Who is served by Student Disability Services?
Any enrolled student at The Technical College of the Lowcountry who has a documented disability that has an impact upon the educational environment is eligible for services from Student Disability Services. Students must provide this documentation at their own cost and effort. The Disability Services Representative reserves the right to deny services or accommodations until such time as the appropriate documentation is provided. The actual services that will be provided are determined based on the nature and severity of the disability, the course requirements in consultation with the student, the disability representative, and academic faculty.
Note: Documentation requirements vary among colleges and institutions. If a student plans to transfer, he/she must be sure to contact the representative at the receiving institution and get information on their documentation requirements and process for applying for services. The Student Disability Representative will be happy to assist students with this process.
Applying for Support Services and Accommodations
It is very important that all students with disabilities recognize that it is their responsibility to request services in a timely manner. Please allow 3-4 weeks if requesting taped or electronic text and 4 weeks to schedule sign language interpreting.
New Students
Requirements for new students at The Technical College of the Lowcountry are:
- Complete an Intake Form, available in the office of the Student Disability Service representatives in Building 2, Room 203. The form can be completed during the initial intake appointment.
- Gather documents establishing the existence of a disability.
- Make an appointment with the Student Disability Services Representative. Call 843.525.8219 or visit the office (Building 2, Room 203). Office hours are 8:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Thursday; 8:00 am to 11:30 am on Friday.
Returning Students
Each semester, returning students at TCL who have registered with the Student Disability Services Representatives should arrange for accommodations as needed. Accommodation forms must be renewed each semester. If you have not previously registered with a disability services representative, please follow the instructions for new students.
Documentation of Disability
Any student who wants to receive accommodations must provide clear evidence of a disability.
What is documentation?
Documentation is information about a disability provided by a doctor or professional trained in the specific area of disability for which services and accommodations are being requested. Documentation can be a letter, report, or assessment summary from an appropriate professional that states the disability and functional limitations.
Documentation Format
Diagnosis written on a prescription or a half size letterhead is not acceptable.
All documentation must be typed (not handwritten) on full-size letterhead and signed by the qualifying professional.
To guarantee your privacy, Student Disability Services does not accept faxed records unless authorized by the student, which must also be documented by the Student Disability Services Representative.
Students are encouraged to bring their documentation with them when they apply for services instead of having it mailed to the College.
When must this documentation be provided?
Documentation must be provided to the Student Disability Representative prior to receiving services.
Where is the documentation kept?
Documentation is maintained in a distinct confidential file and is never combined with the student’s academic record, in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Why does The Technical College of the Lowcountry need documentation of the disability?
Student Disability Services requires sufficient information to determine eligibility and effective accommodations for each student requesting services.
Applying for Support Services and Accommodations
Attention Deficit Disorder
Relevant reports from the diagnosing physician or psychologist, or information from current therapist stating the disability and functional limitations.
Hearing Impairment
Physician’s statement that includes diagnosis, nature of disability, severity, and functional limitations, or records from public or private school that indicate services were provided.
Visual Impairment
Physician’s statement that includes diagnosis, nature of disability, severity, and functional limitations, or records from public or private school that indicate services were provided.
Psychological Disorder
Mental Health professional’s (psychologist, counselor, psychiatrist) statement that includes diagnosis, nature of disability, severity, and functional limitations.
Orthopedic Impairment
Physician’s statement that includes diagnosis, nature of disability, severity, and functional limitations may be required.
Other Health Impairment
Physician’s statement that includes diagnosis, nature of disability, severity, and functional limitations may be required.
Speech/Language Impairment
Report from a licensed speech pathologist stating the diagnosis, nature of disability, severity, and functional limitations may be required.
Learning Disability
Learning disabilities documentation must include an assessment that meets the following criteria: An IEP alone is not adequate. A student must have his/her most current psycho-educational evaluation.
The evaluation must be administered by a qualified professional, such as:
- State licensed psychologist or professional diagnostician
- Post-secondary staff in disability service or department of special education
- School psychologist
- Vocational Rehabilitation Division diagnostician
To be considered Learning Disabled, the assessment must indicate the following:
- Full scale/broad cognitive score on the Intellectual Assessment must fall in the average range or higher
- A significant difference (-1.5 standard deviations or more) must exist between the full scale/broad cognitive score and the standard score in one or more of the achievement areas or
- A wide scatter of scores based on age norm, either inter test or intra test on the WAIS-R or WJPED-R Cognitive.
If you were served in Special Education while in the public school system (itinerate, resource, or self-contained), we will determine your most current psycho-educational evaluation. This is the evaluation that determined you were eligible for services in Special Education. This is not an IEP. The IEP is not helpful when determining eligibility for services in post-secondary education. The IEP will tell us what you received in public school, it will not tell us why. Your evaluation will assist us in providing the most effective accommodations and services.
