For the Student with a Documented Disability
To ensure that students with disabilities have access to a ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Community College education, we provide accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” Colleges are required to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with documented disabilities, as long as the accommodations do not create a significant burden to the college, change the nature of a program, or disrupt instruction.
In order to support your needs, we need to know that you want our assistance, and we need to understand your disability. As a student, it is your responsibility to voluntarily and confidentially disclose information regarding the nature of your disability to our Disability Resource Center (DRC) staff.
The process requires that students complete an online intake form and submit documentation of their disabilities. Note that high school 504 plans and Individualized Education Plans do not transfer to colleges, and the DRC will usually require additional documentation if an IEP or 504 plan is submitted as documentation of your disability. ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï does not provide a documentation form for providers to complete but you can find information to give your provider about documentation here.
Starting the Process
You must be admitted to ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï and registered for classes in order to begin the process. If you are not registered for classes, your request cannot be processed. We encourage you to begin the process before the semester starts, but we understand that this is not always possible.
The process begins when you complete a DRC intake form. After you fill submit the form, you will receive an email with information about how to submit documentation from your healthcare provider. Please review the Recommended Documentation for Disabilities for information about the type of documentation we request in order to support your needs.
Once you are registered for classes, fill out the
After We Receive Your Intake Form and Documentation
After receiving the intake form and documentation, the DRC will discuss your needs and determine appropriate accommodations for your classes.
Once accommodations have been determined, the DRC will send emails to your ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï email account and each of your instructors. The emails will have a separate link to each of your accommodation letters for you and your professors to sign. After receiving your letters, you should discuss how the accommodations will be provided with your instructors, but you are not required to disclose your specific disability.
Please be aware that no accommodation is given prior to submission of an intake form, verification of disability, and discussion with your instructor. Accommodations are not retroactive.
Every semester, you will need to contact the DRC to notify the staff that you request accommodations. In most cases, you will not need to submit a new intake form or documentation; however, accommodations are not provided automatically each semester.
Other Important Information
If there is disagreement concerning accommodations between a faculty member and a student, the dean shall be contacted and included in the discussion as a mediator.
The student may appeal decisions made during this process by following the grievance procedure in the current ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Catalog/Student Handbook.
The college has a right to seek additional medical/psychological evaluations paid for by the college but must provide disputed accommodations until such information is obtained.
Want to Earn College Credits While Attending High School?
Did you know you can earn college credit while in high school? Our course credits transfer to Tennessee public institutions, allowing you to accelerate your college journey where you choose.