How Disability Support Services Work at BSC
Management
Initially, accommodations are approved and set up through the Student Accessibility (SA) Office. From that point, the SA office works with all campus departments in the coordination of accommodations and services for students with disabilities. It is ALWAYS the student’s responsibility to disclose the disability, in a timely manner, to the SA office and provide the required documentation. The documentation policy is listed below and can be found on the BSC website.
It is up to the student to meet with personnel from the SA office at the beginning of each semester in order to renew accommodation services.
Disclosure
Successful students disclose their disabilities to the appropriate college staff. This can be very critical at the college level. This is typically done during the admission process and should ideally begin before the start of classes. Students and their parents should consult with their medical provider or school district for specific information. Some students may wish to leave their disabilities behind and reinvent themselves in college. Some parents may fear that a disclosure may somehow be detrimental to their student’s academic or professional career. Choosing NOT to disclose can potentially lead to unnecessary frustration and disappointment.
Documentation
North Dakota Disabilities Services Council
Guidelines for Disability Documentation
One of the objectives of the North Dakota Colleges and Universities Disability Services Council (NDDSC) is to create a comprehensive accessible environment where students are viewed on the basis of ability, not disability. NDDSC members use documentation of disability to 1) establish whether an individual is a person with a disability and 2) provide a rationale for identifying and implementing reasonable accommodations.
Reasonable accommodations and services are available for students with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The ADA Amendments Act, effective January 1, 2009, included