Disability Services

Disability Services

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Helping Students With Disabilities

At Villa Maria College, we have a long history of supporting diversity, including providing accommodations and services for students with documented disabilities.

 

Mission

The Office of Disability Services provides appropriate and individualized access to College programs and services to students with documented disabilities. Reasonable accommodations and support are provided while we encourage and promote self-advocacy skills that are necessary for student success.

Examples of accommodations:

  • Extended time to complete tests
  • Proctored exams in the Academic Success Center
  • Test questions read out loud
  • Using alternative answer sheets and sufficient scratch paper
  • Use of a calculator
  • Tape recording lectures
  • Copies of a note taker’s notes
  • Access to assistive technology
  • Textbooks in alternative formats

*Need for adaptive equipment should be discussed with the Director of Student Success

How the Process Works

If you’re a student with a disability, you should:

  • Voluntarily identify yourself as needing accommodations when you apply to Villa Maria College.
  • Submit documentation that clearly indicates the need for academic adjustments, modifications, auxiliary aids or services to the Director of Health and Disability Services. Download our guidelines for Documenting a Disability.
  • Sign a release form allowing the Director to inform instructors of the accommodations needed to promote learning.
  • Inform instructors of the accommodations required.

The American Disabilities Act Section 504

According to the American Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is defined as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such impairment.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act states that no otherwise qualified person in the United States “shall solely by reason of disability, be denied the benefits of or be excluded from participation in or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.”

 

Quick Links for Students With Disabilities

 

Accessible Route Instructions

Villa Maria College has designated an accessible route throughout campus.

Accessible Elevators

Accessible elevators are located in Felician Hall and in the Music Building side of the Main Building.  Please note that the elevator designated as accessible in the main building is undergoing modifications and upgrades during the spring 2016 semester.

Accessible Restrooms

Accessible restrooms are located on the first floor of the Main building and the first floor of Felician Hall.

Please contact Liz Kerr, director of student success, for more information.

Testing Services

The Library staff proctors any quizzes/tests/exams that require accommodations or make-up assessments approved by a course instructor.  For students with disabilities, we have available a variety of assistive technology and software including but not limited to:

  • Noise cancelling headphones
  • Livescribe smart pens
  • Kurzweil Firefly
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking

For Villa’s testing cover sheet click here.
For Villa’s testing instructions click here.
For instructions on how to register for WC Online, click here.

Our Staff

Questions about disability services? Please contact us!

Director of Student Success

Elizabeth Kerr

ekerr@villa.edu • 716-961-1866

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