Access for Students with Disabilities
Support Services provides and coordinates services to students in order to accommodate their disabilities and to promote equal educational opportunities.
How to Access Services
Students with disabilities who want services are responsible for contacting Support Services to request services.
- To begin, schedule an appointment with Support Services by emailing supportservices@alextech.edu or by calling (320) 762-4673 or (888) 234-1222 ext. 4673.
- Next, provide documentation of the disability to the ATCC Support Services office (room 305, or email).
- Finally, meet with the Director of Support Services, at the beginning of each semester, to review needs and to sign a request for accommodations form.
Before receiving accommodations, students are responsible for identifying themselves and making their needs known to the college.
Requests for services can be initiated any time during the year; however, reasonable time must be allowed to arrange for services.
Accommodations cannot be retroactive. They begin after documentation is received and the student has signed a request for accommodations form for the current semester. Please contact supportservices@alextech.edu for an appointment to complete this step.
Self-disclosure about disability is a private matter. This is required only if student plans to request reasonable accommodations or if a danger exists to "self or others."
Eligibility for Services
To be eligible for disability related services, students must have a documented disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Under the ADA and Section 504, a person has a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities (walking, standing, seeing, speaking, hearing, sitting, breathing, learning, or taking care of oneself), has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having an impairment.
Documentation of Disability
Documentation of a student's disability should be sent to the Support Services office before the first day of the semester. Documentation may include an IEP (Individual Education Plan), Evaluation Report, Psychological Report, and/or other documentation as needed. Students are responsible for any costs in obtaining documentation. If the initial documentation is incomplete or insufficient, Support Services has the right to require additional documentation. Any cost of obtaining additional documentation is also the student's responsibility.
Students who suspect a disability or learning difficulty but have no record of such will be referred to outside agencies for diagnostic testing. Any testing costs are the student's responsibility.
| Title | Download Link |
|---|---|
| Documentation Guidelines | Download Documentation Guidelines Document pdf |
Academic Accommodations
Accommodations are based on the individual disability and the academic environment. Some common academic accommodations may include:
- Accessible classroom/location/furniture
- Testing accommodations
- Assistive technology
- Alternative print formats: large print, digital texts, Braille
- Note taking
- Interpreters for students who are hearing impaired/deaf
ADA does not require colleges to provide personal assistants, individual personal tutors, or personal assistive technology. Support Services may refer students to agencies which may be able to provide these services.
Requesting an Interpreter
Students who are deaf or hearing impaired may request a sign language interpreter from Support Services. Requests for interpreters should be made at least six weeks prior to registration, if possible.
ADA Grievance Procedure
The State of Minnesota has established grievance procedures that provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action that is prohibited by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This grievance procedure is to be used by persons with disabilities who are eligible for services, benefits, programs or activities of Alexandria Technical & Community College.
Title II states in part, that no otherwise qualified disabled person shall, solely by reason of such disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination in programs or activities sponsored by a campus.
Complaints should be sent to:
Dean of Educational Services
Merilee Retzloff
Alexandria Technical & Community College
1601 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, MN 56308
merileer@alextech.edu
320-762-4447
Please note: It is Alexandria Technical and Community College’s policy to provide flexible and individualized services to students who have disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Please contact the Disability Services Director to discuss accommodation needs. This information is available in alternative formats upon request. Students with hearing or speech disabilities may contact Support Services via their preferred telecommunications relay service. Please allow adequate time for the college to respond to requests.