Special Services

Services to Students with Disabilities

The Special Needs office at Southeastern Technical College promotes the success of students with disabilities. Our focus is to provide students with disabilities the tools, reasonable accommodations, and support services to participate fully in the academic environment.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 define a person with a disability as someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. Such a person must have a record of the impairment or be regarded as having such impairment.

Examples of some reasonable accommodations include:

• Extended time for class projects and tests
• Testing in a distraction-reduced setting
• Permission to audio record class lectures
• Volunteer note-takers
• Books in electronic format
• Screen-reading software
• Speech recognition software
• Use of an electronic spell checker for classroom tests, quizzes, and writing assignments
• Use of a calculator
• Magnification/visual aid/large print
• Priority seating (front row, back row, near exit, etc.)

Accessing Services

1. Meet all admission requirements for Southeastern Technical College and the desired program of study.
2. Contact the Student Support Services Office to request services.
3. Provide the appropriate documentation:
   • • • Dual-enrolled students should provide a copy of their IEP or 504 plan.
       • All documentation must be prepared by a professional
       • Identification of the nature and extent of the disability
       • Specific information on the functional limitations as related to the academic environment
       • Description of the current course of treatment, including medical side effects
       • Prognosis for the disability
       • Recommended reasonable accommodations
4. In addition to documentation, a student with disabilities must be otherwise qualified for admission to or participation in a program of study with or without a reasonable accommodation.
5. After reasonable accommodations have been determined, an accommodation form will be emailed to you and your instructors with instructions for your next steps.

Accommodations are determined on an individual basis, based on documentation provided and the interview with the student. The intake interview, documentation review, and arrangements for accommodations can be a lengthy process. Students are encouraged to apply for services early to ensure accommodations are in place once classes begin.

Confidentiality

All disability documentation and information is confidential between the student and disability services staff, but may be disclosed on a need-to-know basis.

Returning Students

It is the student’s responsibility to make sure their accommodations are continued each semester of attendance. Approved accommodations are not automatically activated each semester. Continuing students with approved accommodations must contact the Student Support Office to request an updated accommodation form at the beginning of each semester.

While requests may be submitted at any time during the term, accommodations are generally not applied retroactively to coursework, exams, or attendance completed before the request is approved.

Accommodation Appeal Process

1.  Request Reconsideration:
   • Contact the Student Support Services Office
   • Submit any new or additional information (e.g., updated documentation, explanation of need, or examples of barriers)
   • Student Support Services will schedule a meeting within 7 business days
   • A written decision will be issued within 7 business days
2. If reconsideration is denied, submit a written appeal to the Vice President of Student Affairs (refer to Grievance Procedures: STC College Catalog and Student Handbook).

Student Support Services Office Contact: 

Helen Thomas
Director of Student Support Services
Vidalia Campus – Building A, Office 165

(912) 538-3126

Email Mrs. Thomas