Richland Community College offers support and accomodations to students wilth documented disabilities by providing advisement, counseling, adaptive equipment and materials, instructional aids, tutors, note-takers, interpreters, and testing accommodations, as well as many individualized services. Learning Accommodation Services is located in C130.
Contact Learning Accomodation Services
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a disability?
- What accommodations are available?
- Who is eligible?
- What are reasonable accommodations?
- What are the student's responsibilities?
- What are Richland Community College's responsibilities?
- How many students are served each semester?
- How successful are students with disabilities?
- Is there other help available in addition to what the Learning Accommodations office provides?
- What are the most common disabilities and what accommodations are needed?
- What can employers do to make accommodations in the workplace for employees with disabilities?
- Who can I contact for assistance at Richland Community College?
Richland Community College is committed to providing accommodations to students with disabilities. Each individual has a basic right to an education in accordance with his or her aspirations, talents, and skills. Support services ensure students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate fully in the total college experience.
What is a disability?
- "Disability" means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of that individual
- a record of such impairment; or
- being regarded as having such an impairment
What accommodations are available?
- Extended time on tests
- Note taker
- Reader
- Adaptive computer equipment
- Braille
- Quiet testing
- Enlarged print
- Accessible seating
- Sign language interpreter
- Books on tape
- Tape classroom lecture
- Writer
- Tutoring
Who is eligible?
To be eligible the disabling condition(s) must obstruct participation in otherwise available academic or extracurricular activities without accommodation(s). Students must supply the LAS Office with documentation describing the nature of and functional limitations caused by the disability.
What are reasonable accommodations?
"Reasonable accommodations" means that modifications or adjustments will be made to enable a qualified student with a disability an equal opportunity to achieve success. Reasonable accommodations must be indicated in the official documentation.
What are the student's responsibilities?
- Provide documentation to LAS office
- Communicate with instructors and the LAS office
- Use accommodations
- Keep LAS office informed of needs and progress
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
What are the Richland Community College's responsibilities?
- Refer students who disclose a need to the LAS Director
- Request documentation
- Meet with students to determine necessary accommodations
- Arrange for reasonable accommodations
- Monitor the effectiveness of accommodations
- Maintain confidentiality of student information
How many students are served each semester?
The number of students being served through LAS has grown each semester for the past several years. 194 students were served during fall 2006. This number includes the following disabilities:
- Learning disability/ADD
- Psychiatric disabilities
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Vision
- Hearing
How successful are students with disabilities?
Students with disabilities are just like all other students. Success depends on dedication, attendance, homework completion, effort, the willingness to do extra work and to take advantage of the help available. LAS students registered for 1714 credit hours for Fall 2006. 63% of the grades were A, B, or C! 70-75% of the 194 returned for Spring 2007!
Is there other help available in addition to what the Learning Accommodations office provides?
The LAS office staffs a Resource Room with trained peer students. LAS students can get help throughout the day. The Resource Room has computers for student use. Software is available that will allow the student to practice math, reading, comprehension, and writing. There is also software that enables the student to work on increasing memory, reasoning, processing and staying on task. The LAS Director can administer the Woodcock-Johnson assessment as a pre-screening to identifying achievement levels and learning difficulties. Test readers are available for students entitled to this accommodation. A reader can be scheduled through the Student Learning Center, or the student can use the reader available through the adaptive equipment in the Resource Room.
What are the most common disabilities and what accommodations are needed?
Learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder are the two most common disabilities at Richland Community College. A learning disability is a neurological disorder which affects the way an individual with normal or above I.Q. takes in, retains, and/or expresses information. Attention deficit disorder is the inability to focus or concentrate. Both of these disorders can greatly interfere with learning and test performance. Indicators of LD and/or ADD include lack of concentration, disorganization, poor memory, inconsistent quality of work, appearance of being lazy, perceptual or processing problems, and appearance of low motivation.
Accommodations Often Used
- Note taker
- Quiet testing
- Tape classroom lecture
- Slight modification of deadlines
- Alternative assessment methods
- Longer testing time
- Books on tape
- Use of computer
- Multi-sensory instruction
- Test on shorter units of material
The number of students with psychiatric disabilities continues to increase at Richland Community College. This category of disabilities includes bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorder, anxiety or panic disorders, and clinical depression. Students who are anxious or depressed have trouble focusing and often have poor memory skills. They may be very withdrawn from social interaction; attendance may be poor due to the disability. Progress is often inconsistent.
What can employers do to make accommodations in the workplace for employees with disabilities?
The Searchable Online Accommodation Resource is available to assist employers in making workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities.
Searchable Online Accommodation Resource is a searchable repository of information in place to assist employers in making workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities. Visit http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar for more information.
Contact Learning Accomodations Services
Mary Atkins, Director
(217) 875-7200, Ext. 362
Room C130
matkins@richland.edu
Josh Brenner, Learning Specialist
(217) 875-7200, Ext. 379
Room C130
jbrenner@richland.edu
Margaret Swaim, Secretary
(217) 875-7200, Ext. 379
Room C130
mswaim@richland.edu
