Disability Support Counselor
Contact information

Elkhorn Campus/Fremont Center

Chris Tarr
Voice (402) 289-1315
Fax (402) 289-1398

Fort Omaha Campus

Melinda Classen
Voice (402) 457-2580
Fax (402) 457-2788

South Omaha Campus

Chris Holst
Voice (402) 738-4757
Fax (402) 738-4640

Sarpy Center

Deb Eppenbaugh
Voice (402) 537-3841
Fax (402) 537-3834

Sign Language Interpreter Services

Judy Gouldsmith
Voice (402) 457-2854
Fax (402) 457-2788

Delivery of Services

a. Disclosure/Eligibility: Students who request services or accommodations must disclose the nature of their disabling condition and provide documentation of disability to the campus Disability Support Services (DSS) Counselor. This disclosure is considered confidential, and is released to other Metro employees with the consent of the student on a "need to know" basis. There are limits to the confidentiality of student records as outlined in the College's "Procedures under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act" document. (Procedures Memorandum Index V-1)

b. Request for Accommodations/Adequate Notice: Since some accommodations require more time to coordinate, students are asked to request services as soon as they register for classes and to register as early as possible. Delivery timelines for specific accommodations are outlined in the "Services" section. Every effort is made to provide services, no matter when requested. Students should note that without sufficient written notice of request, timely provision of services may be delayed or denied.

At the time of the request, the student and DSS Counselor will discuss the disability and services requested. Documentation will be requested and evaluated to ensure the appropriateness of the accommodations.

c. Documentation of Disability: Documentation may be hand-delivered to the DSS Counselor by the student or requested via a consent form by the DSS Counselor. Current (within the past 3 years) documentation is preferred, and may be required by the DSS Counselor.

Documentation should describe the disability, how it may impact the student's academic performance, and suggest appropriate educational accommodations. The diagnostician must be a qualified professional with credentials that qualify her/him to diagnose the disability and suggest appropriate accommodations. Metro does not offer this service.

Students who plan to transfer to another post-secondary institution should be aware that the other institution's standards for acceptable documentation may differ from Metro's. Students are encourage to learn the requirement for documentation established by other institutions they wish to attend.

d. Temporary Accommodations: Temporary accommodations may be provided during the time it takes to acquire appropriate documentation of disability. These temporary accommodations may be discontinued if supporting documentation is not received within 90 days.

Services

a. Confidentiality/Instructor Notification:

Instructors will be notified of a student's disability with the student's written permission. Confidential information may also be disclosed to Metro instructors and/or staff on a "need to know" basis for legitimate educational purposes. Instructors need to know when they are required to provide or assist in providing an accommodation in the classroom or testing situation and when it is in the best interest of the student. For more information on this topic see Metro Procedures Memorandum Index No. V-1; "Procedures under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA or Buckley Amendment)."

b. Disability Support Services Counselors:

DSS Counselors are available to assist students with disabilities on a walk-in and appointment based system. Students who walk in are not always guaranteed a visit with the DSS Counselor. Appointments are encouraged, and can be made by contacting any Metro Campus Student Services Center. DSS Counselors may also be contacted by voicemail, telephone (V/TTY), or e-mail.

c. Types of Accommodations and Services:

Types of services vary from student to student. DSS Counselors work on an individual basis, considering each student's unique situation. Services may include but are not limited to one or more of the following: counseling, sign language interpreting, notetaking, mobility assistance, reading assistance, tutoring, career exploration, textbooks in an alternate format, and adaptive equipment loan.

d. Timelines:

There may be many student requests for accommodations and it may take time to address them all. Students who request an accommodation are advised to make the request known as soon as possible to ensure timely services. The following list indicates how long it may take to arrange a specific accommodation:

• Adapting facilities/equipment such as raising or lowering tables and special seating arrangements....2 weeks
• Arranging a conference with an instructor, student services staff, and student...1 week
• Having printed material such as texts or handouts put on audio cassettes....8 weeks
• Hiring a Disability Support Services for services such as reading exams, proctoring exams, scribing exams, or enlarging text....4 weeks
• Hiring a qualified tutor for general education classes such as English, math, and social sciences...4 weeks
• Hiring a qualified tutor in a specialized area such as natural sciences, advanced math, and computer/microcomputer classes....6 weeks
• Installing special adaptive equipment such as speech synthesizers, text enlargers, and assistive listening devices....4 weeks
• Modifying classroom materials.... 4 weeks
• Providing notetaking services....2 weeks
• Providing sign language interpreter services (depending on availability of qualified interpreters)....6 weeks

e. Technology/Adaptive Equipment:

Metro makes adaptive equipment available, if needed, to students with documented disabilities. Some items are issued to students on loan, while other items are made available for use on campus. This equipment includes but is not limited to: tape recorders, magnifiers, JAWS (computer screen reader), Zoomtext (computer screen enlarger), and assistive listening devices.

FACULTY, STAFF, and STUDENTS

a. "Team" Approach:

In addressing student accommodation needs as discussed previously, the basic team unit at Metro will consist of the student with the disability and the DSS Counselor. Other members of Metro staff are included as deemed appropriate and necessary for the delivery of services to the student. Faculty are often enlisted as members of the service team in order to provide timely and consistent accommodations to students and to suggest further and future accommodations. Other qualified College personnel including sign language interpreters, tutors, Disability Support Services aides, and support staff may also contribute to the team effort. Team members will maintain confidentiality regarding a student's disability, and except in extraordinary circumstances, will not discuss the student's disability with non-members of the team without the student's consent.

b. Student Orientation/Faculty Orientation:

Student orientation is most often done on an individual basis by the DSS Counselor. Students with disabilities are also encouraged to participate in College-wide student orientation sessions. Additional information about Metro is included in the college catalog, Metro web page, Student Handbook, and various brochures available upon request at any Student Services Center.

Faculty orientation is provided via staff development programs and on an individual basis. A major part of the DSS Counselor's job is to maintain good rapport with faculty and to be a source of information and referral on matters relating to disability services.

c. Rights and Responsibilities:

Qualified students with a documented disability have the right to:

• Equal access to all of the resources available to Metro students
• Access to reasonable and appropriate accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services
• Delivery of reasonable accommodations in a timely manner, upon request
• Assurance that information regarding their disability will be handled in a confidential manner in accordance with federal and state laws and college policy.

Students with a documented disability have the responsibility to:

• Meet the qualifications and standards of enrollment
• Comply with all relevant regulations and student conduct guidelines as described in the College catalog.
• Disclose in a timely manner any disability for which they are requesting accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services
• Provide documentation of disability from a qualified professional which: describes the disability, explains how the disability impacts on the student's academic performance, and suggests appropriate educational accommodations.
• Notify the DSS Counselor/Student Services office immediately when they experience a delay in or absence of services
• Follow published College procedures for requesting and obtaining appropriate accommodations and services.

Metropolitan Community College has the right to:

• Maintain the College's academic and student conduct standards
• Require satisfactory documentation of disability from a qualified professional
• Establish the fundamental nature, the essential functions and criteria, and the required student outcomes of Metro courses, programs, and activities
• Deny a request for an accommodation (and any specifically requested accommodation) that: is inappropriate or unreasonable as supported by documentation, poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others, requires a fundamental alteration of a program, and/or imposes an undue or unnecessary financial burden on the College
• Consult with the student and team members to select an educational accommodation when more than one choice is available

Metropolitan Community College has the responsibilityto:

• Provide information regarding policies and procedures to students with disabilities
• Ensure access to all of the resources and facilities available at the College by a qualified individual with a disability
• Provide appropriate and reasonable educational accommodations in a timely manner to qualified students with documented disabilities who request them in accordance with College policies and procedures
• Maintain confidentiality of information in accordance with federal and state laws and College policy
• Uphold the College mission of dedication to the personal and professional goals of life-long learners by helping to provide accessible education for all qualified individuals

EVALUATION of SERVICES

a. Feedback/Communication Regarding Services:

Students are encouraged to provide feedback to their DSS Counselor on an informal basis. Students are also given the opportunity to formally evaluate their DSS Counselor and services provided. Evaluations are confidential.

Twice during an academic year, faculty and students receive a request to complete a written evaluation of services from the Office of Disability Support Services. Agencies who work with Metro students are given this opportunity once during an academic year.

Information gleaned from these evaluations is discussed with the DSS Counselor involved so that appropriate contacts, changes, and adjustments can be made.

b. Disputes/Disagreements/Grievance Procedures:

If at any time a student is dissatisfied with the services of the Office of Disability Support Services, s/he is encouraged to bring the issues directly to his/her DSS Counselor. In the event that the situation cannot be resolved at this level, a formal grievance procedure is in place. Please speak to the DSS Counselor for written information regarding the formal grievance procedure.