Lanier Technical College is committed to ensuring qualified students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from all programs, services, and activities sponsored by the institution. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) ensure that no otherwise qualified person with a disability will be denied access, benefits, or be subjected to discrimination by any program or activity provided by any public institution or entity receiving federal funds.
Rights
As a student with a disability at Lanier Technical College, you have the right to:
- equal access to educational programs, services, jobs, activities, and facilities provided by the institution. This includes academic courses, extracurricular activities, and campus resources.
- reasonable and appropriate accommodations and/or auxiliary aids determined on an individual basis and through an interactive process with Accessibility Services. Once the needed auxiliary aids and services have been identified, institutions may not require students with disabilities to pay part or all of the costs of such aids and services, nor may institutions charge students with disabilities more for participating in programs or activities than they charge students who do not have disabilities. If the institution can demonstrate that providing a specific auxiliary aid or service would result in undue financial or administrative burdens, considering the institution’s resources as a whole, it can opt to provide another effective one.
- choose to utilize approved accommodations when needed.
- confidentiality of all information and has the right to choose to whom information about his or her disability is disclosed. Accessibility Services will not share your disability with any party, including instructors, except if required as an educational necessity or by law.
- be free of discrimination based on disability status.
- appeal accommodation decisions made by Accessibility Services by following the established grievance process.
Responsibilities
As a student with a disability at Lanier Technical College, you have the responsibility to:
- meet the essential requirements for admission and participation in the college’s academic programs, services, and activities, including relevant technical standards with or without reasonable accommodations. Students with disabilities should expect to complete all course requirements, such as assignments and examinations.
- self-identify with Accessibility Services by following the established registration process if you wish to receive accommodations. The disclosure should be made in a timely manner to allow for the implementation of necessary accommodations. Although students may request accommodations at any time, those needing services are advised to notify Accessibility Services as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange for auxiliary aids and services. Instructors are not obligated to provide accommodations without official notification from Accessibility Services. It is important to note that accommodations are not retroactive and only apply once a student has fully completed the interactive process.
- provide appropriate and current documentation of their disability to Accessibility Services to support requests for reasonable accommodations. The documentation should come from a qualified professional and clearly outline the functional limitations related to the disability. A diagnosis of impairment alone does not establish that an individual has a disability within the meaning of Section 504 or Title II. Institutions of postsecondary education are not required to conduct or pay for an evaluation to document a student’s disability and need for an academic adjustment.
- engage in an interactive process with the Accessibility Services Coordinator to determine appropriate and reasonable accommodations. Students with disabilities need to work collaboratively with Accessibility Services to enable them to have an equal opportunity to participate in an institution’s programs and activities. Section 504 and Title II require that institutions of postsecondary education make individualized determinations regarding appropriate academic adjustments for each individual student.
- check and respond to their Lanier Technical College student email to remain updated on the policies and procedures of the Accessibility Services Office.
- keep all organizations that are assisting them up to date (GVRA, VA, etc.).
- use accommodations appropriately.
- notify Accessibility Services regarding any concerns or issues that may arise with respect to the provision of approved accommodations, disparaging treatment related to disability, or barriers to access. The notification should occur in a timely manner and as close to the event as possible. If the academic adjustments provided are not meeting the student’s needs, it is the student’s responsibility to notify Accessibility Services as soon as possible.
- maintain academic integrity and comply with the institution’s policies and procedures listed in the Catalog and Student Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as the procedures set forth by Accessibility Services. These are not mitigated by medical condition or disability.
Keys to Success: Attitude, Self-Advocacy and Preparation
All students, including those with disabilities, must take primary responsibility for their success or failure in postsecondary education. The attitude and self-advocacy skills of students with disabilities are crucial factors in determining academic success. Students with disabilities may select any program for which they are qualified but are advised to review carefully documentation standards and program requirements for their program of interest. Students should pay close attention to the institution’s program requirements to avoid making financial and time commitments that, even with academic adjustments, prove difficult to meet an essential requirement for program completion.
*U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
