Student Resources
ADA & Section 504 Rights For Students
Available Equipment
Available Services
Documentation Criteria
How to Register With our Office
Student Responsibilities
Who Is Eligible
More Information
ADA & Section 504 Rights For Students
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are both important pieces of legislation that protect the rights of people and students with disabilities. To learn more about these important policies and their impact on postsecondary education follow the links below.
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Available Equipment
Cassette Recorders, TDD, Electronic Spellers, Magnifiers, Headphones, Talking and Large Print Calculators, Electronic Dictionary/Thesaurus, personal PC tablets, and laptops. These are some of the items loaned to students as determined on a case by case basis. Computers with the following software packages are also available: Dragon Naturally Speaking, Kurzweil 3000, Window-Eyes, and ZoomText.
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Available Services
Some of our available services are: Extra time on tests, Oral testing, Test proctoring, Non distractible testing environment, Tutoring, Special chair/desk/seating, Tape recorder, Notetaker, Instructors notes, Reader, Books on tape, Interpreters/sign language, Vocal repeater, Braille printed material, Enlarged text material, Calculator/ spell checker, Adaptive computer training.
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Documentation Criteria
1. A qualified professional must conduct the evaluation: The name, title, and professional credentials of the evaluator, including information about license or certification (e.g., licensed psychologist) as well as the area of specialization, employment, and state in which the individual practices must be clearly stated in the documentation.
2. Testing must be current:
Learning disability diagnosis
- high school students should have testing conducted within the past three years
- adult testing must be conducted within the past five years.
Psychological disability diagnosis
- evaluation must be within one year.
ADHD and Other disabilities
- evaluation must have been conducted within the past three years.
(These guidelines do not apply to physical or sensory disabilities of a permanent or unchanging nature.)
3. Functional Limitations: resulting from the disability or disabilities must be detailed as well as a clearly stated diagnosis.
4. Documentation must be comprehensive: include complete educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability for which accommodations are being requested. Include a list of all test instruments used in the evaluation report and relevant subtest scores used to document the stated disability.
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How to Register With our Office
Registering with the Office of Disability Services and providing appropriate documentation is the only way to receive accommodations. Please call us at (615) 230-3472 if we can answer any questions about the registration process.Students are encouraged to register with our office as soon as possible so that accommodations are available at the start of each semester. There are three ways to register with our office.
Click on the following link to Register Online
Click on the following link to Download Input Form
Come to our office located on the bottom floor of the Wood Campus Center Map and fill out an intake form in person.
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Student Responsibilities
1. Enrollment at Volunteer State Community College is required.
2. Register with ODS and provide appropriate documentation.
3. Request accommodations through this office.
4. Plan ahead—Time is needed to provide accommodations.
5. Take Accommodations Memo to each instructor for signature.
6. Return completed Accommodations Memo to the ODS.
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Who Is Eligible
Students who have a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activity. A disability may include: chronic illness, hearing impairment, learning disability, mental illness, neurological impairment, physical disability, or a visual impairment.
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More Information
Contact Carma Lyles, Office Manager 615-230-3472, Fax: 615-230-4808, TTY: 615-230-3488, 1-888-335-8722 Outside Nashville Area
Kathy Sowell, Director of Disability Services
Judy Schuelke, Coordinator Special Adult Programs
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Volunteer State Community College, a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is an equal opportunity institution and ensures equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, status as a qualified veteran with advisability or veteran of the Vietnam era. 10:03.5.16
