Supporting students with disabilities
To comply with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and support the education pursuits of students with disabilities, VHCC has established the Office of Accessibility Services. The office is located in Room 124 of the Instruction and Student Center (ISC-124) and is charged with:
- Distributing information about the services available for those with disabilities,
- Helping those with disabilities to be successful within the college environment,
- Networking with campus and community resources to promote the personal and educational development of those with disabilities,
- Providing services to allow those with disabilities to successfully transition to transfer institutions or the workforce.
Students with disabilities are eligible to receive academic accommodations. In order to receive accommodations, qualified students should contact the Office of Disability Services immediately after the admissions process has been completed and no later than 30 days before the start of his/her first semester. Please provide:
- A current diagnostic statement identifying the disability,
- The credentials of the diagnosing professional,
- A description of any testing used to identify the disability,
- A description of the functional impact of the disability, including suggest academic accommodations, and
- A signed copy of the Request for Accommodations Form.
When all information has been provided, the Accessibility Services Coordinator will develop an accommodation plan and distribute it to VHCC instructors.
To ensure accommodations are delivered in a timely and professional manner, students should:
- Meet with each instructor during the first week of classes to discuss the use of academic accommodations,
- Work with instructors to schedule tests that will be administered with accommodations,
- Contact the VHCC Tutoring Center to schedule test readings.
- Placement Testing Accommodations
- Academic Accommodations
- Assistive Technology
- Audiobooks
- Accessible parking
- Tutoring
- Read & Write
- Dragon Speak
- Smartpens
- Learning Ally audio books
| App Name | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| Adobe Reader | View and interact with PDF files, including annotating, form filling and signing |
| AudioNote | Synchronized note-taking and audio recording with ability to share files |
| d2u Dictation and Transcription | Create and edit a digital recording then transcribe to a digital file (for iPhone and Blackberry devices) |
| Dictionary.com App | Dictionary and thesaurus with voice-activated search |
| Dragon Apps | Apps using the Dragon Naturally Speaking software, including searching, texting, and accessing other apps on your mobile device |
| Google Translate | Translate languages from around the world with voice-input, text-to-speech, and dictionary options |
| OpenDyslexic | Multiple free apps and a downloadable font to make reading easier for people with dyslexia |
| Overdrive | On-the-go access to eBooks and audiobooks from your public, school, or college library |
| SimpleMind | Mind mapping tool that turns your phone or computer into a brainstorming, idea collection, and thought structuring device |
| Skitch | Uses annotation, shapes, and sketches to communicate visually with others |
| STUDYBLUE | Mobile and online flashcards |
Higher Education and Students with Disabilities: http://library.findlaw.com/1996/Oct/1/127211.html
ADA Q & A: Section 504 & Postsecondary Education: http://www.pacer.org/publications/adaqa/504.asp
Karen Copenhaver is located in room 124 of the Instructional & Student Services Center building (ISC 124) on the VHCC campus. Please call (276)739-2404 or email kcopenhaver@vhcc.edu to set up your appointment to discuss accommodations!