Academic support services are tools used by students with disabilities to help them reach their full potential in the classroom. Students must be registered with the Lake Land College Office of Student Accommodations in order to receive academic support services. Available support services include:

Academic Counseling

As necessary, students should make an appointment with the Counselor/Coordinator of Student Accommodations to discuss academic difficulties, course registration, choosing a major, transfer information and other academic issues.

Accessible Seating

Students should request specific seating arrangements as necessary, e.g. near the front of the room, near the doorway, etc.

Alternate Text Formats

Students who need access to electronic versions of their course text books may request PDF versions. It is the student’s responsibility to install a PDF reader on their personal computer.

Assistance with Admission, Placement Testing and/or Orientation

As necessary, students should contact the Counselor/Coordinator of Student Accommodations for assistance with the admission process, placement testing and orientation. Placement testing accommodations can be provided for students once relevant documentation has been submitted to the Counselor/Coordinator of Student Accommodations.

Attendance

In accordance with the American’s with Disabilities Act, an attendance accommodation is appropriate when a student has a chronic disabling physical or mental condition that is cyclic in nature. The student’s condition is stable; however, there are periodic flare ups that prevent a student from attending classes and are unpredictable. Examples include, but are not limited to: Crohn’s Disease, chronic severe migraines, Sickle Cell Anemia, various autoimmune conditions, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, etc.

If a student believes s/he will miss class with some frequency due to a disability, the student must talk with the Office of Student Accommodations (OSA) before the semester, or as early in the semester as possible, about previous experiences and current semester expectations. During that conversation, the OSA will explain that determining whether an attendance accommodation is reasonable must be done on a case-by-case basis because of course differences. Once the attendance accommodation has been established, providing documentation (i.e., doctor’s note) to a professor is not required when a student is absent due to a disability flare up.

Attendance requirements vary widely from course to course: lab activity and hands-on courses usually involve a lot of in-class learning that cannot be easily made up outside of class, while lecture classes provide more flexibility. Likewise, each instructor may have a different policy for student attendance.

In determining what accommodation to a course attendance policy is reasonable, the student, and OSA if requested, will communicate with the respective course instructors to understand:

• Essential components of the course.
• The reasons for the attendance policy.
• How much interaction there is in class between the instructor and student.
• How much of the learning is based on in-class participation.
• How other students’ learning is impacted if any student misses class a lot.
• When flexibility in the attendance policy is available for other reasons, such as athletic travel.
• The nature of the course assessments (tests and assignments, etc.) relative to the essential components.

Based on the medical condition AND the nature of the class, the student and the course instructor will address the following questions and complete an Attendance Accommodation Agreement:

• What potential barriers exist relative to the design of the course and the nature of the specific disability? For example, how does the student’s disability affect deadlines?
• Is there a reasonable modification to the attendance policy and what, if so? Is there a limit to the number of classes that can be missed?
• Is it reasonable for a test to be rescheduled if missed because of a medical situation and under what conditions if so?
• Is it reasonable for assignments to be made up if not submitted due to medical reasons and under what conditions if so?
• Is it reasonable for online discussion expectations to be modified due to medical reasons and under what conditions if so?
• How and by when you will the student tell the instructor if they have to miss class or an assignment or test?

Important to Note: Students need to understand that even with an attendance accommodation:

• There is not a license to miss class whenever. Most every class has an absence limit that, once exceeded, makes it impossible to satisfy course objectives.
• Responsibility for completing all class work is always in effect.
• Extensions for assignments and arrangements for making up missed tests CANNOT be promised as a component of this accommodation. In some cases, it may be reasonable to miss class but not reasonable to miss a test and thus, the course policy for missed tests must be followed. Additionally, it is possible that a student could be given consideration for missing a class, but not for missing a due date given that work could possibly be submitted online. Students are highly encouraged to make every effort to not miss a class on key course dates.
• OSA promotes good time and project management skills as well as effective decision-making relative to personal circumstances. This accommodation does not address inefficiencies in these areas. Thus, the OSA position is that assignments with more than one week to complete can be done successfully with proper management and planning and need not warrant an accommodation except in extenuating circumstances. If the disability is confounded by poor time management skills, the OSA suggests that students enroll in Strategies for Success 101 (SFS 101).

If absences become excessive unexpectedly, students must talk with the OSA and instructor about whether a late drop, withdrawal, or incomplete should be explored. If a student completes a course and/or takes the final exam, drops, withdrawals and incompletes are not an option.

Once an Attendance Accommodation plan has been implemented, then the student, OSA and the course instructor will refer to it as needed as course scenarios evolve. If the student does not feel that a reasonable attendance accommodation can be agreed upon they should contact the OSA to discuss their options. Options include finding an alternative method of taking the course, finding an alternative section number, or working through the Student Concerns and Grievance procedure. When scheduling courses for upcoming semesters, it is strongly advised that students seeking attendance accommodations allow themselves ample time (6 weeks suggested) to work through any concerns.

The OSA will discuss the Attendance Accommodation with instructors upon request. Students are welcome to communicate with the professor to make arrangements on their own. OSA is available as a resource to provide guidance to students and faculty. Please don’t hesitate to call or email as soon as questions or concerns arise.

Books on Tape

Audio books will be provided online through an off-campus company that specializes in this service. Students will receive a username and password to access learningally.org. This website will allow students to download audiobooks to a personal computer, on-campus computer or a smartphone app. In some instances, audio books may not currently be available. When this happens, the student will be issued a PDF version of the text. The student would then need to acquire a PDF reader that can read the text.

Braille Materials

Braille materials must be requested at least 6 weeks before the beginning of each term. Materials must be returned to the Counselor/Coordinator of Student Accommodations by the end of the term.

Extended Time for Assignments

Students are expected and encouraged to meet deadlines for assignments and tests. Faculty has a right to establish late work policies. However, if a student has a disability that may occasionally impact her/his ability to complete assignments and tests at the scheduled time, flexibility in assignment deadlines is considered an appropriate accommodation. Hopefully, a student’s disability will not interfere with timely completion of assignments; however, if the student has a disability with random or cyclical acute episodes, the accommodation allows for flexibility in assignment deadlines and make-up work. When this is the case, the student and instructor shall work together to determine how much extra time will be allotted. The number of days given for each assignment extension depends on the learning objectives, interactive or participatory nature of a course, or is based on department, college or accrediting agency rules. If special consideration in meeting deadlines is needed, students need to work with the instructor to determine the maximum extension that can be given before compromising the integrity of the course/program. Please note that unexpected illness or injury, a recent diagnosis, onset, or change in condition rarely warrants accommodations in assignment deadlines. The OSA promotes good time and project management skills as well as effective decision-making relative to personal circumstances. This accommodation does not address inefficiencies in these areas. Thus, the OSA position is that assignments with more than one week to complete can be done successfully with proper management and planning and need not warrant an accommodation except in extenuating circumstances. If the disability is confounded by poor time management skills, the OSA suggests that students enroll in Strategies for Success 101 (SFS 101).

Extended Time for Testing/Test Reader

Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to discuss testing accommodations with the instructor. After the student verifies his or her wish to take advantage of testing accommodations, this is the usual procedure. Any variations in this procedure should be agreed upon by the instructor and student.

1. Instructors may deliver tests to the Director of the Student Success Center (Office: WH-041 inside WH-130) or tests may be mailed to Lake Land College, Student Success Center, 5001 Lake Land Blvd, Mattoon, IL 61938. The director can be reached by phone at 217-234-5287.
2. Tests are logged in and kept in a locked file until time to be proctored. The proctor must sign the log in order to remove a test from the file.
3. It is the student’s responsibility to visit the Student Success Center and schedule a time to take the test. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that a test can be given at the exact time the test is being administered to the rest of the class.
4. It is the proctor’s responsibility to return the test to the instructor or his/her administrative assistant immediately upon completion. On campus, this is done in person. Off campus tests are returned to the instructor by mail.

Tutors never serve as proctors or readers for students they are tutoring; nor do tutors proctor tests in their own subject areas. Test readers will read the test exactly as written. Lake Land College test readers do not rephrase or explain test content.

Instructor/Agency Coordination

Students’ instructors automatically receive an accommodation notice unless otherwise indicated by the student. This includes internet course instructors who may be employed by another institution. Instructors DO NOT receive a copy of the student’s documentation. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss requested accommodations with the instructor.

Large Print Materials

Enlarged textbooks/materials must be requested at least 6 weeks before the beginning of each term. Assignments, quizzes, exams, etc. will be enlarged as needed by the Counselor/Coordinator of Student Accommodations and instructor as requested by the student.

Note Taker

If a student can take notes, but not regularly, it is the responsibility of the student to provide their own note taker. If a student cannot take notes due to a physical disability, the Office of Student Accommodations will work this student to find a note taker. Students should always ask their instructor for assistance as well as the Office of Student Accommodations if needed.

Service Animals

The College is committed to compliance with state and federal laws regarding individuals with disabilities. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is an animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to an individual’s disability. Service animals are not pets. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. When the service animal is on College property, the service animal must be accompanied by a responsible person (i.e., owner and/or handler) who is solely responsible for the care and control of the service animal.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of work or tasks service animals may perform to assist an individual with a disability:

• Guiding individuals who are blind;
• Alerting individuals with hearing loss;
• Reminding individuals with mental illness to take prescribed medications;
• Alerting others or standing guard over individuals during a seizure episode; or
• Calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack.

Requests for Service Animals

1. Students who have a service animal for their disability which they wish to accompany them on College property must contact the College’s Office of Student Accommodations so that the College is on notice that the student will have the service animal on College property on a regular basis. While such students are not required to formally register their service animal with the College, students with a documented disability may seek additional support and accommodations from the College’s Office of Student Accommodations. Students who have concerns related to use of a service animal on College property, may address such with the Office of Student Accommodations.
2. Employees who have a service animal for their disability which they wish to accompany them on College property must contact Human Resources.
3. Visitors who have a service animal for their disability are welcome in all areas of campus that are open to the public. Specific questions related to a visitor’s use of a service animal on College property may be directed to the College’s Office of Student Accommodations.

Requirements for Service Animals

1. Service animals must be trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.
2. The owner and/or handler must be in full control of the animal at all times. The service animal may not be disruptive and/or aggressive while on College property.
3. Service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In such cases, the owner and/or handler must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
4. Service animals must be licensed in accordance with all applicable Illinois laws and county regulations and owners must follow all requirements for tags and vaccinations.
5. Service animals must wear a vest or collar for the safety of the service animal, the individual with a disability, and others.
6. Service animals must be kept clean and in good health. The owner and/or handler is expected to clean and dispose of all animal waste.
7. The College is not responsible for the care, assistance or supervision of a service animal, including providing food or water for the animal, walking the animal, responding to the animal’s need to relieve itself, or otherwise providing a handler for the service animal. Owners and/or handlers are expected to care and supervise their service animals. Issues related to the care and supervision of service animals will be addressed on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the College. The owner and/or handler must care for the needs of the service animal, such as walking the service animal in a previously designated area, cleaning up after the service animal (waste immediately disposed of in proper place), engaging in hand washing after elimination clean up and ensuring the service animal is given water and food when needed.
8. Owners and/or handlers of service animals are liable for any damage, harm or injury caused by the animal to other students, staff, visitors, and/or property.

Removal of a Service Animal from College Property

Reasonable behavior consistent with the above requirements is expected from service animals and their owners and/or handlers while on College property. The owners and/or handlers of disruptive and/or aggressive service animals may be asked to remove the service animal from College facilities and property. If the improper behavior happens repeatedly, the owner and/or handler may be told they are not permitted to bring the service animal into any College facility or on College property until they take significant steps to mitigate the behavior.

A service animal may be removed from College property for the following reasons:

• Disruptive behavior in a College facility, program or on College property including, but not limited to, barking, whining, growling, wandering, sniffing (people, tables in eating area, other’s belongings) and initiation of contact outside of working role as a service animal
• Animal illness;
• Animal is not housebroken;
• Hygiene – dirty, strong odor, not groomed, evidence of having fleas, ticks;
• The animal is out of control and the animal’s owner and/or handler does not take effective action to control it; and/or
• Aggressive behavior including, but not limited to, biting, scratching, chasing, kicking, and/or jumping.

Conflicting Disabilities

A student or employee who has an allergy to another individual’s service animal may qualify for accommodations. To resolve these conflicts as efficiently and effectively as possible, individuals should contact the Office of Student Accommodations (for students) or the Office of Human Resources (for employees), so appropriate accommodations may be considered.

Sign Language Interpreter

May be provided as available when notification is received at least six weeks before the beginning of each term. If an interpreter is requested less than six weeks before the term starts, one may not be available at the beginning of the semester.

Tape Recorded Classes

Students may borrow tape recorders from the AV department in the Library for the semester. It is the student’s responsibility to tape class lectures and discussions as necessary and to return borrowed equipment to the AV department at the end of the term.

Tutoring

Free tutoring and access to assistive technology is available in the Tutoring & Testing Center. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Tutoring & Testing Center to arrange tutoring.

Other

Accommodations not listed here may be requested by the student. These requests will be evaluated based on documentation, feasibility and appropriateness for the college setting.