Accessing Disability Services
Students must send in or drop off their "documentation" about
their disability to the DRS Office. An appointment will then be arranged
with a DRS Specialist who will review the documentation, determining
if it is enough to make a disability determination and what types of
accommodations will be appropriate.
The DRS Specialist will then meet with the student,
to get to know the individual and look at the types of classes the
student has registered for. They will then determine the types of accommodations
the student is eligible for and check them off on the official accommodation
card. The MATC Accommodation Card is usually valid for one year and
the student must show it to faculty and the testing center, if appropriate,
to access the accommodations. The student should meet with his/her
instructor before or after class on the first day, or soon after during
the instructor's office hours to show the instructor the accommodation
card, informing the instructor that he/she is eligible for accommodations
and discuss how best to arrange for whatever accommodations are indicated.
Faculty are advised NOT to provide accommodations without the student
showing this accommodation card. The DRS staff
will next explain to the student any additional processes to obtain
specific accommodations, such as note-taking, alternative media, or
sign language interpreters.
Accommodations that
are available at MATC include, but are not limited to:
- Testing Accommodations (extended time, tests on tape, scribe)
- Note-taking
- Alternative Media for instructional materials (text conversion, large
print, Braille, e-text)
- Assistive Technology
- Preferential Seating
- Sign Language Interpreting
- Speech-to-Text captioning (i.e. C-print)
- Videotape captioning
- Flexible Attendance (requires meeting with faculty, DRS Staff and
student)
- For additional information see WTCS "Accommodations
for Students with Disabilities"
Additional Services may include:
- Case management
- Disability counseling, advising and advocacy
- Special Needs Instruction
- Tutoring
Whether a student actually receives any of the above services is strictly
related to his/her individual needs based on his/her disability and how
it impacts him/her. For example, a student who uses a wheelchair would
likely NOT be receiving testing accommodations unless the student also
has a learning disability.
DRS Specialist
Students who are assigned a DRS specialist, can expect that:
- Your Disability Resources file will be maintained in a confidential
manner.
- Disability-related information will be released on a need-to-know
basis to other faculty and staff members when a Release of Information
form is signed.
- Academic progress towards educational goals will be monitored.
- You will receive advice and counsel on academic, career, personal
and financial matters.
- Discussion with you on how your disability impacts you and when additional
documentation is needed.
- Your DRS specialist will coordinate and facilitate conversations
between you and faculty/staff when problems occur.
- Referral and information regarding MATC resources.
- Collaboration, consultation and coordination with outside community
based organizations/resources or other entities such as the Department
of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Last Modified:
January 29, 2007
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