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ADA

The ADA Accommodations Office

Welcome to the Jefferson State Community College ADA Accommodations Office. Our office looks forward to working with you and providing assistance to qualified students with disabilities.

  • The ADA Accommodations Office of Jefferson State Community College is committed to making its academic programs and services accessible to qualified students who have disabilities.
  • Our goal is to provide students who have disabilities equal opportunities to develop and demonstrate their academic skills, while maintaining the academic integrity of the College programs.
  • Consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the American Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) it is the policy of Jefferson State Community College that no qualified person with a disability shall be subjected to discrimination because of that disability under any program or activity conducted or sponsored by the College.
  • Enrollment Services handles all applications for admission. Admission standards must be met by all students, regardless of disability. When to self-identify as a student with a disability is a decision for the student. However, prospective students are encouraged to contact the ADA Accommodations Office early for information regarding services and facilities. All disability documentation must be submitted directly to the ADA Accommodations Office. If accommodations are needed for placement testing, disability documentation must be on file with the ADA Accommodations Office.

The purpose of the Jefferson State Community College ADA Accommodations Office is to ensure equal access to the college experience for self-identified students with disabilities.  Equal access is defined as equal opportunities to develop and demonstrate academic skills while maintaining the academic integrity of the College.  The ADA Office is also responsible for disseminating information concerning ADA compliance and accessibility matters to students, prospective students, faculty, staff, and community members. 

ADA Accommodations Office:

Email: ada@jeffersonstate.edu
Telephone: 205-856-6077

Staff:

  • Anne R. Sherman, Director
  • Scotty Rainwater, Coordinator
  • Candace Wilson, Office Assistant

Locations:

  • Jefferson Campus:  Fitzgerald Student Center, Room 300
  • Shelby - Hoover Campus:  General Studies Building, Room 122
  • St. Clair - Pell City Campus:  Enrollment Services, Room PCC 121
  • Chilton - Clanton Campus: Enrollment Services, Room CC 113

Establishing Services

Enrollment Services handles all applications for admission.  Admission standards must be met by all students, regardless of disability.

All disability documentation must be submitted to the ADA Accommodations Office.  When to self-identify as a student with a disability is a decision for the student.  However, prospective students are encouraged to contact the ADA Accommodations Office for information regarding services and facilities.  If accommodations are needed for placement testing, disability documentation must be on file in the ADA Accommodations Office.

  • Step One: It is recommended that students begin the process of establishing services with the ADA Accommodations Office well before the semester begins. The first step is for the student to submit the “Application for ADA Accommodations.”
  • Step Two: Provide documentation to verify eligibility for services. Typically, a licensed psychologist, physician, or other appropriate professional provides the evaluation, diagnosis, and recommended accommodations in a detailed report. The ADA Accommodations Office is responsible for determining the acceptability of documentation and reserves the right to require additional information to determine the nature and impact of an individual’s disability. Also, the ADA Office maintains the right to reject documentation that does not verify a student’s disability or delineates reasonable accommodations.  Please note that high school IEPs and “504 Plans” usually do not contain the necessary information to meet the documentation guidelines.  Documentation can be emailed to ada@jeffersonstate.edu or mailed to 2601 Carson Road, Birmingham, AL 35215
  • Step Three: Schedule an intake appointment with the ADA Accommodations Office by emailing ada@jeffersonstate.edu. These appointments are typically conducted over Zoom and take an hour.

The ADA Office maintains all documents relating to a student's disability. They are regarded with the strictest confidentiality. No personal document will be released without written permission of the student.

A Message for ADA Students

The ADA Accommodations office staff is available to help you with equal access to the college environment. We are available to help with accommodation questions or, if needed, with assistance contacting other campus departments or community agencies.

New students requesting services must complete an online ADA application, provide appropriate college-level documentation of disability, then should contact the ADA Accommodations office to schedule a “virtual” intake appointment. 

For course accommodations, each semester eligible students may request official letters from the ADA Office webpage www.jeffersonstate.edu/ada by selecting “Forms for Student Use”. Once receiving the letter through the Jefferson State email system, students must sign and submit the letter to the instructor discussing accommodations needed for the course. For implementing extended time on exams for eligible students, we recommend students email the instructor a reminder of the accommodation a few days before each exam. If beginning an online test you don't see the time extension, immediately email the instructor awaiting their reply before starting.

Now is a time of real transition as we learn to adapt to change.  As students with disabilities, you are well-equipped to overcome challenges and obstacles more so than many.  

You can do this!