Accessibility Services

Berkeley College follows all the regulations put forth in the disability legislation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008. The pertinent details of each legislation are as follows:

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states:

“No otherwise qualified person with a [disability] in the United States shall, solely by reason of a [disability], be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

According to this legislation, a person with a disability is an individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. A person is considered to have a disability if he or she (1) has a disability, (2) has a history of a disability, or (3) if the person with the disability is perceived by others as having a disability.

According to Section 504, a qualified person with a disability for entrance into an academic program, at a college or university, is classified as an individual who meets the requisite academic and technical standards required for admission into the specific program. This too includes participation in the college or university’s programs and activities. Based on the mandates of Section 504, Berkeley College shall not:

• Limit the admission rate of otherwise qualified students with disabilities to the College.
• Make pre-admission inquiries regarding whether an applicant has a disability.
• Exclude a qualified student with a disability from any course of study at the College.
• Provide less financial aid to students with disabilities than is provided to students without disabilities.
• Assess student achievement using methods and procedures that adversely discriminate against a student with a disability.
• Implement regulations, rules, and policies that result in limiting participation of students with disabilities in educational programs or activities available at the College.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990:

This legislation is civil rights legislation for persons with disabilities. It includes the anti-discrimination legislation of Section 504 to include all colleges and universities whether or not they receive federal financial assistance. The purpose of this legislation is to provide a clear and comprehensive mandate for the elimination of discrimination against persons with disabilities. The act included protection for persons with disabilities pertaining to employment, state and local governments, public accommodations and telecommunications.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008:

This law was created to clarify the intent of the ADA. Specifically, this law expands the definition of major life activities. This means that when in the process of determining eligibility for accommodations, you should not consider mitigating measures (i.e., medication, prosthetics, assistive technology, etc.) as a factor when determining eligibility for accommodations for school and/or work purposes.

Related Links:

• Office of Civil Rights Information on Section 504 and the ADA
• Department of Justice Information on the ADA
• APA disability Resource Toolkit: Legal Issues for ADA, Section 504, and FERPA
• Higher Education’s Obligations Under Section 504 and Title II of the ADA: Auxiliary Aids and Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities
• Accessibility Services Accommodations Student Policy
• Service Animal and Emotional Support Animal Policy

Berkeley College’s staff make great efforts to accommodate the needs of our students who have disabilities. Each campus has an ADA Coordinator or a personal counselor who serves as the accessibility support service representative. The student must schedule an appointment with this person, submit an application, and provide supporting documentation in order to receive accommodations. Accessibility Services-related documentation will not be part of your Berkeley College academic record.

Students who require reasonable accommodations for Accuplacer Admissions Testing can apply to Accessibility Services to receive accommodations.

Important Steps for Registration

1. Schedule an appointment with an ADA Coordinator or a Personal Counselor. You may also contact the Coordinator of Accessibility Services (listed below under “Contact Us”).
2. Complete an Application for Accessibility Services and Accommodations with the ADA Coordinator/Personal Counselor.
3. Provide current documentation of a diagnosis from a licensed professional along with that professional’s recommendations for appropriate accommodations to the ADA Coordinator/Personal Counselor. You can discuss this process with them.
4. Renew your accommodations each semester by submitting the Accessibility Services Semester Form.

The student with a disability is required to provide medical and/or psychological documentation supporting the claim of disability from a licensed professional. The claim of disability used is the label put forth in the federal legislation of the Amendments Act of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2008. The disability must substantially limit the person from completing a major life activity. The medical and psychological documentation (e.g., reports, clinical notes, evaluations, etc.) must be no older than four years. In addition, the medical and psychological documentation must include the following:

1. Diagnosis of the disability
2. Severity of the diagnosis
3. Functional limitations of the disability
4. Treatments provided for the disability
5. Recommendations for successful learning
6. Must-have accommodations

In addition to the student with a disability providing the required medical and/or psychological documentation of the disability, the student must include a current Berkeley College Application for Accessibility Services and Accommodations in his or her initial packet for services.

Please note that all assigned academic accommodations granted to the student are determined by the level of the disability and its impact on learning. Berkeley College has developed a standard list of accommodations that are reasonable in nature to assist the student with a disability in achieving their academic goals. The following are common academic accommodations and services that may be approved for a student based on the student’s level of functioning and documented disability requirements.

Accommodations

• Extended time working on in-class or at home assignments
• Extended time to complete quizzes and exams
• Test taking in a setting with reduced distractions
• Permission to record lectures using notetaking software
• Use of computer for in-class assignments
• Print format of electronic textbooks
• Preferential seating in class
• Accommodations to physical setting
• Assistive technology software and devices

Services

• Tutoring services
• Academic coaches
• Technology support
• Personal counseling

• Application for Accessibility Services and Accommodations (Word Document)
• ADA Application Healthcare Provider Form (Word Document)
• Audio Recording Form (Word Document)
• Release of Information (Word Document)
• Student Rights and Responsibilities (Word Document)

• Application for Accommodations based on Pregnancy or Related (Word Document)
• Pregnancy Healthcare Provider Form (Word Document)
• Pregnancy Policy (PDF)

• Medical or Unforeseen Circumstance Withdrawal (MUCW) FAQs (Word Document)
• Medical Withdrawal Request Health Care Provider Form (Word Document)
• Medical or Unforeseen Circumstance Withdrawal Policy (PDF)

• National Center for College Students with Disabilities
• Job Accommodation Network - the leading resource for persons with disabilities in the workforce
• DO-IT: Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology
• Careers & Degrees in Healthcare: A Guide for Students with Disabilities
• Resources and Support for College Students with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Dyscalculia
• Scholarships & Resources for Students with Visual Disabilities