Support Services for Students with Disabilities at Polk State College
Polk State College's Office of Disability and Counseling Services, under the leadership of Kim Pearsall, Director, aims to create an accessible and inclusive college environment for all individuals. They provide guidelines for documentation, instructions for requesting accommodations, and support faculty in accommodating students with disabilities. Students can request accommodations by following a structured process, ensuring timely approval and communication with instructors. The college promotes diversity and excellence in education and employment.
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The Office of Disability Services Polk State College What You Need to Know Kim Pearsall - Disability and Counseling Services, Director
Our Mission The Office of Disability and Counseling Services serves as a leader in providing a college environment that is accessible, usable, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive of all students, faculty, and staff. Polk State College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution committed to excellence through diversity in education and employment. *For our full equity statement visit www.polk.edu.
Documentation Guidelines Documentation must be current (within 3 years) and should include the following: Exact diagnosis of the disability Degree of current function loss Limitations of the disability and its affect on the student s ability to learn A recommendation for the types of accommodations needed If medications are taken, these should be clearly stated, as well as any potential side effects the medications may cause
How to Request Accommodations Step 1: The student will meet with the Director, or Coordinator of Disability Services based on the campus where they plan to take classes. They should bring with them any documentation regarding their disability that will be helpful in expediting their request. Step 2: The student will complete an Identification and Disclosure form to establish the accommodations. Step 3: The student will discuss with the Director or Coordinator their experiences living with a disability, and the accommodations they have used in the past that have been beneficial in an academic setting. The Director or Coordinator will advise the student as to whether more documentation is required.
How to Request Accommodations cont. Step 4: Once all documentation has been submitted and reviewed, accommodations will be approved in a timely manner, generally within 3-5 business days. The student will receive a welcome letter listing all approved accommodations via their Polk State College email. Step 5: The Director or Coordinator will notify instructors of the accommodations for the student, via Polk State email. *Students are encouraged to facilitate a conversation with their instructor regarding their accommodations at the beginning of each term.
OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES INSTRUCTOR ACCOMMODATION MEMORANDUM To: Jane Smith Date: 8/15/17 From: Kim Pearsall This memorandum is to inform you that you have a student with a disability enrolled in your class. Student name: Kermit Frog Course: AMH1010 - 73527 Approved Accommodations: Extended test time (1.5x) Extended time to complete assignments Directions: Please reply Yes to the read receipt of this email or send an email response to confirm that you have received this memorandum. Print or save accommodation memos to your computer. Accommodations are to be kept confidential. Please refer to the following guidelines ONLY if the below accommodations are listed on this memo. Otherwise, they are not applicable. Extended testing time: Will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The time for this student is indicated in parenthesis above. Extended time on assignments: Should be determined by faculty and the student. The Office of Disability Services encourages faculty to contract with the student for extended time to complete assignments. If you would like an extended time contract agreement, please contact Kim Pearsall at kpearsall@polk.edu. Alternative format of exams: The format will be determined by the instructor. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, the student has a documented disability and is entitled to receive the indicated accommodations. This information is protected by FERPA and is to be kept confidential between the professor, the student, and the Office of Disability Services. If you have a question or a concern about an accommodation, please contact the Office of Disability Services. We highly encourage you to meet with this student at the start of the term. Thank you for your help serving our students with disabilities at Polk State College.
Breakdown of Students with Disabilities Registered for Summer 2020 Disability # of Students at Polk State Autism Hearing Learning Mental/Psychological Physical Speech Visual Other Total for all campuses/centers 8 4 63 24 13 1 1 2 114
Common Services and Accommodations Priority registration Extended time for tests and assignments Note-taker services Readers and scribes for exams Tutoring Alternative formats for printed material Accessible classroom furniture Assistive technology resources Course substitution
Contact Information for Disability Services Kim Pearsall Disability and Counseling Services, Director. 863-669-2309; kpearsall@polk.edu. Dionne Formey Disability Services, Coordinator. Winter Haven campus; 863.292.3759; dformey@polk.edu Zyneshia Woodson Office Assistant, Lakeland campus; zwoodson@polk.edu Tiffany Gonzalez Office Assistant, Winter Haven campus; tgonzalez@polk.edu
BayCare SAP Provides support for a number of issues including: Stress Anxiety Depression Suicidal thoughts Relationships Grief and loss Alcohol/Drug use
BayCare SAP Call 1-800-878-5470 24/7 Licensed Counselors Available All Services are Free and Confidential
