General Information
What does Accessibility Resources do?
We provide assistance to students who have disabilities or other barriers to success by
Reviewing documentation or other evidence of disability to confirm eligibility
Determining reasonable accommodations based on need
Providing accommodation support and coordination in the classroom
Advocating and coaching for academic success
We also provide support and education to faculty and staff by
Collaborating on how best to work with particular students or groups of students
Facilitating communication on and coordination of accommodations
Providing training and educational opportunities
What are Accommodations?
Accommodations are adjustments, modifications, and/or services to allow students with disabilities equitable access to education.
Students are eligible to use approved accommodations across their entire college experience.
In all classes, including both for-credit courses and non-credit Community Education courses, whether they are face-to-face, virtual, online or hybrid.
In all clinical, field, Cooperative Work, Work Study and Learn and Earn experiences.
In all Career and Technical Education and Accelerated Short Term Training programs.
In all club, co-curricular and student life activities held at or sponsored by LBCC.
Accommodation plans can be created and activated throughout the term.
New accommodation plans can be created up through the end of week 9 each term.
Students need to request their approved accommodations each term to attach them to their classes.
The student and instructor may need to discuss details on how accommodations will work or may not apply in a particular class.
Some accommodations require a communication plan between the instructor and the student prior to use.
Students with existing approved accommodations can request them at any point up through the end of week 10 each term.
Accommodations are not retroactive.
Accommodation plans are not in effect until accommodations are requested and Faculty Notification Letters are emailed to instructors by our office.
Accommodations in Online and Virtual Courses
Many accommodations can be used in online and virtual courses.
The nature of how accommodations work and what is applicable in these types of classes may vary however.
Students are highly encouraged to communicate with instructors about all accommodations they wish to use in online or virtual classes.
This communication is typically done through email, preferably a few days before classes begin.
Accommodations in Clinicals, Field Placement, and Cooperative Work Experience
It is the student’s responsibility to register with Accessibility Resources and request accommodations in advance if accommodations are needed during their field placement (clinicals, practicums, field experiences, cooperative work experience or other work experiences required as part of the student’s academic program).
Clinical, field placement and cooperative work experience accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.
Advanced notice is required so Accessibility Resources can work with the student, instructor, clinical/field placement coordinator, and field site personnel to develop an appropriate accommodation plan.
The Accessibility Resources Director, or designee, will:
Meet with the student to discuss if there is a need for an accommodation and if needed, identify possible accommodations
Work with the LBCC Field Placement Coordinator to define components and accommodation needs, and if needed, accompany the LBCC Field Placement Coordinator and the student to visit the assigned site prior to placement
Provide consultation services when adjustments to the accommodation plan may be required or when questions arise concerning what are reasonable accommodations
Students:
Are encouraged to meet with their Accommodation Specialist to discuss if there is a need for an accommodation in clinicals, field placement or cooperative work experience and identify possible accommodations as early as possible.
May then meet with the instructor or the coordinator of the field placement program/site to obtain more information about the expectations for the specific field placement site
May ask the Accessibility Resources Director, or designee, to join this meeting
Are not required to use accommodations during their field placement
Are not required to disclose the presence of a disability unless the student is seeking reasonable accommodations
Accommodations for Temporary Illness or Injury
Linn-Benton Community College is committed to supporting the academic success of all students, but recognizes that certain life events may adversely affect a student’s ability to fully participate in class, including both short term and persistent illness and injuries.
While not considered disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Accessibility Resources may provide temporary academic assistance as a courtesy service when feasible.
Accessibility Resources will work with the student to determine and implement appropriate temporary accommodations, as well as help facilitate any arrangements with instructors through email, including, but not limited to:
Asking for input in grades, progress, previous communication, outstanding assignments, options, etc.
Providing notice of temporary or emergency accommodations, if necessary
Students who experience a short-term or persistent illness or injury are encouraged to:
Communicate their absence due to illness to their instructors as soon as possible.
Indicate the general nature of the absence (e.g. contagious, significant illness, physical injury, etc.)
Confidential details about the illness do not need to be shared with instructors.
PLEASE NOTE:
Confidential documentation of illness, including doctors’ notes for excused absences, discharge papers, recommended accommodations, etc., should be faxed or emailed to Accessibility Resources, not instructors.
Accessibility Resources will relay the receipt of appropriate documentation to instructors when requested by the student.
Confidential information is never shared with instructors.
As soon as the student is able, they are encouraged to discuss appropriate plans for making up work and tests with the instructor.
Accessibility Resources does not excuse absences or coordinate makeup work for students experiencing temporary illness or injury.
The student should contact their instructor directly regarding absences, missed deadlines and exams.
Accessibility Resources can assist in this conversation and with facilitating temporary or ongoing accommodations.
In some cases, it may be more appropriate to discuss the possibility of receiving an incomplete for the class or the need to withdraw from the class and/or term.
A Petition for Late Refund and Withdraw may be appropriate if a serious and/or compelling illness or injury has occurred.
Instructors have the discretion to provide accommodations they deem reasonable, without an approved accommodation plan from Accessibility Resources (i.e. extra time for testing, make-up test in Testing Services, extended deadline for assignments, etc.).
Determining Reasonable Accommodations
A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, or facility that ensures that a qualified student with a disability is not excluded, segregated or otherwise treated differently.
Students collaborate through an interactive process with an Accessibility Resources Accommodation Specialist to determine appropriate accommodations on an individual basis.
The College is obligated to make a reasonable accommodation only to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified student with a disability.
To determine reasonable accommodations, Accessibility Resources may seek information from appropriate college personnel regarding essential standards and requirements for courses, programs, services, or facilities.
Reasonable accommodations are determined by examining:
The barriers or limitations resulting from the interaction between the documented disability and the campus environment
The possible accommodations that might remove the barriers
Whether or not the student has access to the course, program, service, job, activity, or facility without accommodations
Whether the accommodations would fundamentally alter the nature of or effect the essential elements of the course, program, service, or facility
Whether providing the accommodations would result in an undue burden for the College
Overall Accommodation Process
The overall accommodation process is outlined on our How to Get Started page on our website www.linnbenton.edu/accessibilityresources. Accessibility Resources, students, and instructors all have a part in the accommodation process.
Accessibility Resources responsibilities include:
Reviewing documentation or other evidence of disability to confirm eligibility
Engaging in an interactive intake process with the student to determine reasonable accommodations
Educating students on how to use accommodations and attach them to classes each term
Notifying faculty of approved accommodation plans
Facilitating ongoing collaboration with faculty, staff, and students to provide equitable access to education
Students responsibilities include:
Registering with Accessibility Resources
Submitting documentation or other evidence of disability
Engaging in an interactive intake process to determine accommodations
Learning how to use and request accommodations to attach them to classes
Communicating with instructors regarding what accommodations they want to use, if they apply in a particular class, and the details of how accommodations will work in that class
Instructors responsibilities include:
Communicating with students regarding the accommodations they want to use each term
Discussing if accommodations apply in a particular class and the details of how they will work in class
Inquiring how students learn best, test best, and function best in the classroom
Collaborating with Accessibility Resources for any questions or concerns
See the Instructor Responsibilities section for more detailed information.
Connecting to our Office
We encourage you to connect with our office and to connect students with our office.
When to connect
We encourage faculty and staff to connect directly with our office with any questions or concerns, or to collaborate on working with particular students or providing equitable access.
We also encourage faculty and staff to help connect students to our office, whether they have established accommodations or not.
Students with established accommodations can be referred to their Accommodation Specialist if:
They do not understand how an accommodation works
They have disclosed a change in health or other circumstances that may result in a necessary adjustment to their accommodation plan
They say they have accommodations but a Faculty Notification Letter has not been received.
Students without established accommodations may need help connecting to our office if:
They disclose a disability, significant illness, event or other barrier that impacts their ability to be successful in class.
They mention having had accommodations, an IEP or a 504 in the past.
They struggle with coursework or tests even after trying different strategies and resources such as tutoring, math/writing help desks, etc.
How to connect
There are a number of different ways to connect with our office.
To ask general questions or find out general information:
Contact the Accessibility Resources office by phone, email or in person.
Refer to our website www.linnbenton.edu/accessibilityresources.
To discuss a specific student and/or their accommodations:
Contact the student’s assigned Accommodation Specialist listed on their Faculty Notification Letter.
Email or phone the Accessibility Resources office for help determining the correct Accommodation Specialist.
To refer students to our office:
Share information about our office with students.
Using a phrase such as, “There is a student resource on campus that may be helpful to you. Would you like information about them or can I help get connected?,” is a good way to start.
Direct students to our website www.linnbenton.edu/accessibilityresources.
Provide a warm hand-off introducing them to our office through email.
Email accessibility@linnbenton.edu and copy the student.
We will reach out directly to the student.
Walk the student down to our office to make an introduction.