Welcome to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. It is our goal to provide to students with disabilities the opportunity to complete a chosen curriculum by providing accessibility to program offerings. This information is a guide to your rights, responsibilities and procedures for obtaining and using the support services for students with disabilities. If you feel unsure about what you should do, contact the CTE Student Support Services office or the Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management at the campus or center nearest you.
The ADA Law and You
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive national mandate that ensures basic civil rights for individuals with disabilities. The ADA provides assurance of access to education programs and employment opportunities for adults with special learning needs. The ADA defines an individual with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. These major life activities include seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, learning, caring for oneself and working.
SECTION 504
Section 504: No otherwise qualified handicapped individual shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
–Rehabilitation Act of 1973
SECTION 504 AND POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
Specific provisions of Section 504 related to postsecondary education prohibit discrimination against handicapped persons in recruitment, admission and treatment after admission. According to the regulations, colleges and universities are required to make “reasonable adjustments” to permit handicapped students to fulfill academic requirements and to assure that disabled students are not effectively excluded from programs because of the absence of auxiliary aids.
WHO IS QUALIFIED?
A person qualified for postsecondary education under Section 504 is “one who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to Admission or participation in the recipient’s education program or activity.” A handicapped person is defined by the regulations as “any person who (I) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, (II) has a record of such impairment or (III) is regarded as having such impairment.”(Note: The definition of physical or mental impairment includes specific learning disabilities.)
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 504
Subpart E of the regulations describes ways of making postsecondary education accessible to disabled students. These include the following:
- Modifications “as are necessary” to ensure that academic requirements are not discriminatory. Modifications may include changes in the length of time required for completion of degree requirements, and adaptation of the manner in which specific courses are conducted. (The regulations state that academic requirements that can be demonstrated as essential to a program of study or related to licensing are not considered discriminatory.)
- The requirement that exams given to evaluate a students’ progress actually test the student’s achievement rather than reflect the student’s impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills.
- Auxiliary aids, including taped texts, interpreters for students with hearing impairments, readers for students with visual impairments, classroom equipment adapted for use by students with manual impairments, and other similar services.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
STUDENT RIGHTS
- You have the right to confidentiality.
- You have the right to equal access to programs, classes and facilities.
- You have the right to have reasonable accommodations provided.
- You have the same rights granted to every student enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
- You must disclose your disability to receive services.
- You must provide current, within the past three (3) years, documentation of your disability from a qualified professional.
- You must request specific accommodations.
- You must complete the required paperwork.
- You must comply with all policies, codes and regulations of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. (See Student Handbook)
Steps to Obtain Accommodations
- Your first step is to identify yourself as a student with a disability and request specific accommodations to the CTE Student Support Services personnel on the campus or center nearest you. Accommodations include a range of services, equipment and modifications, designed to allow you to do your best. Accommodations vary according to the disability. You must request specific accommodations from the CTE Student Support Services personnel.
- Your next step is to obtain documentation of your disability and provide this information to the CTE Student Support Services personnel. Because reasonable accommodations are based on the current impact of a disorder or impairment, it is necessary that all documentation and testing should be no more than three years old. The CTE Student Support Services personnel will consider your requests based on documentation submitted.
- Once you have documentation, make an appointment with the appropriate CTE Student Support Services personnel to discuss your particular needs.
These first steps should be taken at least three weeks prior to registration. However, if you are already enrolled, please see the appropriate contact personnel as soon as possible. Remember that it is your responsibility to inform the college of your needs and to request accommodations from the appropriate personnel. Failure to notify the college means that you will not have accommodations for your classes.
Once your documentation has been received and the appropriate paperwork completed, your requests will be reviewed by the CTE Student Support Services personnel. Copies of approved accommodations will be given to your instructors and to you. During the term, if you realize that an accommodation is not working or that you need additional support, please bring that to the attention of the appropriate personnel as soon as possible. Feel free to discuss with your instructors any questions or concerns about your accommodations. It is recommended that you take a copy of your accommodations to your instructors for verification.
For assistance, contact:
Jackson County Campus
Darla Lyons, Coordinator, CTE Student Support Services
228-497-7787
claudia.lyons@mgccc.edu
Michelle Sekul, Dean of Student Services & Enrollment Management
228-497-7647
michelle.sekul@mgccc.edu
Maritime Training Academy
Darla Lyons, Coordinator, CTE Student Support Services
228-497-7787
claudia.lyons@mgccc.edu
Thea Wells, Ingalls Coordinator
228-497-7666
thea.wells@mgccc.edu
Jefferson Davis Campus
Aimee McGehee, Coordinator, CTE Student Support Services
228-896-2556
aimee.mcgehee@mgccc.edu
Dr. Phil Bonfanti, Dean of Student Services & Enrollment Management
228-896-2507
phil.bonfanti@mgccc.edu
Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center
Aimee McGehee, Coordinator, CTE Student Support Services
228-896-2556
aimee.mcgehee@mgccc.edu
Becky Layton, Director of Adult Basic Education
228-563-2222
becky.layton@mgccc.edu
Keesler Center
Aimee McGehee, Coordinator, CTE Student Support Services
228-896-2556
aimee.mcgehee@mgccc.edu
Kreshell Nicholson, Education Director
228-897-3891
kreshell.nicholson@mgccc.edu
West Harrison Center
Aimee McGehee, Coordinator, CTE Student Support Services
228-896-2556
aimee.mcgehee@mgccc.edu
Kevin Brosh, Instructor
228-868-6057
kevin.brosh@mgccc.edu
Naval Construction Battalion Center
Aimee McGehee, Coordinator, CTE Student Support Services
228-896-2556
aimee.mcgehee@mgccc.edu
Alrie Poillion, Director of CB Base
228-865-0675
alrie.poillion@mgccc.edu
Perkinston Campus
Shellye Smith, Coordinator, CTE Student Support Services
601-928-6325
shellye.smith@mgccc.edu
Dr. Jason Beverly, Dean of Student Services & Enrollment Management
601-928-6267
jason.beverly@mgccc.edu
George County Center
Gail Gable, Coordinator, CTE Student Support Services
601-766-6426
gail.gable@mgccc.edu
Cheryl Balius, Dean
601-766-6422
cheryl.balius@mgccc.edu
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