriers in classroom for wheelchair users

3) Announcing students disability to other students

Harassment examples (cont)

4) Denial of field trips because of disability

5) Embarrassing student for use of accommodations

6) Other students being inappropriate through use of mocking language or actions