Accommodations Resources

The mission of the Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office is to create an accessible community for underrepresented student populations to have the opportunity to pursue their educational goals. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations, support services, and advocacy for each student with their education and collaboration with the college.

The College will not discriminate against any student, or exclude any student from its education program or activity, including any class or extracurricular activity, on the basis of such student's pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery there from. For additional information,contact the Disability Service Office at your campus location.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended (2008) (ADA) requires the College to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of current or potential students. An accommodation is any change in the work or learning environment, or in the way things are customarily done, that enables an individual with a qualifying disability to pursue opportunities and have access to employment or programs and services offered by the College.

Southeast Community College desires to create an accessible community where individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to pursue their educational goals, limited only by their abilities, not their disabilities. To this end, the College will:

• Provide direct, reasonable accommodations and support services for individuals with disabilities.
• Encourage self-determination, independence and personal responsibility for students with disabilities.
• Provide resources, advocacy, collaborative services, and outreach throughout the College community.
• Promote an open and welcoming environment around campus for individuals with disabilities.
• Inform and educate the Southeast Community College community about disability-related laws, rules, regulations, and policies.

The Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office at each campus location has responsibility for coordinating the efforts of the College to comply with the ADA. The office is responsible for working with eligible students to provide and coordinate appropriate academic accommodations.

SCC also has a TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf). The phone number is 402- 437-2702. Contact the Student Services Office for more information.

To have a qualifying disability, an individual must have a record of having a substantial impairment. A substantial impairment is one that significantly limits or restricts a major life activity such as hearing, seeing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, learning or working.

Otherwise Qualified

An individual must also be "otherwise qualified" (i.e.to be able to meet the requisite technical and academic standards.)

Basic Principles of Reasonable Accommodations

• Individuals with qualifying disabilities must self-identify.
• Recent documentation describing the nature of the disability is required.
• Documentation must meet the criteria established by Southeast Community College.
• Documentation must be supplied by the individual.
• The individual must be "otherwise qualified" for a program.

Once it has been documented that an individual has a qualifying disability, SCC will work with the individual to provide reasonable accommodation.  The College is only obligated to make an accommodation to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability. The College is not required to provide an accommodation that is primarily for personal use. The accommodation provided need not be the most expensive or ideal accommodation, or the accommodation requested by the individual, as long as it is an effective accommodation.

The Decision to Self-Identify

The decision to self-identify and request reasonable accommodations is highly personal. SCC welcomes current and prospective students to discuss their disability, documentation, possible accommodations, and concerns with the Accommodations Resource Advisor. If you have a disability, there is no requirement that you

disclose your disability at any time; but in order to receive accommodations in college you must self- identify. The decision not to self-identify is understood and respected.

Consider self-identifying and requesting reasonable accommodations if:

• You have a documented disability that significantly affects major life functions.
• You are a client of Nebraska VR (Vocational Rehabilitation), the Commission for the Blind, the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or a related agency.
• You received accommodations at another college or university.
• You received services through an Individualized Education Plan in high school.

1. Obtain a copy of the Reasonable Accommodation request form. This form is available online at https://www.southeast.edu/reasonableaccommodations and in the Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office on each campus.
2. Complete, sign and date the request form and include the following:
• Copies of material documenting disability.
• Acceptable Sources of Documentation: Materials for documenting a disability are accepted from a licensed physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed mental health provider, audiologist, speech pathologist, physical or occupational therapist, or other health care provider qualified to diagnose a disabling condition.
3. Submit form and materials to the Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office on the campus where you will attend classes.
4. The Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office will review presented documentation and determine if student qualifies to receive accommodation under the ADA. If additional documentation is required, Disability Services will request at this time.
5. The Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office will inform student about decision made.

If an individual qualifies:

At this time, the individual may suggest ideas for reasonable accommodation. SCC will make every reasonable effort to offer an accommodation within approximately ten (10) school days.

If the accommodation is accepted, the individual and Accommodations Resource advisor will complete the Reasonable Accommodation Agreement form.

If an individual qualifies but does not accept the offered accommodation:

The individual has the right to appeal an offered accommodation they may think is unacceptable. Students are encouraged to seek resolution through an informal process before appealing an accommodation.

If an individual does not qualify:

The individual has the right to submit additional supportive documentation or appeal the decision.

Responsibility of the Individual:

• Obtain a copy of the Request for Reasonable Accommodation form from the Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office. Individuals who need accommodations should make their request as soon as possible.
• Complete the Request for Accommodations form and attach copies of material documenting your disability and include information about the type of accommodation provided previously.
• Submit the completed request form to the Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office on your campus.
• Contact the Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office each term to access new or request continuing accommodations.

Responsibility of the College/Disability Services:

• Your request will be reviewed to determine whether reasonable accommodations can and should be provided by SCC.
• The Accommodations Resource Advisor will meet with the individual to inform him/her whether he/she qualifies under ADA guidelines to receive accommodation. Written notification of the College's decision shall also be provided to the individual.
• If the individual does qualify, this meeting will be used by the advisor to learn more about the individual's disability and to hear suggestions or ideas for reasonable accommodation.
• For individuals who qualify, an offer of accommodation will be made in approximately ten (10)  school days.

The individual has the right to accept or refuse the accommodation.

Reasonable Accommodations for Online Courses

If you have a disability, are taking classes online and would like to contact the Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office for assistance, please complete the Student Request for Reasonable Accommodations form and fax, email, or mail it to any Career Advising/Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office.  Someone from the Career Advising/Student Support and Accommodations Resource Office will contact you to discuss your specific accommodation needs. Please indicate the most convenient manner by which you would like to be contacted.

Additional information can be found on the Reasonable Accommodations webpage.

These procedures shall also apply to appeals/grievances arising from objection to, or dissatisfaction with, actions taken by Southeast Community College with regards to requests for reasonable accommodation.

An ADA/504 Appeal/Grievance is defined as: an allegation by a student that at least one of the following has occurred. The student has:

• Experienced disparate or unequal treatment;
• Been discriminated against because of a disability; or
• Has not been provided a requested accommodation.

Note: Remedies under this Appeals/Grievance Procedure are corrective steps, measures to provide a reasonable accommodation or to reverse the effects of any discrimination and to ensure proper ongoing treatment. For a complete explanation of the appeal processes at SCC, consult either the College Catalog or contact the Dean of Students at your campus location. Students needing reasonable accommodations to access or participate in the appeal process should contact the Dean of Students at their campus location for additional information and assistance.

Steps to filing a formal ADA grievance/complaint.

Southeast Community College is committed to supporting student success for all students.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. Title IX also requires an educational institution to excuse a student’s absences because of pregnancy and related conditions for as long as the student’s doctor deems them medically necessary (34. C.F. R § 106.40(b)).

Additionally, Title IX prohibits discrimination based on parental status. Students who are parents are protected from discrimination under parental status (34. C.F. R. § 106.40(a)).

HOW DO I REQUEST ACCOMMODATIONS?

If you are a pregnant, parenting, or lactating student and you need academic accommodations, contact the Student Accommodations Resource Center (ARC) office on your home campus to make an appointment with an advisor to discuss your need for accommodations.

HOW ARE ACCOMMODATIONS DETERMINED TO BE REASONABLE?

Accommodations are determined in conjunction with the student, the Student Accommodation’s Resource Office, any appropriate medical personnel and the student’s instructors, and are based on reasonable academic adjustments. Course learning outcomes cannot be altered to meet the needs of the students.

During this interactive process, the ARC Specialist works with the student to devise an accommodations plan tailored to each student’s unique needs. It should also be noted that parenting student rights also extend to male students.

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT ACCOMMODATIONS AND WANT TO CONTINUE IN CLASSES?

It is your right to determine if you want to disclose a pregnancy or a related condition. We do find that most students appreciate the resources provided by the College, such as counseling, academic advising, tutoring, and others in continuing their degree.

SCC administrative guideline related to pregnant and parenting students.

The pamphlet, Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, has been prepared by the U.S. Department of Education-Office of Civil Rights for secondary school administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, and students. Although this pamphlet focuses on secondary schools, the underlying legal principles apply to all recipients of federal financial assistance, including postsecondary institutions.

The pamphlet provides background on school retention problems associated with pregnant and parenting students. It also provides information on the law's specific requirements regarding pregnancy and parenthood. It also include strategies that educators can use to address the educational needs of students who become pregnant or have children.

Pregnant and Parenting Students Rights: FAQ for College and Graduate Students – Title IX: Although not a disability issue, DSS professionals may be asked about accommodating pregnant students. Prepared by the National Women’s Law Center, this fact sheet for pregnant and parenting students may help answer many common questions.

The Pregnant Scholar Project: This site provides resources for students, postdocs, faculty, administrators, and others in institutions of higher education, including colleges, community colleges, universities, and similar programs. Material at the site is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number (IIA-1449752) and is part of the Center for WorkLife Law at University of California Hastings College of the Law.