Disability Services FAQ

What does "Qualified Person with a Disability Mean" ?

ADA's definition of a qualified person with a disability is one who:

satisfies the requisite skill and other educational related requirements for admission and
with or without reasonable accommodations can meet the academic requirements that Pitt Community College can demonstrate are essential to its curriculum.

Once those requirements are met, then the college can provide "reasonable accommodations" to help the student succeed in a program of his/her choice.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and not Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires public educational institutions with 50 or more employees to inform the public about the ADA and how the laws affect the institution's services and programs. Schools can comply with this requirement by preparing handbooks or manuals, posters, pamphlets or information for broadcast. In disseminating the information, educators must comply with the ADA requirement that communications be offered in alternative formats such as large print or audiotapes.

What is Reasonable Accommodation ?

Reasonable accommodation is the term used by the ADA for modifications made to the learning environment that help to create equal educational opportunity. It does not require that students with disabilities be given special advantages in order to pass nor does it require that they be graded on a different scale from their classmates. On the contrary, it refers to steps that can be taken without significant difficulty or expense to allow otherwise qualified students to fulfill course requirements by limiting as much as possible the effects of their disabilities on their performance. If reasonable accommodations are not evident, effort must be made to look for accommodations. Disability Services, in addition to students with disabilities, can be a an invaluable resource to instructors seeking accommodations that may be necessary to ensure access to education by:

providing alternative ways to fulfill course requirements;
developing and implementing innovative teaching techniques;
referring students for supplemental instructions and adaptive technology;
tailoring course requirements to individuals needs and
modifying test procedures to ensure accurate measurements of a student's academic ability and not his/her disability.

Questions Most Frequently Asked By Instructors

Why do I have to provide academic accommodations?

Subpart E of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires an institution be prepared to make reasonable academic adjustments and accommodations to allow students with disabilities full participation in the same programs and activities available to students without disabilities.

What if I cannot provide an accommodation recommended in the Accommodation Letter?

First, call the Disability Services staff and ask them to help identify the resources you need to provide the accommodation. In some cases, the staff may have to modify the recommendations for the particular academic situation.

Most of the Accommodation Letters I receive recommend extended test time. Why?

Extended test time is the accommodation most requested by students to assist them with their classes. For example, students with learning disabilities cannot process information in the same manner as typical students. Therefore, they need additional time to rephrase the questions in a manner they can understand and answer. A student with a mobility impairment may need additional time to write the answers. The Research Department in the System Office reports that extended time is the most requested accommodation by students with disabilities.

What do I do if a student contact me in class requesting accommodations and I have not received a Letter of Accommodation from Disability Services?

It is the student's responsibility to provide documentation of his or her disability in order to receive accommodations. If a student is asking for accommodations and is not working with Disability Services, suggest he/she call the office to arrange for an appointment.

What if I suspect a student in my class has a disability and would benefit from accommodations, however, I don't think they are working with the Disability Services?

If you notice that a student is struggling and you suspect that he or she has a disability, please talk to the student privately. During the meeting, you can refer the student to Disability Services, or, at the beginning of each semester, to announce to the class that if a student has any special circumstances for which he or she needs accommodations, to speak with you after class or during your office hours.

Questions Frequently Asked by Students

Am I obligated to disclose to anyone that I have a disability?

No, however, if the college is not aware of your disability, it is not required to provide accommodations.

What do I do if a teacher refuses to provide a classroom accommodations stated in my Letter of Accommodation?

Contact the staff in Disability Services.

I need a personal care attendant. Who is responsible for training the attendant and who will pay this person?

The college is not required to provide personal attendant care services to students with disabilities. You may want to contact the Independent Living Offices in Greenville at: 830-3471

What kind of accommodations are available to me for taking tests because my disability interferes with my ability to write quickly or in small spaces?

Some examples are: extended time, oral testing, a scribe to write for you and testing in a separate room.

I have problems with mathematical calculations. Can I use a calculator in my math classes?

No. The Office of Civil Rights ruled that calculators can be used on admission tests that do not test basic arithmetic. Students with learning disabilities are allowed to use calculators on all mathematics tests except those tests involving arithmetic calculations and fundamental computations. (Case: Connecticut State Department of Education vs. Office of Civil Rights 3/13/1980)

If I am having trouble with my classes, is there tutoring available? Who pays for tutors and how do I arrange to receive the services?

Tutorial assistance is available to students with disabilities. Tutors are paid out of a special fund set aside by the college. If you need tutorial assistance, please contact the Tutorial and Academic Success Center in Trailer 23 or at (252) 493-7258.

Is there a TTY available to me on campus?

Yes, there are several TTYs on campus in areas where there is a lot of traffic.

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