Support for Students with Disabilities

Unlike high school, college accommodations are not automatically put into place. Students must be their own advocates and follow Office of Accessibility (OA) procedures to secure the accommodations they wish to obtain.

Accommodations are changes to the learning environment or tasks necessary to ensure equal access for students with a disability. OA engages in a structured exchange with the student to explore previous educational experiences and past use of accommodations, then, on an individual basis, determines to best way to meet that student's needs.

Ensuring that “accommodations” provide effective access requires a deliberative and collaborative process that is responsive to the unique experience of each individual, as advised by the ADA. Examples of accommodations for equal access include but are not limited to: 

• Classroom Accommodations  
• Access to PowerPoint Slides  
• Preferential Seating  
• Ability to Step Out of Class  
• Notetaking Assistance  
• Testing Accommodations  
• Extended Time  
• Distraction Reduced Setting  
• Assistive Technology  
• Audio Record Lecture  
• Books in Alternate Format 

TO Obtain Accommodations

1. Apply or register for classes at the College.
2. Go to Harford Accommodate and complete the requested information. This includes documentation of your disability. 
3. Once the information is received, the Office of Accessibility contacts you to schedule an orientation. This session discusses resources, students' rights and responsibilities, specific barriers and accommodations. 
4. Check your OwlMail account for a letter detailing next steps to finalize your accommodations. 

OA requires that all students requesting services provide thorough documentation of their disability from a qualified professional. Disability documentation should be current and relevant, but not necessarily recent. A copy of the student’s IEP or 504 plan from high school is not sufficient documentation, but can be used as supplemental information about the student’s educational and accommodation history.

If you do not already have documentation, the certification forms below can provide OA with the information needed to determine which accommodations and services are appropriate. Have your provider fill out the appropriate form as completely as possible as this must be submitted before accommodations can be put in place. 

Certification of  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 
Certification of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Certification of Hearing Impairment
Certification of Mobility, Physical, Health Neurological 
Certification of Psychological Disability  

The guidelines below can assist your provider with what the documentation should contain. 

Guidelines for Cognitive Disabilities
Guidelines for Learning Disabilities 

It is highly suggested that you keep a personal copy of all documentation submitted to OA. OA does not release copies of documentation back to students or send documentation to other institutions. 

Assistive Technology is commonly used as an academic accommodation. Below are some of the technologies that OA provides on campus. 

• KURZWEIL 3000 
  Reading comprehension software that scans printed text, then reads the contents of the printed document aloud. It also reads aloud words typed on the screen. 
• ZOOMTEXT 
  Enlarges a specified area of the computer’s display and can be customized to the user’s preferences 
• JAWS 
  Screen reading software that uses speech synthesis to read the contents of the display window 
• GLEAN 
  Used to record audio from lectures to enable students to relisten to a lecture, type notes, upload PowerPoint slides and images, organize audio and complete their notes. 
• DRAGON NATURALLY SPEAKING 
  Speech recognition software that allows users to control the PC using voice commands. It also allows users to dictate documents into their favorite processor using discrete speech. 
• FM SYSTEM 
  Eliminates background noise and ensures that a speaker is heard clearly. 
• LARGE PRINT KEYBOARD 
  A keyboard labeled with large print for a low-vision user. 
• PORTABLE VIDEO MAGNIFIER AND CCTV 
  Hand held and mounted assistive devices used to magnify and display printed material. 
• ADJUSTABLE COMPUTER WORKSTATION 
  Workstation that can be raised or lowered to accommodate a student’s needs 

If you are dual-enrolled or are a student transitioning from high school, it is helpful to know the differences between accommodations in K-12 and College.

K-12 Accommodations
Students seeking accommodations at Harford may have received accommodations in their K-12 education through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan. The laws that govern K–12, The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Subpart D, include not only accommodations, but services and modifications that are typically created to ensure successful graduation. While these documents can be helpful in providing OA staff with historical disability and accommodation information, the listed accommodations will not automatically apply at Harford or another higher education setting.

Higher Education Accommodations
Higher education is governed by different laws than K-12 education. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Subpart E outline the college’s equal access responsibilities. Generally, institutions of higher education provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that students have equal access to their education compared to their nondisabled peers, rather than ensuring academic success. The responsibility for learning and successfully meeting academic requirements falls on the student with or without accommodations.

The U.S. Department of Education provides helpful information on their website: Preparing for Postsecondary Education.

 

Steps to Success is a college prep program for incoming  students with disabilities who may have concerns about the transition from high school to college.  Students learn about academic differences between high school and college, personal and academic responsibilities and expectations, campus resources, how to access the Office of Accessibility, Student Code of Conduct, time management, wellness/stress management, strategies for success, and more. This program runs in July for three half days.

For more information, contact the Office of Accessibility at 443.412.2402 or accessibility@harford.edu.