Accessibility Services

West Georgia Technical College provides equal educational opportunities to prospective and current students who meet the disability criteria of the American Disabilities Act of 1990 and the 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Assistance is available for individuals who present with a temporary or permanent. To receive services, an individual must provide recent documentation from a qualified professional which is compliant with the West Georgia Technical College documentation requirements for accommodations

A person with a disability is any person who:

Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities including walking, talking, seeing, hearing, breathing, learning and working
Has a record of such impairment
Is regarded as having such impairment

A person must meet the admissions requirements and the technical standards required for a program of study with or without reasonable accommodations.

Accommodations are provided in order to provide equal access to information and services by reducing or eliminating barriers. These accommodations are determined and developed on a case-by-case basis after a review of the student’s documentation and a personal interview with the Accessibility Services Coordinator.

Documentation Criteria

To establish eligibility, a prospective or current student must request services by submitting documentation of a disability to the Accessibility Services Coordinator.

Generally, an IEP and 504 Plan is not sufficient for college courses. However, accommodations may be implemented temporarily (one semester), if approved for services.

Documentation must be recent and include information regarding the student’s current level of functioning. Recent is defined as documentation completed within the past five years for a Psychological or Vocational Rehabilitation Evaluation and three years for an Individual Education Plan or 504 Plan.

Students who do not have recent documentation can provide their licensed professional with this Verification Form and return it to accessibilityservices@westgatech.edu.

Please allow 7 business days for the scheduling of the initial intake interview and 7 business days to arrange a sign language interpreter.

If a student has never been evaluated to establish eligibility for a disability, or needs a current evaluation, the Accessibility Services Coordinator may refer the student to the appropriate resource agency at the expense of the student.

Types of Accommodations and Services

Academic Coaching – Academic coaching is a voluntary service offered to students needing assistance in strengthening their academic skills in note-taking, time management, test-taking, goal-setting and other academic areas. Meeting with a coach helps students stay in good academic standing and reach their academic goals. Students interested in coaching should speak with the Accessibility Services coordinator.

Assistive Technology (AT) – Accessibility Services allows students registered with the program to utilize available assistive technology to help remove barriers in the academic environment. AT includes but is not limited to screen-reading software, recorders, magnifiers, etc.

Sign language interpretive services are offered via remote interpreting. Other forms of interpretive services are offered on a case-by-case basis. The college will provide effective communication for all students.

Service animals (dogs or miniature horses) are allowed in the classroom and all areas of the college, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The ADA does not mandate the allowance of Emotional Support Animals (ESA) and pets on college campuses where campus housing is not available.