FACULTY DISABILITY SERVICES FACT SHEET

• ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA is a federal civil rights law designed to provide equal opportunity for people with disabilities.  The ADA ensures equal access and opportunity and also protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination.

• The  ADA defines “disabled” as any individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; and who has a record of such an impairment; and is regarded as having such an impairment.

• Any person residing in the U.S. who can perform the essential functions of the course requirements, with or without reasonable accommodations, “qualifies” as a disabled college student.

• “Reasonable and appropriate” accommodations for disabled students are changes in the academic environment that permit qualified persons with a disability equal access to educational opportunities.

• Criteria that may lead to ODS denying an accommodation include:

o factors that impose undue hardship on program resources
o fundamental alterations of academic programs
o the type of program operation

• It is the responsibility of the student to identify him/herself as disabled and to request assistance from ODS.

• How should students “identify” at PCCC as disabled under the ADA?
o With current documentation diagnosing the disability, students meet with a disabilities specialist, and ODS determines if the student qualifies for accommodations; if so, a letter/form is issued for each registered course.

• Faculty’s role in the academic adjustments/accommodations process: 
o The instructor discusses the accommodations with the student and makes suitable arrangements for the accommodations as appropriate while addressing any and all questions regarding the provision or appropriateness of the recommended accommodations to the disabilities specialist.

• Instructors do not have the right to view student documentation.

• ODS has assistive technology (AT) available for qualified disabled students.

• PCCC’s designated ADA Compliance Officer is located in the Human Resources office (x6107).

• PCCC’s ODS Coordinator is Therese Slusser (x5215 / A202A).

• PCCC’s Disabilities Specialist is Gina Carson (x6395 / A202A, PAC218, WAC116).

• The ADA and Section 504 only ensure access; success in college is up to the student.

Click here for a printable Faculty Disability Services Fact Sheet