ADA

What do ...

• Steven Speilberg- filmmaker, producer, director;  
• Michael Phelps- the most decorated Olympic swimmer; 
• Orlando Bloom- English actor; 
• Whoopie Goldberg- American actress; and 
• Richard Branson- philanthropist, author, business magnate (Virgin Airlines) all have in common........ ????

Learning disabilities!

Join us on October 27th at 1:30 pm to learn more about learning disabilities, what they are, how they are determined, learning strategies, and more!  

Presented by Fran Hershey, Supervisor/Coordinator of Evaluation Services for the Alabama Department of Rehabilitiation Services - Lakeshore

• 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!

For assistance, contact the ADA Accommodations Office Staff.

• Anne Sherman-Director:  ada@jeffersonstate.edu
• Candace Wilson-ADA Office Assistant: cwilso19@jeffersonstate.edu
• Elizabeth Liddle-ADA Alternate Format Technology Assistant eliddle@jeffersonstate.edu
• Donna Thomas-ADA Office Manager:  dthomas@jeffersonstate.edu

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 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 Office for information regarding services and facilities.  If accommodations are needed for placement testing, disability documentation must be on file in the ADA Office.

• Step #1:  Arrange an appointment with the ADA Director. It is advisable to make an initial appointment well before the semester begins by calling or e-mailing the ADA Office.  Appointments can be made for the Jefferson, Shelby-Hoover, St. Clair - Pell City and Chilton - Clanton Campuses.
• Step #2:  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 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.
• Step #3:  The ADA Office recommends reasonable accommodations by preparing a letter addressed to the instructor of each class for which accommodations were requested.  It is then the responsibility of the student to:
  • 1. Obtain accommodation letters from the ADA Office at the beginning of each semester.
  • 2. Deliver accommodation letters to each instructor discussing arrangements.
  • 3. Contact each instructor several days before accommodations such as extended test time and reduced distraction testing are needed.  Complete the Test Proctoring Form only if instructor is unable to proctor your test.
  • 4. Report any concerns about accommodations to the ADA Office as soon as possible.

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.