Rights and Responsibilities of Students with Disabilities

A student with a disability has a right to an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs offered at Eastfield College.  To insure this right, otherwise qualified students with disabilities at Eastfield College have a responsibility or are entitled to:

• Identify themselves as needing accommodation in a timely fashion.  When the disability is not obvious, the student must provide documentation from an appropriate professional.

• Demonstrate or document how their disability affects a particular delivery system, instructional method, or evaluation criteria when requesting accommodation.

• Have the same obligations as any student to meet and maintain the institution’s academic and technical standards.

• The right to be evaluated based on their ability, not their disability.  If their disability affects the outcome of an evaluation method, they are entitled to an evaluation by alternate means.

• An equal opportunity to learn.  If the location, delivery system, or instructional methodology limits their access, participation, or disability to benefit, they have a right to reasonable alterations in those aspects of the course (or program) to accommodate their disability.

• An equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the academic community.  This includes access to services, extracurricular activities, and transportation at a comparable level as that provided to any student.

• Appeal the institution’s decisions concerning accommodations.  First internally, by filing a written petition with the campus ADA Compliance Officer designated by the College President and then, if necessary, by filing a complaint with the regional Office of Civil Rights or the Department of Justice.