Disability Resource Center
THE DRC
The mission of the Office of Disability Resource Center (DRC) at North Florida College is to create an environment where all students (regardless of the existence of a disability) have equal educational opportunities.
Contact:
DisabilityResourceCenter@nfc.edu
850-973-9490 (V)
711 (TTY)
Building 7, Room 711
The DRC works with students with disabilities to provide a variety of support services to empower students, foster independence, promote achievement of realistic career and educational goals, and assist students in discovering, developing and demonstrating their full potential. At the core of this partnership is a philosophy of respect for the student abilities, self-determination and independence. All services are provided to qualified students free of charge.
In addition to these services, the Disability Resource Center acts as a resource for faculty, administration, staff and community members on issues of disability and accommodation.
The DRC provides assistance to any qualified student with an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities or has a record of such impairment. (Americans with Disabilities Act, PL 101-336, 1990). This definition may include:
- Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Persons with learning disabilities
- Persons with mental or psychological disorders
- Persons with mobility impairments or physical impediments
- Persons who are blind or who have visually impairments
- Persons with speech impediments
- Persons with serious health issues such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, sickle cell anemia, tuberculosis, and/or heart disease.
Accommodations/Services
Reasonable accommodations are individualized, flexible, and based on the nature of the documented disability and the academic environment. Some accommodations that the college provides to students with disabilities are:
- Accessible Classroom – location and furniture
- Testing Modifications
- Assistive Technology and Alternative Format Learning Materials
- Course Substitutions and Entrance/Exit Requirement Waivers
- Sign Language/Oral Interpreters
- Note taking services
- Readers/Scribes
- Others Identified Individually
NFC also offers the following services to qualified students with disabilities:
- Tutoring
- Individualized academic coaching
- Educational planning and advising
- Career advising
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), 711 (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 the Disability Resource Center 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 DRC 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.
In the event a student believes he/she has the basis for a grievance, the student shall first have a conference with the person(s) associated with the grievance.
NFC employs a Student Ombudsman to provide information and support that a student may need through the grievance process in attempt to resolve the concern.
Any concerns about the Disability Resource Center services or staff members should be first directed to that DRC staff member. If the student is not satisfied with the resolution, the student may contact the Director of Learning Resources, then the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
If the student is not satisfied at this level, he/she may appeal to the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs; the student may appeal once more to the President who will make the final decision.
Student Rights
Students with disabilities can expect:
- The right to participate equally in and benefit from any courses or activities offered that the student would be otherwise eligible for to the full extent possible with consideration to program and activity integrity.
- The right to be treated as an individual with respect for his/her own ability to make decisions.
- The right to have access to accommodations and services that equalize his/her educational experience.
- The right to access to all information pertinent to educational decisions including but not limited to catalogs, class schedules, handbooks, personal records, and personnel to answer questions.
- The right to expect that all legal rights of the student will be protected.
- The right to utilize a grievance procedure if dissatisfied with services provided by the Disability Resource Center.
Student Responsibilities
Students working with Office of DRC are expected:
- To satisfy all obligations (which are not barriers due to disability) that other students have to meet in order to maintain institutional academic and vocational standards.
- To self identify as an individual with a disability. All disclosures are voluntary but are required if accommodations are desired.
- To request accommodations prior to the beginning of each term and make use of said accommodations.
- To report any difficulties with accommodations in a timely manner so the problem can be resolved.
- To follow all published policies and procedures associated with NFC and the Disability Resource Center.
- To request assistance in courses and training in self-advocacy if needed.
- To self advocate with any school, federal, state, and private entities to ensure that services and funding are provided appropriately.
Federal
Americans with Disabilities Act as amended (Public Law 101-336/Title I – V)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a wide-ranging piece of legislation intended
to make society more accessible to people with disabilities.
The ADA is not an affirmative action statute; it seeks to dispel stereotypes and assumptions
about disabilities, and to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent
living, and economic self-sufficiency for persons with disabilities. To achieve these
objectives, the law prohibits covered entities from excluding people from jobs, services,
activities, or benefits based on disability. The law provides penalties for discrimination.
Not every disabled person is covered by the ADA. Certain standards must be met for
a person to qualify for the act's protections. To be considered "disabled" under the
ADA, a person must have a condition that impairs a major life activity, a history
of such a condition, or be regarded as having such a condition.
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended (Public Law 93-112/29 USC § 794)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, states that...
"No otherwise qualified person with a disability shall, solely on the basis of disability,
be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected
to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance"
(Public Law 93-112). This nondiscrimination statute and the regulations issued under
it, especially Subpart E, guarantee a right of entrance and participation for students
with disabilities into colleges and universities.
State
| Statute | Paraphrased Title |
|---|---|
| 1007.263 | Admissions to PSAV for Students with Disabilities in Learning |
| 1007.264 | Admissions to Postsecondary Educational Institutions for Students with Disabilities in Learning |
| 1007.265 | Course Substitutions for Students with Disabilities in Learning |
| 1008.29(5) | CLAST Waivers for Learning Disabilities |
| 1009.41 | Financial Aid Awarded for Part Time Enrollment for Students with Disabilities |
| 1009.892 | Financial Aid - Cost of Attendance with Adult-normed testing |
| 1007.02 | ENNOBLES - Access to postsecondary education and meaningful careers for students with disabilities |
| 282.601-282.605 | Accessibility of Information and Technology |
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