Disability Access
Students with disabilities are entitled to non-discrimination and reasonable accommodations. SSS provides accessible programs, services, and reasonable accommodations for any student with a documented, qualifying disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Acts of 1990 mandate that educational institutions provide students with disabilities the necessary accommodations to ensure equal access to all academic and co-curricular programs and services. For more information visit the ADA website.
Getting Started
When to Request Accommodations
Students wishing to request accommodations must do so according to the following guidelines:
1. NEW STUDENTS must self-identify and provide documentation of the disability from a qualified professional. Once accepted into Georgia Highlands College, this should be done as soon as possible.
2. NEW STUDENTS needing use of special equipment, assistance obtaining interpreters/captionists, texts in alternate media (such as Braille), and arrangements to accommodate personal attendants, must request services ONE SEMESTER PRIOR to anticipated enrollment.
3. RETURNING STUDENTS needing use of special equipment, assistance obtaining interpreters or captionists, texts in alternate media (such as Braille), and arrangements to accommodate personal attendants, must request services DURING PRIORITY REGISTRATION.
4. ALL STUDENTS must request an accommodation letter and supply Disability Access with their class schedule for each semester. It is recommended that students do so during registration or during the first two weeks of classes each semester. Accommodations are not retroactive, so don’t wait.
Requesting services or equipment after the recommended timeframe can delay implementation of your accommodations and may not qualify as a reason to file for a hardship withdrawal or grade appeal.
Forms
Register with Disability Access
Documentation Forms
Release of Information
How to Request Accommodations
Forms can be printed or returned as an email attachment. Submit the completed form and current documentation of the disability via:
| disabilityaccess@highlands.edu | |
| GHC – Floyd Campus Student Support Services 3175 Cedartown Highway Rome, GA 30161 |
Jump to: Frequently Asked Questions
Requesting Accommodations
Disability Access is committed to providing equal access for students with disabilities at GHC. If you require accommodations at GHC, the DA Request for Services form will provide you with the opportunity to request these accommodations from our office.
In order to receive accommodations, please complete the following steps:
1) Complete & submit the Request for Services.
2) Submit current disability documentation that meets the University System of Georgia guidelines
Specific documentation guidelines can be accessed here: Documentation Guidelines
If available, please also include IEPs, 504 Plans or High School Service Plans, Letter of Accommodation from other colleges, and/or SAT/ACT Accommodation Approval Letters.
Our contact information is listed at the end of this message.
3) Attend an initial interview with your assigned disability access coordinator
After you submit your application, it will be reviewed by the Disability Access Committee. If we require additional information, we will contact you via your GHC email address. Once your application has been reviewed, you will be assigned to a disability coordinator who will contact you to set up an initial interview where you will discuss setting up accommodations.
You can complete this application at any time, although we encourage students to complete it as early as possible. Once everything is submitted, the process to evaluate the application takes around 1-4 weeks, so the earlier you submit the application, the earlier we can begin that process. All information provided to Disability Access is confidential.
Disability Access FAQs
All services for students with disabilities are on an individual basis, this ensures a student’s specific disability needs will be accommodated reasonably and successfully. It is the student’s responsibility to self-identify in Student Support Services and provide documentation of their disability to Student Support Services very early in their admission/acceptance process. Confidentiality will be maintained. It will be necessary to make an appointment with Disability Access to evaluate a student’s needs and to become oriented with the services and accommodations provided according to a student’s documentation.
Yes, since accommodations are based on your personal documentation and an interactive process with the student, an appointment is necessary to allow time to discuss your situation and provide time for the appropriate forms to be completed.
Instructors do NOT provide accommodations for students with disabilities unless a student has followed the procedures for self-identifying and providing qualifying documentation to Student Support Services. Once a student is approved for accommodations, Student Support Services will provide the student with an Accommodation Letter to take to their instructors.
Testing Accommodations are approved by Student Support Services, but administered by the faculty. Please discuss possible arrangements with your instructor. Instructors may proctor their own tests and provide extended time. GHC Testing Centers proctor exams with accommodations. See the Accommodated Testing webpage for scheduling and proctoring information.
Student Support Services or the GHC main offices should allow volunteer student notetakers to make copies of their notes in the office. Neither the notetaker nor the student should be charged for the copies. The notetaker can deliver the copies to the campus Student Support Services office.
All concerns about accommodations should be discussed with Disability Access.