The Academic Support Center works with students with disabilities and college officials to resolve questions of 'reasonable accommodation' and other issues related to the college’s compliance with disability laws.
An accommodation is a modification or support that gives a student with a disability an equal opportunity to participate and benefit from SCC. Accommodations are adjustments to how things are usually done. The purpose of effective accommodations is to increase a student’s chances for success.
Reasonable accommodations can be provided in various ways. The following are brief descriptions and examples of the most common categories of accommodations that permit a qualified student with a disability to effectively participate in the educational process.
- Changes to a classroom environment or task; examples might include:
- extended time for an exam
- the use of a dictionary or spell checker
- materials in alternative formats such as large print, audio tape of computer disk.
- Removal of architectural barriers; examples might include:
- adapting a classroom to meet the needs of a student who uses a wheelchair
- Exceptions to policies, practices or procedures; examples might include:
- priority registration
- accessing assignments early
- Provision of auxiliary aids and services; examples might include:
- providing a sign language interpreter
- providing a note taker or scribe
In accordance with the law, there are some modifications that the college does not provide as a reasonable accommodation. Examples include:
- personal devices such as wheelchairs or glasses
- personal services, such as private tutoring or personal attendants (Note: Tutoring services may be available elsewhere at the campus)
- modifications that lower or change course standards or program standards
- modifications that would change the essence of a program, such as allowing a student in an auto mechanics program to take a written test on repairing an engine instead of actually repairing an engine or allowing a student in a public speaking class to substitute a written paper for an oral presentation
- services that are unduly burdensome, either administratively or financially
