Disability Services Home page

Policies and Procedures

 

For information about the following Disability Services policies or procedures, click on the link below:

Certification Process
Students requesting disability services are required to complete the following certification process:

1. Return the Disabilities Disclosure and Request for Accommodation. This step is only necessary if you are a new Meredith student. This form can be found in the Advising and Registration Handbook or may be obtained from Counseling Center/Disability Services. Once you complete the form, send it to:

Meredith College
Disability Services
3800 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27607

2. Complete an intake interview with Disability Services staff. An intake interview takes about one hour, during which the student provides information about how the disability impacts her life functioning. The intake also provides an opportunity for the student to become acquainted with support services that are offered through Disability Services. When possible, documentation should be submitted before the intake session. Students may make an appointment by calling (919)760-8427.

3. Submit documentation of the disability from an appropriate licensed/certified professional. A letter written on professional letterhead is required. We cannot accept handwritten letters or letters submitted on presciption pads. A complete evaluation may be required, dated within three years of the request for disability services. Specific guidelines for each disability are available from the Counseling Center/Disability Services, 919.760.8427 and may be found on-line (Documentation Guidelines). Please note that if we receive this information during the summer, we can begin preparing for your needs even before you arrive on campus.

 

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Provisional Status
Once you have completed the steps for certification it is possible that your documentation may not be sufficient for full certification. In some cases, a provisional status is allowed which enables students to receive disability services for one semester while she pursues obtaining current and complete documentation. Your Disability Counselor will discuss this with you if you qualify for provisional status.

Student Responsibilities

It is the student’s responsibility to:

For a complete list of the rights and responsibilities of students who are seeking certification with Disability Services, see the Rights and Responsibilities form.

Confidentiality
Because of the sensitive and personal nature of Disability Services, all services are strictly confidential. This means that nothing that you share with your counselor is revealed to anyone outside of the Counseling Center without your written consent. We do not disclose names or other identifying information about our clients to anyone, including family or college officials, without consent.

For more information about confidentiality please visit the Confidentiality page.

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Documentation Guidelines

Documentation Guidelines are also available in 208 Carroll Hall.

Accommodations
Disability Services works with each student on an individual, case-by-case basis to determine and implement appropriate accommodations. In accordance with the ADA, accommodations will not be made to course or degree requirements that are considered to be essential. Some typical accommodations for various disabilities may include:

Learning Disabilities & ADHD
Testing accommodations
Audio books, ebooks, or reading technology
Assistive technology

Note taking assistance

Mobility Impairments
Scribes
Assistance with library research
Alternative testing arrangements
Audio books, ebooks, or reading technology
Assistive technology

Hearing Impairments
Note taking assistance
ASL interpreters and cued speech transliterators
Scripting or closed captions

Visual Impairments
Audio books, ebooks, or reading technology
Lecture notes, handouts, tests on disk or in enlarged format

Note taking assistance
Computer Zoom text and a scanner with OCR software
Alternative testing arrangements
Braille

Chronic Health Conditions
Note taking assistance
Flexible attendance requirements (with medical verification)
Alternative testing arrangements
Schedule modification

Psychological Disorders
Time extensions
Alternative testing arrangements
Schedule modification

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Test Proctoring
For students who need testing accommodations, a need may arise when the professor of the course will not be able to provide those accommodations (i.e. extra time, separate setting, alternate format) within the department. We ask that the student and the professor exhaust all other possibile alternative testing locations and proctors before contacting Disability Services. Disability Services will try to arrange for the student to take her test in an environment that is appropriate for her accommodations. However, due to very limited space and staff availability, Disability Services may not be able to proctor every test that is requested. Test Proctoring Forms are also available in Carroll Hall.

Test Proctoring Forms should be submitted to Disability Services at least five business days in advance of the test date. No exceptions can be made. All test/exams that will be proctored by Disability Services must be scheduled between Monday and Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Students who wishes to use Test Proctoring Services must be certified with Disability Services and must follow the outlined test proctoring procedure. To learn more about Test Proctoring Services & expectations, please see the following links.

Test Proctoring Procedure

  1. Student obtains test proctoring form in Carroll Hall or downloads from DS website.
  2. Student meets with instructor and together they completely fill out proctor form.
  3. Student returns completed form to Disability Services in required time and schedules proctoring.
    * DS will not provide proctoring services with less than five days notice.
  4. A notification from Disability Services will go out to student and instructor by e mail confirming that proctoring request has been scheduled.
  5. Instructor will provide DS will a copy of the test in advance of scheduled proctor time.
  6. Student will report to Disability Services on time and with materials only permitted for testing.
  7. Student will sign in test proctor log to verify use of proctoring services and to begin testing.
  8. DS proctor will show student to proctor location, provide test and contact instructor with any questions that arise.
  9. When test is completed or time has ended, student will turn all papers into DS proctor and will sign out in proctor log to verify use of proctor services.
  10. DS proctor will place test in a sealed manila envelope with their initials and return to instructor’s office.

Test Proctoring Expectations  

       Student Responsibilities

      Instructor Responsibilities

 

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Course Substitutions

Course substitutions may be determined as reasonable and appropriate for students with disabilities when other accommodations do not remove barriers within the course.  Course substitutions are determined on a case by case basis following the procedure below.  Students are encouraged to initiate the course substitution procedure as early as possible in their academic career because of the time required to complete the process.  The length of this process may include factors such as timing of academic course offerings, scheduling necessary meetings, as well as obtaining any documentation that may be required.  Please note: a separate and more specific policy has been created for students seeking a course substitution in foreign language.

Course Substitution Accommodation Policy

Certification & Accommodation Flow Chart

 

 

Residence Housing Accommodations
Students requesting residence housing accommodations must be certified with Disability Services. Meredith College provides support services and reasonable accommodations to students with medical and/or psychological disabilities pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In order to ensure the provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations and services for students with disabilities, students requesting housing accommodations must complete the following steps:

  1. Meet with a Disability Counselor. Call (919)760-8427 to schedule an appointment. During your meeting, you will complete an intake interview which will take about an hour.
  2. Submit documentation of your disability directly to Disability Services. While it is not required, you may prefer to submit documentation prior to your appointment so that the Disability Counselor will have time to review it before your intake. This documentation should be on letterhead and include the following information:
    1. Specification of diagnosis;
    2. Date of diagnosis;
    3. Identification of the instruments and procedures used to make the diagnosis;
    4. Accounting of the “major life activities” impacted by the student’s impairment and level of severity;
    5. Description of the student’s functional limitations in a college residential setting (i.e. how does the impairment significantly limit a major life activity in a residential setting);
    6. Recommendations regarding effective accommodations to equalize the student’s educational opportunities at the post-secondary level; and
    7. Signature of qualified evaluator who is trained to make the diagnosis and recommendations.

Both of the previous steps must be completed by March 1st if you are a returning student and by June 20th if you are a new student. This is to allow time for your request to be reviewed by a committee who will make a recommendation that is reasonable and appropriate based upon the intake interview and documentation. The information you provide may be shared with appropriate staff, including but not limited to Residence Life and Facility Services, at Meredith College to the extent required to evaluate the request and make a recommendation. It is important to note that not all requests are determined appropriate or reasonable accommodations under ADA and Section 504. Requests submitted after this date will be reviewed but may not be able to be granted.

Please do not hesitate to contact Disability Services by email or by phone at (919)760-84271 if you have any questions or if you require more information.

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Priority Registration
Some students who are served by Disability Services require that they register for classes before the rest of the student body. Priority Registration eligibility is based on disability related criteria only. In order to receive priority registration, students must meet at least one of the following disability related criteria:

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Assistive Technology & Reading Technology
Various forms of assistive technology are available from Disability Services. To determine what technology will best meet your needs, please schedule an appointment with a Disability Counselor.

 ur most consistently utilized form of technology is in the form of Reading Technology or text to speech software and is available to all students. Reading Technology allows are textbooks to be accessed by those who would benefit from having their texts in an audio format. This software is useful for students with and without disabilities as it proves to enhance comprehension of any print material required for class. This concept is referred to as Universal Design.

If a student would like to request reading technology for use in her academic course work, she must complete the scanning agreement form and a reading technology request form.

Disability Services is home to the Learning Technology Lab (LTL) in 213 Carroll Hall, a small computer lab that houses Reading Technology. There are currently six computers and the lab is available for use by the entire Meredith community. It is currently open 7 days per week. Walk in hours are offered each semester as a time for students to receive assistance and training with our reading technology.

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Notetakers

Notetaking assistance is provided as an accommodation for students whose documented disability interferes with their ability to take notes. Notetaker assistance is intended for a student’s personal study use only and is not to be shared with other individuals. This service is provided as a necessary academic accommodation and is not considered a substitute for a student’s attendance and participation in class. Students requesting notetakers will seek assistance from their professor to identify a volunteer notetaker who is also in the course.

The notetaker stipend program was piloted for the spring semester of 2007 to address the notetaking needs of students who use sign language interpreters. Since students who use interpreters are not able to observe the interpreter and take notes like other hearing students can, a notetaker is an additional accommodation that is typically used. We only pay student notetakers who are providing notes to accompany interpreting services, not volunteer notetakers in all classes. The primary reason for this extra measure is to ensure that the Deaf or Hard of Hearing student have access to the information presented in class should the interpreter not show up (which could happen due to sudden illness, accidents, etc.,)

For more information regarding becoming a notetaker, notetaker training, and the expectation of notetakers, click on the links below.

Notetaker Stipend Program Manual (PDF)
Notetaker Code of Ethics
Notetaker Evaluation

 

Services Not Provided
Meredith College does not provide the following:

Grievance Procedure

Meredith College is committed to ensuring that no otherwise qualified indi­vidual with a disability is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in university programs or activities due to his or her disability. The university is fully committed to complying with all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (section 504) and to providing equal education.

Disability Services works with students to resolve disagreements regarding recommended accommodations. Any student who believes that she has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, or has been denied access or accommodations required by law shall have the right to file a grievance.

 

Please refer to the full Grievance Procedure for more information.

Grievance Procedure At A Glance

Students are strongly encouraged to pursue every means possible to resolve a grievance informally before filing a formal request.

  1. Attempt to resolve the issue by talking directly to the person who you intend to file a grievance against.
  2. Discuss your grievance with a Disability Counselor in the Disability Services Office (760-8427).
  3. If no resolution is obtained or if you are dissatisfied with the results, file a formal grievance letter with the Dean of Students including the following:
    • Date of act or decision you are challenging
    • Description of act or decision
    • For academic grievances, include the course/department/college regulation or policy which you feel has been violated, and include the course syllabus with an explanation of course requirements, grading criteria, etc. For non-academic grievances, define the regulation, policy, or individual right that you feel has been violated.
    • Provide a narrative of pertinent events and communications leading up the act or decision (include information regarding attempts to resolve the matter informally).
    • State the outcome/action/remedy you are seeking
    • Provide any additional information that may be relevant (names, addresses, and telephone numbers of people who have agreed to speak to the Grievance Committee on your behalf, written witness statements, academic papers, project outlines, etc.)
  4. Upon receipt of the grievance letter, the Dean of Students will convene the Grievance Committee, a group of 3-4 faculty/staff members of the Disability Panel, to review the case.
  5. The student will meet with the committee to present their case.
  6. The committee will make a recommendation to the Dean of Students and will notify the student of the committee’s decision.
  7. The student will have the opportunity to appeal to the Vice President if dissatisfied with the outcome.

 

Temporary Medical Conditions:

Meredith College is committed to supporting the academic success of all students and recognizes that certain life events causing temporary medical conditions may inhibit this process. Students who are currently experiencing a temporary medical condition and need assistance, or those who anticipate having limitations following surgery, are encouraged to contact Disability Services (201-A Carroll Hall/919.760.8427) as soon as possible.

Temporary medical conditions include an array of injuries, surgeries, or acute illnesses that are not permanent in nature. A temporary medical condition may not legally qualify as a disability and thus, may not be covered under either the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 or under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  Therefore, it is possible that students experiencing temporary medical conditions will not qualify for legally mandated accommodations. However, Meredith College recognizes that temporary medical conditions may arise that can adversely affect a student’s ability to fully participate in their academic endeavors. Disability Services will assist these students in coordinating short-term support both as a courtesy and as a demonstration of our commitment to student success. 

If you are in need of such support in the classroom, you must do the following:

Upon completion of this process, Disability Services will be able to determine if you qualify as an individual with a disability according to the law. If it is determined that your condition does, in fact, qualify as a disability you may be eligible for legally mandated accommodations. If it is determined that you do not qualify as an individual with a disability, Disability Services will assist you in arranging other support services. One such service may include providing you with a letter describing your temporary medical condition to present to various faculty and departments (i.e. dean of students, residence life, financial aid, campus police, dining hall). It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for temporary modifications directly with faculty and/or departments.  While faculty and/or departments may try to help as they can, they are not required to provide the support services recommended by Disability Services.

 

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