Learning Disabilities and Learning Assistance

Policy on Services for Students with Disabilities
St. Augustine College’s Office of Academic Advising coordinates and ensures services and accommodations for registered students with disabilities as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 2008. These services provide equal educational opportunities to students by minimizing the impact of functional limitations upon their academic lives and offers disabled persons the opportunity to participate fully in all educational programs and activities. The Dean of Academic & Student Affairs serves as the College ADA compliance officer. The Dean assumes responsibility for seeing that the College is properly interpreting federal regulations that require the College take such steps as are necessary to ensure that reasonable accommodations are made for all students with documented learning disabilities. The Dean is responsible for coordinating the College’s compliance with these regulations with the Office of Academic Advising. The College adheres to all confidentiality and privacy concerns as outlined in these regulations.

Who is Eligible for Services? Any student with an appropriately documented disability is eligible for services. The Office of Academic Advising will serve students with documented permanent, temporary or episodic disabilities. Any student with documented special needs or difficulties in learning and/or in completing course requirements should notify the instructor and the Office of Academic Advising immediately so that available, reasonable accommodations may be arranged. Documentation of the student’s disability and how it impacts their participation will be submitted and maintained securely in the Dean’s Office.

Procedures for Requesting Services The following procedure will apply for consideration of requests for auxiliary aids, academic or other reasonable accommodations. Students should complete the steps listed below sufficiently in advance of the anticipated need for services. Such notice is required in order to give the various academic and service areas a reasonable period of time in which to evaluate requests. 1. Students must be admitted to and/or enrolled in the College. 2. Students requesting auxiliary aids, academic or other reasonable accommodations should contact the Office of Academic Advising and complete the

Student with Disability Registration Agreement and Release of Information Form.
If students provide written verification of a documented learning disability from an appropriate professional this should be submitted with the agreement. 3. The Dean will make a case-by-case determination of the student’s educational need for the requested auxiliary aid, academic or other reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations determined to be necessary will be provided at no cost to the student. 4. The Illinois Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) has a responsibility to provide numerous services to eligible individuals with disabilities. The College strongly encourages students to apply to DRS for any benefits for which they might be eligible.

The closest DRS Offices are: