Policy On Accommodations for
Students with Disabilities

STATEMENT OF POLICY
Pierce College is committed to providing accommodations to students with disabilities to ensure that its educational programs and activities do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating against persons with disabilities in accordance with Federal and State law and College policy. Academic requirements that are justifiably essential to a student’s program of instruction are not considered discriminatory. Students with documented disabilities are entitled to receive approved modifications, accommodations, or auxiliary aids which will enable them to participate in and benefit from all educational programs and activities on the Pierce College campus.

SPECIAL SERVICES
Pierce College provides support services for students with mobility limitations, learning disabilities, hearing or visual impairments, and other disabilities. Special Services counselors are available to help students plan a Pierce College experience to meet their individual needs. They assist students in making personal, academic, and vocational choices, and show how best to utilize campus facilities. Prior to receiving this assistance, documentation verifying a student’s disability from a qualified professional source must be submitted to Special Services, whose disability specialists will determine the nature of accommodations in instruction and testing that will be required by the student.

In compliance with Pierce College policy, students with disabilities may be found eligible for one or more of the following services, depending upon the established needs of the students and available funding:

• Diagnostic Assessment to determine functional, educational, or employment levels or to verify specific disabilities;
• On-campus mobility assistance to and from college courses and educational activities;
• Disability-related counseling and advising, including specialized academic, vocational, personal and peer counseling;
• Interpreter services including manual and oral interpreting for hearing impaired students;
• Test taking facilitation, including adapting tests for and proctoring test taking by, students with disabilities;
• Liaisons with campus and community agencies, including referral and follow up services to these agencies on behalf of students
• Special parking, including on-campus parking registration, temporary parking permit arrangements
• Supplemental specialized orientation to acquaint students with the campus environment
  

Students with disabilities who believe that they are not receiving appropriate accommodations or that they are being discriminated against because of their disability, may contact the Special Services staff or their assigned counselor for assistance. If the issue is not resolved, the student should contact the Office of College Compliance.