Disability Services and Procedure Policy
Mahanaim is committed to providing access to all students under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Mahanaim provides equal opportunities to the students, employees, and others with disabilities.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 states “Subject to the provisions of this title, no qualified individual with a disability shall by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by such entity.”
The Disability Service coordinator serves as a liaison between instructor and students to arrange accommodations, ensures availability of the appropriate assistive technology to meet student needs, maintains records of accommodation requests and instructor acceptance and assesses Disability Services for user satisfaction and effectiveness under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
I. Definitions
A disability is a physical or mental impairment that makes it difficult to exercise normal bodily or mental functions. Accommodations are provided for them to perform and accomplish the programs and activities successfully without discrimination.
II. Duties of Disability Services Coordinator
Overseas Disability Services for the students with disabilities at the campus
Serves as a planning coordinator for disability service programs, policies, and procedures to accommodate the students
Collect the certification from qualified medical authorization and understand each student’s needs
Set up and maintain a database of the students with disabilities and monitor them to develop their needs and effectiveness of each program provided
Identify students’ needs and act as a liaison with other related departments
Collaborates with instructor to accommodate tests and assignments according to the student's requests.
Assure to teach and explain how to make good usage of all the technology provided by the Disability Services office
Ensure record-keeping of each document collected from both student and instructor
Ensure confidentiality for activities and programs
Interpret and apply Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
III. Disability Services Procedure
Contact Mahanaim Disability Services Office and make an appointment. Disability Services Coordinator: Grace Kim Office: 114A Email: sollip.kim@mahanaim.com
Provide the certification from a qualified medical authorization (Medical Record).
Recent medical records (within the past 3 years)
A signed letter from a qualified medical authorization
Include detailed medical information explaining one’s disability
Include diagnostic and test results to one’s disability
Provide the types of accommodation needed according to one’s diagnostic
Complete the Disability Services Request form and either email it to the Disability Services Coordinator or bring it on the day of the appointment.
The Disability Services Coordinator reviews the request form and checks the eligibility for the accommodation.
Students found eligible for accommodations must take the letter from the Disability Services Coordinator and deliver the letter to their instructors.
Contact the Disability Services Coordinator immediately if there are any problems.
Students with disabilities must request accommodation every semester.
IV. Test scheduling process:
Schedule an exam no later than three business days before the exam to receive accommodations and services.
The student needs to give the accommodation letter to his/her instructor no at least one week prior to the exam date.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Disability Services Coordinator about canceled tests or changes of dates.
If the student does not show up on the test date, it is the student’s responsibility to reschedule his/her test with the instructor first.
On the day of the test, the student cannot bring personal items in the test room.
The student has to inform the Disability Services Coordinator of any additional health issues before the test begins.
In case of emergency, if the student does not finish his/her tests, the test will be returned to the instructor.
The test ending time will stay the same even though the student arrives late.
If the student arrives late more than 30min, the student has to reschedule the test date with his/her instructor.
V. Assistive Device
Students are allowed to use their own assistive devices while taking tests or doing assignments after being approved by the Disability Services Coordinator.
Students have to request the assistive devices at least a week before their test date.
VI. Note-Taking Accommodation Request
Note-Taking is, for most students, integral to the learning process. However, some students may have barriers when taking handwritten notes in class. For these students, other options such as using a laptop for taking notes, using a Braille note-taking device (student’s own), or recording lectures. When these options do not work for a particular student, he or she can request the Note-Taking accommodation request to the Disability Services Coordinator.
Student Responsibilities
Visit the Disability Services Coordinator to discuss note-taking and pick up a Notetaker Agreement Form.
It is the student’s responsibility to tell your instructor about note-taking services.
Instructors can also help the students by posting their complete notes or power-point slides.
It is the student’s responsibility to select a note-taker.
The student may ask his/her instructor to make a recommendation, or an in-class announcement asking if anyone is interested in volunteering note- taking.
If the student cannot find a proper note-taker, contact the Disability Services Coordinator to discuss other options with the instructors.
When the student finds the note-taker, discuss and plan how and when you will receive the class notes.
Receive notes on carbonless copy paper, via email or hard copy within 24 hours after the class.
Give note-taker the Notetaker Agreement Form
If there are any problems or difficulties, report to the Disability Services Coordinator.
Note-taker Responsibilities
Read, sign and turn in the Notetaker Agreement Form to the Disability Services Coordinator.
Attend class on a regular basis and take legible and comprehensive notes.
Discuss and plan with the student who asked for note-taking services a good time to exchange notes.
In the event of your absence, plan ahead how to handle note-taking.
Keep confidential at all times.
VII. Parking on Campus
Students, instructors, and staff who want to park in handicap parking spaces must obtain a state-issued placard or a disabled license plate.
Visit your physician or your local DMV to obtain the placard or a disabled license plate.
Parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Anything that is not covered by the Disability Services policy, the Disability Services Coordinator will consider the students’ request case by case.
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