Faculty member working with students

Office of Accessibility Services

Introduction

Coe College strives to provide each student a personalized education that prepares them for life in a rapidly changing world. The Accessibility Services Office assures that the educational experience of our students with disabilities is similar to, if not identical, to that of their fellow students. We work with each student to create accommodations that meet their unique needs within the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Coe College is committed to equal access and nondiscrimination, in principle and in practice.  No qualified person will be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by Coe College because of a disability. Coe College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or genetic information in its programs and activities.


Compliance with ADA/Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Requires that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be denied access to, the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination by any program or activity provided by any institution or entity receiving federal financial assistance. 

Subpart E of Section 504 Specific to Institutions of Higher Education

Requires that an institution (public or private) be prepared to make appropriate academic adjustments and reasonable modifications to policies and practices in order to allow the full participation of students with disabilities in the same programs and activities available to non-disabled students.

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008

Requires that all public facilities, services, and communications be accessible to persons with disabilities and that auxiliary aids and services be provided unless an undue burden would result.


Accessibility Services Policy

Coe College encourages students with disabilities or students who believe their learning may be affected by a disability to contact the Office of Accessibility Services. The needs of each student are unique and can best be determined through an interactive process based on the student’s lived experience, current concerns, and personal goals. The Accessibility Services Coordinator, faculty and staff can help the student determine what accommodations and supports are needed. Self-identifying as a student with a disability and asking for accommodations are personal decisions, and it is the responsibility of the student to make initial contact and remain actively involved in the accommodation process.  The benefits of accommodations are not retroactive.


Reasonable Accommodations

Students make their disability status and subsequent need for an accommodation known by contacting the Accessibility Services Office.

Coe College will provide reasonable accommodation(s) to otherwise qualified students as required by law to ensure equal access to educational opportunities, programs, services, and activities in the most integrated setting, to the extent such requested accommodation(s) do not impose an undue hardship upon the College or constitute a fundamental alteration to a program or compromise academic integrity.  Neither supervisors, faculty, program sponsors, staff nor administrators may independently deny a request for accommodation.


Role of the Accessibility Services/ADA Coordinator

The Accessibility Services/ADA Coordinator (ASC) is designated by Coe College to provide services, resources, and programs to facilitate equal learning opportunities for students with disabilities. The ASC also determines whether individuals are eligible for reasonable accommodation and, if so, the nature of the reasonable accommodation.


Student Rights

Students with disabilities have the right to full and equal access to the same educational experience as students without disabilities; to have requests for services reviewed in a timely manner; to have approved accommodations implemented in a timely manner, without discrimination; and to have disability documentation be held confidentially and released only with the student’s written request or permission.


Disability Documentation and Confidentiality

The Office of Accessibility Services is the custodian of records for students’ medical or educational records obtained for the purpose of providing reasonable accommodations.

Disability and medical information is confidential and is not shared except where disclosure is required by law or is necessary to facilitate legitimate College processes, including granting appropriate reasonable accommodations, addressing direct threats or investigating claims or charges.


Student Responsibilities

Students must self-identify their disability and participate in an interactive interview process to identify their specific needs. Students must provide appropriate documentation of their disability.

Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Accessibility Services Coordinator at their earliest opportunity. Accommodations and the benefits thereof are not retroactive and begin only after the need for such services has been disclosed by the student.

Students are expected to communicate with their faculty regarding the ways in which their disability affects their learning and access to materials in the class. Students will not be asked to share the specifics of their disability but rather the way their unique circumstances effect classroom engagement and access.

Students are expected to maintain open communication with the Accessibility Services Office making the Coordinator aware of any changes in needs or effectiveness of accommodation.

Students are required to make arrangements for alternative testing accommodations according to the policies of the Testing Center.


Concerns and Complaints

Appeal Process

Level 1: Further Review
The student provides further information to Accessibility Services as outlined by the email declining the accommodation. The student will schedule a meeting with Accessibility Services within seven days to discuss the need for the accommodation and provide additional information. The accommodation request will be re-evaluated at that time. If a student declines the outcome after further review, it will move to an appeal.

Level 2: Appeal
The student may submit a written appeal to the appropriate campus personnel. Appeals for housing, meal plans and emotional support animals will go to the Dean of Students, Keniese Evans.  Academic appeals will go to the Associate Dean for Student Academics, Susan Wolverton.

You can find the Appeal Request Form here.

Level 3: Complaint
If the student does not accept the outcome of the appeal, the student may make a written complaint to the Provost, Dr. Angela Ziskowski. The Provost will review the initial decision, the decision after further review and the appeal to make a final determination. After this stage the student may make a formal OCR complaint, if necessary.

If the student is unable to find resolution with the ADA Compliance Officer, they may contact Office of Civil Rights, US Department of Education to file a complaint.