GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Welcome to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. It is our goal to provide to students with disabilities the opportunity to complete a chosen curriculum by providing accessibility to program offerings. This information is a guide to your rights, responsibilities and procedures for obtaining and using the support services for students with disabilities. If you feel unsure about what you should do, contact the Special Populations/ Disability Support Service office or the Dean of Student Services at the campus or center nearest you.

The ADA Law and You

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive national mandate that ensures basic civil rights for individuals with disabilities. The ADA provides assurance of access to education programs and employment opportunities for adults with special learning needs. The ADA defines an individual with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. These major life activities include seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, learning, caring for oneself and working.

SECTION 504

Section 504: No otherwise qualified handicapped individual shall, solely by reason of his handicap, 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.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

SECTION 504 AND POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

Specific provisions of Section 504 related to postsecondary education prohibit discrimination against handicapped persons in recruitment, admission and treatment after admission. According to the regulations, colleges and universities are required to make “reasonable adjustments” to permit handicapped students to fulfill academic requirements and to assure that disabled students are not effectively excluded from programs because of the absence of auxiliary aids.

WHO IS QUALIFIED?

A person qualified for postsecondary education under Section 504 is “one who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to Admission or participation in the recipient’s education program or activity.” A handicapped person is defined by the regulations as “any person who (I) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities,(II) has a record of such impairment or (III) is regarded as having such impairment.” Note: The definition of physical or mental impairment includes specific learning disabilities.)

PROVISIONS OF SECTION 504

Subpart E of the regulations describes ways of making postsecondary education accessible to disabled students. These include the following:

Modifications “as are necessary” to ensure that academic requirements are not discriminatory. Modifications may include changes in the length of time required for completion of degree requirements, and adaptation of the manner in which specific courses are conducted. (The regulations state that academic requirements that can be demonstrated as essential to a program of study or related to licensing are not considered discriminatory.)
The requirement that exams given to evaluate a student’s progress actually test the student’s achievement rather than reflect the student’s impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills.
Auxiliary aids, including taped texts, interpreters for students with hearing impairments, readers for students with visual impairments, classroom equipment adapted for use by students with manual impairments, and other similar services.

Your Rights and Responsibilities

STUDENT RIGHTS

You have the right to confidentiality.
You have the right to equal access to programs, classes and facilities.
You have the right to have reasonable accommodations provided.
You have the same rights granted to every student enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

You must disclose your disability to receive services.
You must provide current, within the past three (3) years, documentation of your disability from a qualified professional.
You must request specific accommodations.
You must complete the required paperwork.
You must comply with all policies, codes and regulations of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. (See Student Handbook)

Steps to Obtain Accommodations

Your first step is to identify yourself as a student with a disability and request specific accommodations to the Special Populations/Disability Support Services personnel on the campus or center nearest you. “Accommodations” include a range of services, equipment and modifications, designed to allow you to do your best. Accommodations vary according to the disability. You must request specific accommodations to the Special Populations/Disability Support Services personnel.
Your next step is to obtain documentation of your disability and provide this information to the Special Populations/ Disability Support Service personnel. Because reasonable accommodations are based on the current impact of a disorder or impairment, it is necessary that all documentation and testing should be no more than three years old. The Special Populations will consider your requests based on documentation submitted.
Once you have documentation, make an appointment with the appropriate Special Populations/Disability Support Service personnel to discuss your particular needs.

These first steps should be taken at least three weeks prior to registration. However, if you are already enrolled, please see the appropriate contact personnel as soon as possible. Remember that it is your responsibility to inform the college of your needs and to request accommodations from the appropriate personnel. Failure to notify the college means that youwill not have accommodations for your classes.

Once your documentation has been received and the appropriate paperwork completed, your requests will be reviewed by the Special Populations/Disability Support Services personnel. Copies of approved accommodations will be given to your instructors and to you. During the term, if you realize that an accommodation is not working or that you need additional support, please bring that to the attention of the appropriate personnel as soon as possible. Feel free to discuss with your instructors any questions or concerns about your accommodations. It is recommended that you take a copy of your accommodations to your instructors for verification.

Special Populations/Disability Support Services

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Jackson County Campus

Gerry Anne Woodward: 228-497-7787
Dr. Bill Yates, Dean of Student Services: 228-497-7647

Jefferson Davis Campus

Gloria Smith : 228-896-2556
Jeff Donahoe, Dean of Student Services: 228-897-3832

Applied Technology & Development Center
228-897-4360
Anna Faye Kelley-Winders, Community Campus Vice President

Keesler Center
228-432-7198
Patti Holloway, Assistant Dean

West Harrison Center
228-868-6057
Dr. Janice Poole, Administrative Dean

Perkinston Campus

Dianne Hickman 601-928-6325 Dianne.Hickman@MGCCC.edu
Michelle Sekul, Dean of Student Services: 601-928-6267

George County Center
601-947-9421
Suzan Bounds: 601-766-6426
Dean Belton, Administrative Dean

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes students and employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or qualified disability. If you have questions regarding services for students with disabilities, contact the Special Populations/Disability Support Services office or the office of the Dean of Student Services at the campus of your choice.