Disability Resource Center

A student must provide documentation of a disability to be eligible for services. Disability as defined by civil rights law constitutes a mental or physical condition that results in significant impairment in one or more major life functions. Documentation must state your diagnosis and course of treatment, the nature and severity of your functional limitations, and the duration for which they are expected to continue. Documentation of a disability must substantiate the need for specific accommodations requested. Current documentation is required for services. You will meet with the DRC staff member, review the documentation and, if necessary, work together to find resources that may provide more current evaluations. The college has the discretion to require additional documentation. Pending the receipt of appropriate documentation, the college reserves the right to deny any accommodations. Records must be signed by the licensed professional evaluator.

Please note that IEPs and teacher testing is considered support documentation only and cannot be used solely to substantiate a disability.

Call the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 850-973-9403 (V), 850-973-1611 (TTY) for an appointment to complete your request for accommodations, review documentation and arrange the time and place for accommodations.

Policy

NFC complies with Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and American with Disabilities Act as amended. Students must request testing accommodations and provide needed documentation before accommodations will be arranged. Accommodations for testing must be requested at least 14 days in advance. Students are encouraged to apply for admission and schedule a meeting with Student Disability Services before taking the placement tests. It will take time to review documentation, make a decision, and make arrangements for accommodations.

For placement tests, tests for external purposes and for people within two years of high school graduation, an IEP and accompanying testing can be accepted as appropriate documentation. An IEP is considered supporting documentation only for course accommodation.

Providing these accommodations does not obligate NFC to provide course accommodations but simply as a good faith showing for these prospective students. Upon admission, documentation within the standard guidelines will be required for accommodation provision. Students with disabilities are encouraged to be in contact with the Student Disability Services staff to further clarify issues of accommodations.

NFC does not provide students with disabilities with personal devices or assistance, including but not limited to wheelchairs, eye glasses, hearing aids, transportation, special classes, personal assistance for eating, dressing, or other personal services, readers for personal use, housing or financial assistance.

NFC is in compliance with the Federal Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) ensuring the confidentiality of all student records. In addition, both the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended require that confidentiality be maintained. Documentation of a disability is considered confidential and does not become part of the student academic transcript.