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Disability Resources

Available Services:

A variety of disability related services are available.

For all students with disabilities:

Academic Advisement
Orientation to Campus
Registration Assistance
Campus and Community Referrals
Personal & Vocational Counseling
Adaptive Physical Education Classes
Financial Aid Application Assistance
Individual Vocational Education Plans (IVEP)

for students with documented visual impairments:

Alternative Textbooks
Note takers
Readers
Test Accommodations
Computer Adaptations
Tutorial Referral
Adaptive Equipment

for students with a documented hearing impairment:

Note takers
Sign Language Interpreters
Closed Caption for videos
Tutorial Referral
Adaptive Equipment

for students with a documented mobility impairment:

Note takers
Test Accommodations
Computer Adaptations
Tutorial Referral
Adaptive Equipment

for students with a documented learning impairment:

Note takers
Alternative Textbooks
Test Accommodations
Computer Adaptations
Tutorial Referral

Reasonable Accommodation

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and require Mesa Community College and the Maricopa County Community College District to make reasonable accommodations for those otherwise qualified individuals with a disability who request accommodations. A reasonable academic accommodation is a modification or adjustment that allows an individual to gain equal access and have equal opportunity to participate in MCC’s courses, services, activities and use of the facilities. MCC is not obligated to an accommodation that requires a substantial change in the curriculum or alteration of any essential elements or functions of a program.

Students requesting reasonable accommodations must do so by registering with Disability Resources and Services in a timely manner. Students shall also be required to provide documentation of their disability that 1) meets Maricopa Community College's established guidelines for documentation of a disability, and 2) demonstrates or documents how their disability functionally impacts their participation in courses, programs, jobs, activities and/or the use of facilities at MCC.

Procedure for Requesting Accommodations

The student schedules an intake interview with Disability Resources and Services (DRS). The disability specialist conducting the interview and the student discuss the condition and its functional limitations. Services are explained and the student’s rights and responsibilities are reviewed.

Students are required to submit documentation of their disability. Documentation must meet the documentation guidelines established by Mesa Community College and the MCCCCD. The documentation guidelines are available at http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/gvpolicy/adminregs/students/2_8.htm or by contacting DRS at (480) 461-7447 or TTY: (480) 969-5587 .

Documentation is reviewed and evaluated by the DRS professional staff. Students will be notified once their documentation is reviewed as to whether or not the documentation has met the established guidelines and verifies the existence of a functional limitation relevant to the academic environment.

The process of determining reasonable accommodations is collaborative among the student, the disability specialist, the professional providing the diagnosis and the course instructor or program director if necessary. An Instructor Notification Form will be issued to the student once reasonable accommodations are determined.

In the event of a dispute, a student can petition the MCCCD for a review. The purpose of the review is to assist the college, on a case-by-case basis, in resolving any disagreements that arise concerning specific requests for academic accommodations. This review serves as a resource for faculty, academic administrators, and students as a final review of disagreements concerning specific academic accommodation requests.

Eligibility and Documentation:

A student with a disability is eligible to receive reasonable accommodation if the documented disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities. Major life activities include: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. To begin the process to receive accommodation the student must:

Contact the Disability Resources and Services Office; and provide documentation of medical, psychological or other appropriate diagnostic evaluations, as requested, to document the nature and extent of the stated disability.

Student Responsibilities:

The student is responsible for registering for services with Disability Resources and Services of MCC and provide documentation of the disability.
It is the responsibility of the student to identify him/herself to the instructor that he/she has a disability and to discuss the necessary accommodations. It is also the responsibility of the student to obtain the INSTRUCTOR NOTIFICATION FORM from Disability Resources and Services to take to the instructor and to give timely notification of disability and his/her need for accommodation. The form will help the student and the instructor discuss methods that will make the course fully accessible for the learning style of the student. Asking for test accommodations one day or less from the exam is not reasonable notification by the student to the instructor.
After disability accommodations have been given to the student, the student should strive to be successful in the coursework as enrolled. Students are encouraged to utilize the success strategies that are as follows:
- Regular and punctual attendance of classes
- Consistent and effective study habits
- Read the textbook and other necessary material
- Take good notes
- Do all homework assignments
- Consult with the instructor when there are questions
- Commit to college as a serious goal and objective
- Interview instructors before enrolling in courses
The student should communicate with fellow students whenever possible to contribute to the class interaction. Peer interaction is an important aspect of learning. It is also important that the class begin to understand that students with disabilities have the same concerns and problems as their peers.
It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for special testing accommodations by going to Disability Resources and Services and completing a REQUEST FOR TEST ACCOMMODATIONS FORM. The form must be submitted at least two (2) days before the test is to be taken.
If alternative textbooks and materials are needed by the student, it the responsibility of the student to register early and to provide Disability Resources and Services the class schedule and, if possible, a course syllabus from the instructor.
If brailed textbooks are needed by the student, it is the responsibility of the student to register early and to provide Disability Resources and Services the class schedule and, if possible, a course syllabus from the instructor.
If a sign language interpreter is required, it is the student's responsibility to register early and to request interpreters through Disability Resources and Services to facilitate the coordination of available qualified interpreters with the student's schedule.
When there are any questions or need for advice or assistance, the student needs to contact Disability Resources and Services, Building 37, Room SS3W.
The phone number is(480) 461-7447 (voice) or (480) 969-5587 (TTY).

Faculty Responsibilities:

The instructor and the student with a disability are encouraged to work together to find reasonable methods to accommodate the student's disability.
The goal is to minimize or eliminate the impact of the disability and allow the student to demonstrate knowledge of course material.
The instructor should insure that the student with a disability is fully aware of the requirements of the course. That sounds simple, but course requirements are sometimes unclear until halfway through the course. The requirements of the course should be clear in the beginning and in written form. If requirements or date of exam or outside assignments should change during the semester, the instructor should make these changes available to the student in written form.
In instances where teaching aids are used, which are in conflict with the student's disability, the instructor should provide other materials which the student can use. For example, the instructor who makes heavy use of audio tapes might provide transcriptions of the tapes to a hearing impaired student.
Allow extra time for examinations. A reasonable time limit is based on documentation of the specific disability and will vary with each student. Specific time limits are determined by the office of Disability Resources and Services and is written on the Instructor Notification form. The student can be required to go to Disability Resources and Services to obtain this form and he/she will need to provide documentation of disability. The student is required by Disability Resources and Services to complete a Testing Accommodation Request form if services, adaptive equipment,or special private room is needed.
Consider alternative test design when appropriate. Some students with a learning disability or head injury may find essay format difficult and a perceptually impaired student may have trouble with matching tests.
Whenever possible, the faculty are encouraged to inform other faculty within the department of experiences or techniques that have been successful. If successful experiences can be shared, a positive base for creating additional opportunities for students with disabilities can be established.
Where possible, and within reason, allow extra time for assignments, remembering that for a student with a disability, the process of research, etc. may involve scheduling an assistant for help with the library work.
While it may be the primary responsibility of the student to initiate the discussion of the accommodations needed, the outcome of the negotiation also depends on the receptivity, flexibility, and understanding of the instructor. It is important that accommodations are discussed and agreed upon early in the semester, at the time when the awkwardness and uncertainty will be the greatest. Both faculty and the student, together or separately, may find it useful to consult with the office of Disability Resources and Services for advice and assistance.
Many disabilities are obvious, and the question then is one of the degree of accommodation and assistance required. However, there are cases in which a faculty member may have no way of knowing that a student has a disability. For example, a student with epilepsy who is on medication may not expect to need any adaptation and may not mention his or her condition to the instructor. During a remission period, a student with multiple sclerosis may not feel the need to mention anything.
One good policy is for the instructor to announce at the first meeting of the class the following statement and include it in your syllabus: "If any of you has a disability, including a learning disability, please see me as soon as possible to discuss your accommodation needs. In order to receive appropriate accommodations you will need to make an appointment with Disability Resources & Services."
Assist the student with locating good volunteer note takers in the class. The Disability Resources and Services office provides a sample announcement to the student with a disability. The campus provides photocopying to students with disabilities of the notes taken by a note taking aide.
Provide a copy of class syllabus after registration for student(s) who will require textbook taping.
If a videotape is going to be shown in class and a student requests that (s)he be able to have it closed-captioned, arrangements can be made with Media Services for this. Request to have a monitor that has closed-captioning capability be brought to the classroom or have the video run through the closed-captioning machine if the videotape is being piped in from Media Services.
If there are any questions or need for advice or assistance, please call Disability Resources and Services. The phone number is (46) 1-7447 and it is in Building 37. Our TTY phone number is 969-5587.

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Contact DRS: email | phone: 480-461-7447 | TTY: 480-969-5587 | campus map