Accessibility Services

BRTC's Accessibility Services Resource Center works to assist BRTC students with accommodation services.

Black River Technical College seeks to be in compliance with both the spirit and the letter of the law as stated in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students seeking ADA accommodations must contact the ADA Coordinator.

Note:  Contact must be made 2 weeks prior to the beginning date of each enrollment period.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, an individual with a disability is defined as a person who

  1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities;
  2. has a record of such impairment; or
  3. is regarded as having such impairment.

Major life activities as amended in 2008 include but are not limited to

  • caring for oneself,
  • performing manual tasks,
  • seeing,
  • hearing,
  • eating,
  • sleeping,
  • walking,
  • standing,
  • lifting,
  • bending,
  • speaking,
  • breathing,
  • learning,
  • reading,
  • concentrating,
  • thinking,
  • communicating, and
  • working.”

Also included are major bodily functions such as

  • functions of the immune system,
  • normal cell growth,
  • digestive,
  • bowel,
  • bladder,
  • neurological,
  • brain,
  • circulatory,
  • respiratory,
  • endocrine,
  • hemic,
  • lymphatic,
  • musculoskeletal,
  • special sense organs and skin,
  • genitourinary,
  • cardiovascular systems, and
  • reproductive functions.
  1. Complete the New Student Form. Bring the form to Student Affairs and give it to the ADA Coordinator.
  2. Provide documentation of your disabilty.
    These documents can include the following:
    • IEP/504 Plan from High School (dated within the last three years)
    • Letter from a Physician along with documentation from the Physician’s office (letter or documentation cannot be on a prescription pad).  Physician must complete the Physicians form and provide all documentation they have. 
    • Vocational Rehab documentation that includes a diagnosis.
  3. ADA Coordinator Review
    Once you have turned in the proper documentation, the ADA Coordinator will review it and discuss with you the proper accommodations.
  4. Instructor Emails
    Once accommodations are set, the Coordinator will email the student’s accommodations to each of the student’s instructors.  The student will also be notified of the set accommodations. 
  5. Continued Monitoring
    Each semester the student is enrolled, the Coordinator will look at the student’s schedule, and send proper accommodations to instructors.

The ADA Coordinator’s office will determine accommodations as mandated under federal law. Please remember that student needs are highly individualized and what works for one student with a particular disability may not be effective for another student with the same disability.  Examples of accommodations are numerous.  Below is a list of some common accommodations:

  • Extended time for exams
  • Low-distraction testing rooms
  • Large print exams
  • Oral testing
  • Interpreters
  • Notetakers
  • Copies of Notes and PowerPoint
  • Recording lectures
  • Books on tape or digital format
  • Accessible room and/or desk
  • Preferential seating

Black River Technical College offers various resources for students with any of the following:

  • mobility impairments,
  • are blind or have low vision,
  • are deaf or hard of hearing, and
  • learning disabilities.

This technology includes, but is not limited to adaptive equipment for computers. The Accessibility Services office has created a summary of all of the adaptive equipment, computer technologies, etc. available on campus.

In order to receive assistive technology, you must notify the ADA Coordinator 2 weeks before classes begin. 
  • ReadSpeaker is an integrated text-to-speech in Moodle. Read Speaker Student Guide 2
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking- is a text-to-speech software that works with the Windows operating system.
  • Access Text helps low-vision students by obtaining electronic files from textbook publishers. These files are used to create accessible versions of the textbooks. Students can then read online with a magnifier built into their computer.
  • Bookshare has books available in electronic format for students.
  • Digital Recorders to record lectures.
  • Magnifiers to help students who have low vision.
  • Interpreters for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Headphones  
  • Colored transparent highlighters designed for reading (helps with fluency, tracking, and comprehension).
  • Medical Spellex is designed for students with dyslexia who are in the medical field.
  • Digital Voice Recorder is an ink pen that records.

If a student has a seizure disorder it is a possibility that the student may have an episode while on campus. Every student who has a seizure disorder should be encouraged to notify the ADA Coordinator of the degree of their disorder, preferred procedures, and emergency contacts. A copy of this agreement will be given to instructors, security, and administrators as needed or at the discretion of the student.

If you have a history of seizures, please complete the Student Seizure Disorder Agreement and turn it into the ADA Coordinator.

The ADA Transitions Guide is for students who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act that are transitioning from High School to College.  This guide will help you understand the differences between High School and College accommodations.  It will also give the student ideas for study habits and tips for success.

 
 

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