Who qualifies to register at the Student Disability Services (SDS) office?
Upon admission to the College, students with physical, psychological, and/or learning disabilities (who can show current documentation less than four years old) can register at SDS and request academic accommodations. Participation in SDS is strictly voluntary. The College’s admission process is independent from consideration of student disabilities.
What happens next?
The student reviews disability issues and academic needs with personnel from Student Disability Services. Appropriate accommodations based upon submitted documentation, on a class-by-class basis, are discussed. Such accommodations might include extended time for exams and papers, peer note takers in the class, exams given in a distraction free setting, audio taping of class lectures, alternative testing formats, sign interpreters, books on tape, etc.
At the request of the student, SDS will work with the faculty to accommodate the needs of the student.
In addition, students are offered a service of regular meetings to monitor accommodations and academic progress.
When should a student inquire about services?
Inquire as soon as possible! The sooner the inquiry after admission occurs, the sooner the student can register with the SDS Office and discuss appropriate academic accommodations for the upcoming semester.
It is the responsibility of the student:
- To disclose a disability to SDS in a timely manner when requesting academic accommodations.
- To provide appropriate, current documentation supporting the disability. The documentation must include a report from a qualified professional identifying the disability and indicating academic recommendations. A high school Individual Education Plan is not sufficient for a complete documentation file.
- To understand the attendance policy and attend classes unless illness or emergency prevents them from doing so.
- To meet the academic requirements of their courses and of their majors.
- To assess the extent to which the accommodations agreed upon and implemented for the semester are meeting their needs and share their conclusions with SDS.
Responsibilities of the College
Through Student Disability Services, the College provides a variety of services to students with disabilities based on individual documentation and need. The responsibility of the College is to provide reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis and to afford equal opportunity for student participation in the institution’s programs, activities, and services.
What can students learn through SDS?
- Students evaluate their academic strengths and learn how to use them to their advantage.
- Students have the opportunity to develop areas that need strengthening, such as:
- Listening, speaking, reading, and writing
- Mathematical and organizational abilities
- Studying, note-taking, and test-taking
- Library research
- Time management
- Students receive training as needed on adaptive lab equipment (voice recognition software, inspiration software, and math skills software).
- Student receive individualized tutoring from staff members who are trained to work with individuals with learning disabilities at the College’s Math Center, Reading Lab, Writing Center, Accounting Lab, and Computer Lab.
Western New England College provides services to support students with disabilities because it is of the utmost importance that all students at the College are offered the appropriate tools to succeed. The Student Disability Services Office can be utilized voluntarily by students and is a free service offered by the college.
For further information contact:
Western New England College
Student Disability Services
1215 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119-2684
413-782-1257
413-782-1258
Western New England College is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the College’s nondiscrimination policies: The Director of Career and Human Resources, Western New England College, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA 01119-2684. Inquiries concerning the application of nondiscriminiation policies may also be referred to the Regional Director, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, J.W. McCromack P.O.C.H., Room 222, Boston, MA 02109-4557.
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) enacted into law July 26, 1992, guarantees persons with disabilities in the United States protection from discrimination on the basis of a disability.
