SUNY Erie Community College

Disabled Student Services

Erie Community College has a Disabled Student Services (DSS) office at each campus. The purpose of the DSS Department is to foster a learning environment which is accessible to all students. ECC designates a counselor for students with disabilities at each campus. Each campus also has a technical assistant. Together, the counselor and technical assistant are available to assist students with arranging reasonable accommodations in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Section 504 stipulates that a person with a disability must be otherwise qualified; i.e., able, with or without accommodations, to meet the requisite criteria for admissions to the college and its programs. Examples of frequently used accommodations are alternate test location or administration of tests; alternate format for textbooks or note takers.

Section 504 stipulates that a college is not responsible for providing items of a personal nature such as attendant services, wheelchairs, hearing aids, or other personal assistive devices. ECC has no special classes, programs, or fees exclusively for students with disabilities.

All identification of students with disabilities must be voluntary. Within a college setting, students with disabilities are personally responsible for meeting with the campus counselor to identify needs, provide appropriate disability documentation and arrange for reasonable accommodations. Accommodations for the college’s placement test may be made by meeting with the campus counselor and providing documentation of disability. Accommodations are made on an as-needed basis. Students must make arrangements for accommodations for courses by contacting the counselor each semester.

Documentation of disability is the basis for all accommodations. Documentation must demonstrate that the individual has a disability as defined by Section 504 and state the impact which that disability has for the individual in an educational environment. ECC has the right to make the final decision as to what accommodations are appropriate and reasonable. All information provided pertinent to the individual’s disability is confidential and is maintained by the Office of Disabled Student Services.