Section 504/ADA Process

American Disabilities Act and Section 504 Accommodations

Per the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Western Dakota Technical College’s policy ensures no qualified person shall, solely because of disability, be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by the college. WDTC works to ensure campus accessibility for persons with disabilities for admissions, educational opportunities, programs, activities, employment practices, facilities use/maintenance, and campus owned or leased housing. Please note that no accommodations will be made that result in a fundamental alteration of programs, place undue financial and administrative burdens upon the college, and lower academic or other essential standards.

As students transition to higher education, it is vital to know the rights and responsibilities related to their disability. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights provides a Transition Guide for students entering post-secondary education and a Letter for Parents. High school students can also reach out to the Transition Services Liaison Project (TSLP) for additional resources.

Students must contact the Student Resource Coordinator who serves as the Disability Service Coordinator to request accommodations. This contact should be made as early in the semester as possible but can be made at any time. Please note, accommodations are never retroactive. Students' responsibility includes providing documentation to verify the disability and limitations related to the disability. If documentation does not meet necessary standards, the student may be asked to provide additional documentation before receiving accommodations. If further testing is needed, the student will incur any costs associated with that testing.

Students with disabilities are not exempt from WDTC policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are outlined in the WDTC Student Handbook and the Policies and Procedures webpage.

The Student Resource Coordinator will work with students through the accommodation request process. This process follows these steps:

1. Complete the Disability Services Request Form in MyWDT.
   
2. Provide verification documentation.
3. Meet with the Student Resource Coordinator to discuss individual needs.
4. Sign accommodation paperwork for any approved accommodations.
   1. Paperwork requires the signature of the Student Resource Coordinator, Student, and Faculty before any accommodations are active.
   2. Paperwork must be completed each semester.

Students are responsible for letting instructors or WDTC campus housing know when they would like to use accommodations. Accommodations for tests must be requested before taking the exam. Ideally, this request will be at least one week in advance. Instructional/classroom accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• Assistive technology
• Kurzweil.
• Microsoft Accessibility Tools through Office 365
• Digital recorders are available through the WDTC Library.
• Digital textbooks
  • Publishers often require proof of purchase before these are provided.
• Distraction-reduced testing environment
• The Student Success Center/Library offers three testing rooms equipped with HD cameras for accommodated tests.
• Enlarged material
• Extended time on exams (up to time and a half)
• Preferential seating

Students are encouraged to self-advocate and work with the Student Resource Coordinator and their Student Success Coach to succeed. Students can receive any modifications.

In accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, WDTC will not allow students to be under the influence while in classes or on campus. WDTC complies with this federal legislation required by law to receive federal funding that includes student financial aid. Federal legislation will take precedent over SDCL 34-20G regarding the use of medical marijuana.

Disability Services Handbook

Disability Services FAQs