Disability Support Services (DSS) is committed to providing equal opportunity accommodations
for visitors and qualified students with disabilities in accordance with:
Eligibility for Disability Support Services
To be eligible, students must have a disability as defined by the above laws and show
how the disability affects a major life function.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
As a student, I acknowledge I have the right to:
- Request accommodations or chose not to request accommodations each quarter, (participation
is voluntary).
- Equal access to programs, activities, and services at Lower Columbia College.
- Receive assistance from the DSS Office in the form of reasonable accommodations.
- Appeal decisions regarding the determination of accommodations to the Section ADA/504
Coordinator:
Current Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Kendra Sprague, Vice President of Foundation, HR & Legal Affairs
Administration Building, Room 115
(360) 442-2301
ksprague@lowercolumbia.edu.
As a student, I acknowledge I am responsible for:
- Self-identifying to the DSS Office.
- Requesting assistance from the DSS Office.
- Completing an Intake Interview with the DSS Director.
- Providing formal, written documentation of my disability from a qualified professional,
according to guidelines provided by DSS
- Requesting services in a timely manner- 4-6 weeks prior to the beginning of EVERY quarter.
- Requesting reasonable accommodations to DSS every quarter through a Quarterly Request
form.
- Every quarter a student is requesting academic accommodations from DSS, he/she needs
to come to the DSS Office and complete a quarterly request form and attach a copy
of his/her class schedule. In turn, DSS will provide Letters of Accommodation for
the student to give to each of his/her instructors.
- Pick up an Accommodation Summary to give instructors to sign and return to the DSS
Office the first week of the quarter. This is a required part of getting DSS accommodations.
- Inform DSS if I add, drop, or change a class during the quarter by submitting an updated
copy of my schedule.
- Inform DSS if I want to add, drop, or change an accommodation by submitting an updated
Quarterly Request form..
- Contact DSS in a timely manner when problems or questions arise about their accommodations
or academic progress.
- Meet the academic and conduct standards of LCC required for all students.
DSS Rights and Responsibilities
DSS has the right to:
- Request current documentation that meets eligibility guidelines to verify the need
for reasonable accommodations.
- Select effective accommodations, or academic adjustments once consult with the students
and on a case-by-case basis.
- Refuse a request for accommodations if documentation is not valid or current.
- Refuse to provide an accommodation that is inappropriate or unreasonable in such a
manner as to:
- Pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others,,
- Constitute an alteration to an essential element of course or program,
- Or pose an undue financial or administrative burden to Lower Columbia College.
DSS has the responsibility to:
- Meet with a student and complete an Intake Interview, and identify reasonable accommodations.
- Review and interpret documentation in order to determine student eligibility for services
or reasonable accommodations.
- Determine accommodation needs based on documentation on case by case basis.
- Prepare an Accommodations Summary for each student to give to their instructors.
- Coordinate accommodations between student and instructor.
- Work with campus staff to assure accessible facilities, programs, and activities.
- Answer questions students may encounter about DSS accommodations.
Deadline for Students to Request Accommodations
DSS will acknowledge requests throughout the quarter:
However, students are encouraged to contact the DSS Office early, preferably 4-6 weeks
prior to the start of the quarter. Accommodation requests may take several weeks to
implement. For example equipment, ergonomic equipment, ergonomic furniture, interpreters,
alternate format, audio books, and braille books can take 6 and sometimes 8 weeks.
(Equipment may need to be ordered, staff such as interpreters may need to be hired,
and alternate format may need to be secured from publishers and created.)
The above responsibilities have been explained to me, and I understand my responsibilities.
