Accommodations on a college-level may differ from accommodations in high school/home-school. While VWCC understands these are high school/home-schooled students, they are also VWCC students taking college courses, on-campus, and must be aware that accommodations may look and operate differently from their high school or home.
For example: A high school student may have an accommodation of tests read aloud and typically a person would read the test aloud to the student. In college, the accommodation will still occur; however, we utilize software programs such as JAWS or Kurzweil which allow a computer to read tests to students.
Accessing Accommodations
Regional Academy, High School and Home-Schooled students attending VWCC will need to follow the same process all VWCC students follow to access accommodations. Please note: These procedures only apply to those young students who are taking VWCC classes. Students who are taking Dual Enrollment classes through their high school will follow their IEP and will be accommodated through their high school.
Step 1: Make an appointment and provide documentation
Make an appointment with ODS and bring documentation of a disability/diagnosis. Ideally, it is important to do this as early as possible — before classes even begin — as academic accommodations cannot be back-dated. With regards to a learning disability, the psychoeducational testing results/scores, typically embedded within IEPs, will be sufficient. Otherwise, psychological, physical or OHI can be documented by the student’s physician/clinician/specialist. Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and 504 Plans are not accepted as documentation of a disability. Please refer to our New Student Checklist & Intake Packet and Documentation Guidelines for more information.
Step 2: Receive a Confidential Accommodation Access Plan
Students will be provided with a Confidential Accommodation Access Plan (AP). The student’s AP will detail approved accommodations, based on the documentation submitted to ODS. The student will then provide this AP to each instructor/class they wish to have accommodation for. Additionally, unlike an IEP/504, which follows a student year after year, an AP must be requested and distributed, by the student, to each instructor, each semester. Please refer to Accommodation Access Plans for more information.
Authorization to Release Information
We understand Parents/Guardians/Supporters of young students often appreciate the ability to connect with campus officials regarding their students’ academic, financial, and personal school records. In accordance with Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we must have a signed release giving permission to share such information with you.
In order to have information released via phone, fax or email to the Party to Whom Information will be Released, a personal identification number (PIN) of at least four-digits must be assigned by the student. The Party to Whom Information will be Released must identify this PIN to receive student information. Additionally, the Office of Disability Services, in accordance with FERPA and the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), requires an additional signed release should a Parent/Guardian/Supporter wish to discuss a student’s disability-related information with an ODS Counselor. In order to have information released via phone, fax or email, the Office of Disability Services will reference this PIN. Both release forms, including our Statement of Confidentiality form, may be found on our Forms page.
Our Commitment
The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is committed to supporting young students and their parents/guardians/supporters in understanding and facilitating accommodations while attending VWCC. If additional information is needed, please contact:
Hillary Holland, LPC
Disability Counselor/ADA Coordinator
Student Life Center S207
540-857-7286
hholland@virginiawestern.edu
Contact Us
Office of Disability Services
Student Life Center S207
540-857-7286
Fax: 540-857-7918
TTY: All users 711
disabilityservices@virginiawestern.edu
Hillary Holland, LPC
Disability Counselor/ADA Coordinator
hholland@virginiawestern.edu
Mailing Address:
3096 Colonial Ave, SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
Hours of Operation
Mon-Thurs: 8:00AM-5:00PM
Friday: 8:00AM-4:30PM
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