Accessibility Services

Compliance: 

McDowell Technical Community College provides equal access to education for persons with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (2008). 

It is the responsibility of the student to make their disability known and to request accommodations each semester.

Requests for Accommodations: 

The Accessibility Services Coordinator advises and assists in securing academic accommodations, support services, and other provisions for qualified persons with disabilities. Requests for accommodations should be submitted to the Accessibility Coordinator 30 working days prior to the scheduled date of classes, events, or other activities.

• To initiate the disability accommodation process, submit the Confidential Intake Form. 

Eligibility: 

To establish the student’s eligibility for services, documentation of disability is required of all students who request academic accommodations. Documentation should be submitted to the Accessibility Services Coordinator that is prepared by an appropriate professional, such as a medical doctor, psychologist, or other qualified diagnostician. 

Documentation should: 

• Include the credentials of the evaluation professional(s).
• Be current. 
• Include a clear diagnostic statement identifying the disability or disabilities.
• Describe the diagnostic tests, methods, and/or criteria used including specific test results and the examiner's narrative.
• Describe current functional limitations resulting from the disability. 
• Describe the expected progression or stability of the disability over time. 
• Include a thorough educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability. 
• Describe the student's specific limitations. 

An individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan, if you have one, may help identify services that have been effective for you. This is generally not sufficient documentation, however, because of the differences between postsecondary education and high school education.

• View the Documentation Guidelines tab on the left for more information on documentation. 
• Vocational Rehabilitation may be able to help if you do not have documentation or your documentation is older than 5 years. 

Confidentiality: 

All documentation and records will be maintained in a confidential manner as outlined in the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. College procedures for application and admission apply to students with disabilities.

For students who need to request accommodations or inquire about additional information, please contact Lydia Warpoole at 828-659-0489 or via email at [email protected].