AccessAbility

Student Rights and Responsibilities

An otherwise qualified student with a documented disability at Catawba College has the following rights and responsibilities:

Rights

• Reasonable accommodations according to their disability, based on the information provided on the Voluntary Disclosure Form and/or supporting documentation.
• Equitable access to educational opportunities provided by Catawba College.
• Equitable and fair treatment.
• Confidentiality in matters of their documentation and educational record.
• Self-determination of who will receive student released disability related materials and information within and outside the college.
• File a grievance with the OAA and receive a prompt and equitable resolution in accordance with the Grievance/Hearing Procedure.
• All other rights and privileges available to other students at Catawba College.

Responsibilities

• Requesting in writing accommodations in a timely manner from the OAA.
• Demonstrating appropriate and responsible levels of self-help in obtaining and arranging for accommodations.
• Obtaining and providing appropriate documentation to the OAA. This includes participating in additional evaluations if documentation is insufficient to determine eligibility or if requested accommodations are not supported in the currently submitted documentation.
• Collaborating with OAA staff to determine reasonable accommodations.
• Requesting and participation crafting their individual Academic Access Plan (AAP) with the OAA, then meeting with professors to share AAP’s and any additional information the student deems appropriate.
• Actively participating in the interactive process to ensure reasonable accommodations by communicating in a timely fashion about accommodation requests, difficulties or concerns.
• Self-advocating for their access and self-monitoring their progress.
• Keeping documentation, disclosure and contact information up-to-date with the OAA and/or the Office of the Registrar.
• Disclosure of a disability, impairment, condition, or limitation to an individual professor, program, department, or any entity other than the Office of Academic Accessibility is not considered an official notification to the University nor a request for reasonable accommodations.

College Rights and Responsibilities

These rights are executed primarily by the Office of Academic Accessibility (OAA) and faculty but are also executed by other college employees and offices. If students have questions about requests or provisions of accommodations they should contact the OAA for clarification.

Rights

• It can require students to meet with staff members.
• It may require appropriate supporting documentation of a disability.
• It can deny requested accommodations based on the timeliness and reasonableness of the request; the adequacy or inadequacy of the documentation on file at the time of the request; or when the requested accommodation is deemed to fundamentally alter the university course, program, service or activity.

Responsibilities

• Working with students to determine necessary accommodations on a case-by-case basis.
• Responding to students' requests for services and recommending reasonable accommodations.
• Ensuring that appropriate accommodations are available to the student in a timely manner.
• Bearing the cost of any accommodation that does not result in fundamental alteration in program requirements, does not pose undue financial burden on the college, and is not considered a personal aid/aide, device or service.
• Assisting students in developing self-advocacy skills.
• Acting as a mediator and advocating for students when appropriate.
• Maintaining student confidentiality.
• Referring students to appropriate campus or community resources and/or supports.