For students who have learning disabilities or are are physically challenged with vision, hearing, speech, or mobility impairments, a counselor is available to discuss academic, career, or personal concerns relating to the disability. With proper support services and technology, disabilities can become abilities.

Procedures for Accommodating Students with Disabilities

Students have rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Students have the right:

• to choose to identify themselves as having disabilities
• to participate in the decisions about their accommodations
• to have records released only with their written consent

Students have the responsibility:

• to provide documentation of their disabilities
• to request accommodations 3 weeks before the semester begins
• to follow through on agreed accommodations

To request accommodations: Students with disabilities who want to request accommodations must see the Counselor for Students with Disabilities. Students with learning disabilities must provide a psychological report from a school psychologist, licensed psychologist, or learning disability specialist. The report should state the specific disability, and justify the need for accommodations for the student. Students with a physical disability need to provide a medical report or letter from an MD which justifies the need for the recommended accommodations.The report needs to be sent to the Counselor for Students with Disabilities 3 weeks before the first semester in which the student is enrolled. After the documentation is reviewed, the counselor will work with the student to identify appropriate accommodations.

Students are encouraged to advocate for themselves to meet their individual needs. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructors and discuss the identified accommodations listed on the Intake Form during the first week of the semester. If a student does not identify the disability until later in the semester, it may not be possible to provide accommodations.

Accommodations are not retroactively applied. For example, a student is not permitted to retake a test on which he/she performed poorly since the student did not request accommodations in time.

Faculty may contact the Counselor for Students with Disabilities to discuss the identified accommodations. Students should discuss their disability with their academic advisor if necessary. Some disabilities may affect participation in particular academic programs. Students with concerns about accomodations may contact Ruth Gonzalez, campus ADA Coordinator.

All students must follow the college policies. Students with disabilities are subject to the same codes of conduct and disciplinary processes as other students. The Student Handbook explains students’ rights, the grievance policy and disciplinary procedures. Send documentation to:
   Roseann Dennerlein
   Counselor for Students with Disabilities
   Northwestern Connecticut Community College
   Park Place East
   Winsted, CT 06098

If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact Roseann Dennerlein at (860) 738-6307 v/tty or email rdennerlein@nwcc.commnet.edu.

Roseann Dennerlein
(860) 738-6307 (V/TTY)