Policies and Procedure

Requesting Services

• Students with disabilities who provide appropriate and approved documentation are qualified to request accommodations and services through the Disability component of the Student Development Center. The following procedures provide guidelines for requesting accommodations after the student’s documentation has been approved by the Board of Regents’ Regents Center for Learning Disorders (RCLD).
• After new students receive their letter of acceptance to ABAC, they will receive a Voluntary Declaration of Disability form that needs to be completed and returned to the Student Development Center. Do not return the Voluntary Declaration of Disability form to the Admissions Office or the Registrar. Once the Student Development Center receives this form, a staff member will contact you by mail or fax to initiate the process of having your documentation approved so you can receive accommodations. The steps for receiving RCLD approval are at the bottom of this page.
• Students with disabilities must establish a file with the Student Development Center in order to receive disability-related, reasonable accommodations.
• NEW STUDENTS can request services as soon as they have been accepted to ABAC. It is recommended this be done after students have registered for classes so there is minimal delay in implementing approved accommodations.
• NEW STUDENTS requesting interpreters, alternative text formats, special furniture, Braille, arrangements to accommodate personal attendants, use of special equipment, relocation of classrooms, and other services not listed above must request services at least 4 weeks prior to the first day of the semester of enrollment and earlier if lab classes are involved. Delay in requesting services may result in a possible delay of provision of services.
• RETURNING STUDENTS must request services and provide Ms. Annie Sims with names of their instructor(s) and class schedule before classes begin. This request can be made via e-mail or in person, but best when done in person.  It is the returning student’s responsibility to request services EVERY semester. Unless you are requesting new academic accommodations, it is not necessary to meet with the Director. The Director may request a meeting with some or all students during any semester to review policies and procedures and/or update student progress. In addition, returning students who have not requested services for one semester need to meet with the Director of the Student Development Center when they return to request services. 
• RETURNING STUDENTS requesting interpreters, alternative text formats, special furniture, Braille, arrangements to accommodate personal attendants, use of special equipment, relocation of classrooms, and other services not listed above must request services as soon as they register for classes but no later than 4 weeks prior to the first day of classes. Delay in requesting services may result in a possible delay of provision of services.
• Students who provide documentation that meets the requirements for establishing a disability and are approved by the Regents Center for Learning Disorders, and who request services during a semester (after classes have started) will be provided services as soon as possible. However, services are never retroactive.
• The Student Development Center will write individualized letters to faculty members certifying that the student has a disability and stating the reasonable and necessary accommodations. The student diagnosed with a disability will be responsible for delivering the individualized letters to faculty in order to access their accommodations. As the provision of accommodations is a shared responsibility among faculty, the student, and Student Development Center, it is vitally important that students give the accommodation letters to faculty as soon as they receive them in order to expedite timely accommodations. Students serve as their own advocates and may need to request or make arrangements for accommodations with instructors for each test and/or assignment. The faculty member is under no obligation to provide accommodations until he/she receives the accommodation letter.

Students may make an appointment to meet with the Director or Career and Personal Counselor during the semester to discuss accommodations, request referrals, and/or discuss problems in meeting course requirements. We can be reached by phone 229-391-5135, fax 229-391-5136, email mmartin@abac.edu, asims@abac.edu, or jwillis@abac.edu. Students who need to use the Student Development Center’s Services, meet with the Director or Career and Personal Counselor after regular office hours must make an appointment at least 48 hours (minimum) in advance of the day they want to schedule their appointment.

Procedures for Obtaining Disability Services

Service Providers: Dr. Maggie Martin and Ms. Annie Sims

1.   Send all pertinent documentation outlining your disability [latest psychological evaluation dated within three (3) years of the request for services, Individualized Educational Program (IEP), staff/eligibility reports, etc.]. Also please include: recent transcript(s), SAT/ACT scores, a list of previous accommodations and both Release of Information Forms signed by the student.

2.   The signing of the Release of Information Form allows us to send your information to our Regents Center for Learning Disorders (RCLD) at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. The Regents Center will determine your accommodations. The Release of Information Form on Student Development Center letterhead allows the Student Development Center staff to discuss your situation with those you list (eg., parents, Vocational Rehabilitation, evaluator, counselor).

3.   We will receive a letter from the Regents Center within approximately two to three weeks after your materials have been submitted, stating which accommodations you will receive if your documentation meets their criteria for LD or ADD, or if you need to be re-tested.

4.   If you meet the Board of Regents criteria for having a Learning Disability (LD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), then you need to come to our office at the beginning of every semester and inform Ms. Sims of the instructor(s) you want to receive letters about your disability status. It is your responsibility to distribute letters to your instructors.

5.   If you need to be re-tested, you have two (2) options:

      a.   Testing at RCLD – Cost: $500.00 – contact Service Provider for testing packet.

      b.   Testing by a private agency or by a licensed psychologist/psychiatrist, but please get the criteria from Service Providers for outside evaluations – Cost: up to $1,200.00 or more.

6.     If you do not meet either criteria of LD or ADD by the Regents Center for Learning Disorders and you do not need to be re-tested, you will not be granted accommodations and cannot receive disabilities accommodations.

As Service Providers, we are responsible for making sure that accommodations are followed and adhered to by the instructor and/or institution (ABAC). Please remember we must have your cooperation (the student) in being your own advocate in letting us know what is happening with you, your classes, instructors and other problems. Students serve as their own advocate and may need to request or make accommodations with instructors for each test and/or assignment. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

Last updated Tuesday, August 15, 2006 10:45 AM