Title: Access for Students with Disabilities
Number: BP 4.05
Adopted: March 1995
Reviewed: February 2024
Revised: February 2025
It is the intent of Nicolet Area Technical College to fully comply with section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing prospective and enrolled students with disabilities equal access to College services and programs. Disability Support Services is responsible for the determination and provision of reasonable accommodations for prospective and enrolled students with disabilities. The ADA/504 Coordinator will ensure that students with disabilities are provided access to and participation in Nicolet Area Technical College's educational environment.
Admission of a disability is voluntary and will be handled confidentially as outlined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.
Procedure for Accessing Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
1. All prospective and enrolled students will be informed of the College policy of providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. This information will be disseminated by the College.
2. Students will not be asked if they have a disability. However, all students who voluntarily indicate that they have a disability may be asked follow-up questions regarding possible accommodations or referred to Disability Support Services for further assistance as needed.
3. Any student who becomes disabled during their enrollment or attendance at the College may request reasonable accommodations at any time.
4. To ensure auxiliary aids are available to meet students' and prospective students’ needs, students must contact Disability Support Services as soon as possible, as getting aids in place requires processing time.
Eligibility for Accommodation
Students with disabilities formally requesting accommodations must be referred to Disability Support Services. The Disability Support Services staff will work with the student to obtain specific documentation of their disability that is necessary to provide services. Reports from medical doctors, licensed psychologists, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, any licensed/certified social service agency, or high school Multi-Disciplinary Team Report (M-Team) are acceptable.
Students needing specialized personal care such as toileting, feeding, wheelchair pushing, and medicating will be expected to have these needs provided by an agent or agency other than Nicolet Area Technical College.
Types of Reasonable Accommodations
1. Reasonable accommodations at the College can include but are not limited to any or all of the following: Extended time for exams; distraction reduced area for testing; assistive technology, software or equipment (laptop, computers, Smart Pens, digital recorders, etc.); interpreting; alternative text format.
2. Staff in Disability Support Services are responsible for evaluating the type and number of accommodations required for students with disabilities. All reasonable accommodations are provided at no charge to the student.
THE APPEAL PROCESS
If a student/prospective student disagrees with a decision regarding an accommodation request, he/she may appeal the decision to the ADA/504 Coordinator or designee within thirty (30) calendar days using the following procedure.
The appeal must be in writing, stating the reason for the disagreement. This written appeal should be submitted to:
ADA/504 Coordinator-Students
Nicolet Area Technical College
PO Box 518
Rhinelander, WI 54501
Ph. 715-365-4928
Direct TTY/TDD calls to (715) 365-4560 through 711 relay or 1-800-947-3529
Email: ada-504-student@nicoletcollege.edu
During the appeal process, reasonable accommodations will continue to be provided.
1. The ADA/504 Coordinator will re-evaluate the decision, considering any additional information or statements supplied by the prospective student or student (including any additional information from remedial or vocational rehabilitation experts). It is the student's responsibility to provide all necessary documentation at their own expense in support of their appeal.
2. The ADA/504 Coordinator may elect to use the assistance of an appointed committee which may consult with outside agencies in the appeal process, taking care to provide confidentiality for the student/prospective student.
3. The ADA/504 Accommodations Committee will discuss its findings and make recommendations for appropriate action to the ADA/504 Coordinator, and they will make the final appeal decision.
4. The student/prospective student will be notified of the final decision in writing within thirty (30) calendar days after the appeal is filed.
By filing this appeal, the student/prospective student does not give up their right to pursue other appeal processes within the College or through outside regulatory agencies.