Student Resources
What is a Disability?
The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a person with a disability as, “any person who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) has a record of such impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such impairment.”
Major life activities also include the operation of major bodily functions including, but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine and reproductive functions.
Frequently Asked Questions by Prospective Students with Disabilities
How is college different from high school with regard to services for students with disabilities?
Are 504 plans and IEP or SOP accepted for use in documentation of a disability at the college level?
Will I receive the same accommodations that I received in high school?
What is considered to be acceptable documentation
I have a disability that interferes with my academic performance, but no current documentation. What should I do?
Does my disability allow me extra leeway in attending classes?
What types of classroom accommodations are considered?
Are housing accommodations available?
Is accessible transportation available at College sponsored events?
Are there scholarships available for students with disabilities?
How College is Different from High School
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High School |
College |
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High schools provide supports in order for the student to do well in school. |
ADA assures that students with disabilities have the supports that they need in order to access everything that the college has to offer. |
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Teachers must change the material so you can better understand it. |
Professors don’t have to change the material but they do have to provide students with accommodations determined by disability services. |
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School district is responsible for evaluating students’ learning and reporting disability to teachers. |
Students must start conversation about their disability if they want to request accommodations. |
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Student is helped by parents and teachers. |
Students must get help from the Disability Services Office. |
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Personal care services (assistance in getting to class, lunch or toileting) are required. |
The college is not responsible for providing these services. It is up to you to find help. |
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Parent has access to student records. |
Parent has no access to student records without student permission. |
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Parent advocates for student. |
Student advocates for him or herself. |
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Daily contact with teachers. |
Classes meet less frequently so you will see your instructors less frequently. You may have to make appointments to see your instructors after class time or email questions to them. |
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Teachers make sure that students get extra help. |
Student must schedule time to get the extra help they need. |
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Teachers tell students where to go to get the help they need. |
The student is responsible for knowing where to get the information and assistance. |
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Teachers often remind you of assignments and due dates. |
Professors expect you to read the course syllabus. They do not remind you of upcoming due dates. |
Adapted from “Think College”, 2010
For more information, please read “Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know your Rights and Responsibilities” which is included in your Intake packet.
Letters to Faculty
Prior to the first day of class, each instructor is sent a letter from the Disability Services office listing the accommodations that will need to be made for the student with regards to the class. This letter is a confidential communication between the Office of Disability Services and the instructor and does not contain information regarding diagnosis or type of disability. Information regarding disability is only provided to the faculty by the student or Disability Service office with the written permission of the student.
Students who enroll in part of term classes (4 weeks, 8 weeks or late starting classes) that begins after the semester has started should contact the Office of Disability Services to report their enrollment so accommodation letters to faculty.
Students are strongly encouraged to check with their instructors to ensure that the letter has been received. This is also a good time to discuss any impact disability may have on a student’s attendance or performance in class.
Disability Housing Accommodation Procedure
Appropriate housing assignments enable students to build a foundation for good study habits and lay the foundation for building lifelong relationships. We consider exceptions to the standard assignment process carefully with regard to the individual situation.
Students requesting housing accommodations through Office of Disability Services must do so in addition to following all regular-housing procedures. Students requesting Emotional Support Animal as a reasonable accommodation must complete all procedures and agreement prior to the animal being allowed in the Residence Hall. To assist in ensuring that housing accommodations are in place prior to move in, it is strongly encouraged that accommodation requests be submitted prior to July 1st.
Emotional Support Animals
Butler Community College recognizes the importance of Service Animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) and the broader category of Emotional Support Animals (referred to as “Assistance Animals”) under the Fair Housing Act, that provide physical and/or emotional support to individuals with disabilities. Butler Community College is committed to allowing individuals with disabilities the use of a Service Animal on campus to facilitate their full-participation and equal access to the College’s programs and activities. Butler Community College is also committed to allowing Emotional Support Animals necessary to provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy College housing. Our procedures explain the specific requirements applicable to an individual’s use of an Emotional Support Animal in College housing. Butler Community College reserves the right to amend its procedures as circumstances require. This policy applies solely to Emotional Support Animals which may be necessary in College housing. It does not apply to “Service Animals” as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act.
It is the policy of Butler Community College that individuals are prohibited from having animals in residential housing. Butler Community College will consider a written request accompanied by medical documentation showing a disability requiring a reasonable accommodation from this prohibition. It must be shown that the Emotional Support Animal is necessary because of documented disability and reasonable in scope. No Emotional Support Animal may be kept in College housing at any time prior to the individual receiving written approval from the Director of Disability Services of the reasonable accommodation.
Service Animals
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as “dogs that are individually trained to do or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. If an animal meets this definition, it is considered a service animal regardless of whether it has been licensed or certified by a state or local government training program.
The ADA allows service animal accompanying persons with disabilities to be on the Butler Community College campus. A service animal must be permitted to accompany a person with disabilities everywhere on campus except in situations where safety may be compromised or where the service animal may interfere with the fundamental nature of the activities being conducted.
The person a service animal assists is referred to as a partner. The partner’s disability may not be visible. If you have questions as to the appropriateness of an animal use on campus, please contact the Office of Disability Services or the Department of Public Safety.
A service dog can be any breed or size. It might wear specialized equipment such as a backpack, harness, or special collar or leash, but this is not a legal requirement.
Service dogs in training
Any professional trainer, from a recognized training center, of an assistance dog, while engaged in the training of such dog, shall have the right to be accompanied by such dog in or upon any of the places listed in K.S.A. 39- 1101, and amendments thereto, without being required to pay an extra charge for such dog. Such trainer shall be liable for any damage done to the premises of facilities by such dog.
Online Classes
Prior to enrolling in online classes, students are encouraged to discuss the procedures involving online (virtual) learning. Online classes often require a greater time requirement than the traditional classroom delivery. Strict deadlines must be adhered to in the virtual classroom. Failure to adhere to those deadlines could result in the student being dropped from the class. All accommodations may not be appropriate in the virtual classroom.
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their accommodations and impact of disability with their instructors.
Transportation
The Office of Disability Services will provide accessible transportation to all College sponsored activities. The student or sponsor is required to arrange for transportation three weeks prior to the scheduled student activity in order to ensure the availability of the transportation.
Accommodations
Academic accommodations and other services are provided on an individual basis determined by documented need. Some of the accommodations and services available to qualified students are:
Placement Testing
The Butler Testing Centers administer the Accuplacer placement test which provides students with information about their academic skills in reading, English, and math prior to class enrollment. Advisors review results with students, providing them options to enhance their academic success. Based on test scores, students may be required to take additional diagnostic testing.
Students are required to provide documentation to the Disability Service Office prior to scheduling a Placement test. Documentation will be reviewed by the Director of Disability Services and appropriate accommodation will be granted. Once the documentation is reviewed, the student and the Office of Disability Services will assist the student in scheduling the Placement test. The Accuplacer is an untimed test. Other testing, such as the Math Assessment Test, may have time limitations, dependent upon a student’s specific accommodation. Students with documentation are required to follow the re-testing procedures set forth by the Enrollment Management.
Failure of a student to provide documentation of a disability may not constitute a reason for re-testing! Students will be required to obtain a Testing Appeal form from the advising office. Documentation to the reasoning behind the need to re-test is required. The appeal forms and attached documentation must be returned to the Office of Disability Services. The appeal will be evaluated by the Director of Disability Services and the Director of Advising or Associate Vice President of Student Services. A decision on the appeal will be reached within three (3) business days.
Class Attendance
Students who have experienced an extenuating circumstance that prevents completion of the course on time may request an “I” (incomplete) grade from the instructor. In order to be considered, the student must have a passing grade at the time of the request and no longer be able to drop or withdraw from the course. In certain courses, an incomplete grade may not be an option due to the nature of the course material, length of course, or teaching methodology. Incomplete grades will be granted only for exceptional circumstances and are granted strictly at the discretion of the instructor. Students receiving financial aid or scholarships should contact the financial aid office and/or the department granting the scholarship to discuss how Incompletes will affect their eligibility (sources: Butler Community College Catalog)
Testing Accomodation Rules and Procedures
Testing rooms are equipped with security cameras. The Disability Office staff monitors the cameras while students are testing to prevent cheating on tests.
In addition to the testing guidelines set forth by the instructor, the following rules will be strictly enforced:
- No cell phones, smartwatches, or book bags are allowed it the testing room.
- Calculators are allowed per math department policy.
- Scratch paper will be provided by the Disability Services Office or your instructor.
- Once the student receives the test, the student will be required to complete the test in the allotted time given. The test will be returned to the instructor at the end of the allotted time whether the student has completed the test or not. It will be the discretion of the instructor on whether the student may complete any unfinished portions of the test.
- Only readers and scribes provided by the Office of Disability Services will be allowed to provide services to the student
- Students will NOT be allowed to leave the testing area once the test has started.
Note Taking Accomodations
Unless prior arrangements have been made by the Office of Disability Services, all students will pick up their notes from the Disability Services office. Arrangements can be made to receive notes directly from the notetaker. Students are strongly encouraged to pick up their notes several times per week! If possible, the student should take his/her own notes during class. This will reinforce the notes that you receive from your note taker.
The Office of Disability Services makes every effort to maintain privacy between the notetaker and the student with a disability. However, the Office of Disability cannot guarantee complete anonymity.
Many instructors post notes to Canvas for all students. If your notes are provided to you by the instructor, please tell the Office of Disability Services.
Alternate Text Formats
New textbook editions may cause a delay in service; however, the Office of Disability Services will work with the student, instructor and publisher to ensure that the accommodation needs of the students are met. Some new editions are available in Canvas; in this case the Office of Disability Services will not be able to provide an alternate form of text.
The Office of Disability Services may utilize OneDrive to deliver the alternate format material. Students should familiarize themselves with OneDrive.
Due to Federal Copyright Laws, students must show receipt of purchase of textbooks prior to receiving alternate format.
Use of Calculators and Formulas Sheets
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- MA051-MA052 – No Calculator (Multiplication Table Available)
- MA053-MA134- Scientific Calculator TI30IIS
- MA125 and Above – Scientific Calculator TI 30IIS
Interpreters for Hard of Hearing/Deaf Students
- Butler interpreters are required to adhere to the professional standards set by the Registry of Interpreters of the deaf Code of Ethics. Please do not engage the interpreter in extended conversations during class. It is the interpreter’s responsibility to interpret everything that is said in class, even comments that are not intended for general public knowledge. If you don’t want it voiced, don’t sign it!
- For services that are needed for classes or an entire semester, accommodations may take up to 3 weeks to get in place. Students should know that these services are provided as a supplement to the classroom experience, not a substitute for attending classes. So, services will not be provided on days when students are absent from class.
- If interpreting services are needed to fulfill requirements outside of the classroom, requests need to be made to the Office of Disability Services at least (3) three days in advance. Attempts will be made to honor requests made on shorter notice with the understanding that the service may not be available on such short notice.
- Show up for class on time! The Office of Disability Services requires the interpreter to wait 10 minutes for each hour of class. If you do not show up for class within these time periods, the interpreter is free to leave. If you know that you will be absent/late, please contact your interpreter first. You may also call the Office of Disability Services at (316) 322-3321.
- If a student is absent or late for (3) three consecutive classes without notifying the interpreter or the Office of Disability Services, the access (interpreting) services of the student will be suspended until a meeting is held with the Director of Disability Services, and the Vice President of Student Services.
Proof Reading/Typing Accommodations
Grievance Information
Students who believe that they receive inappropriate, inadequate or unacceptable services from the Office of Disability Services are encouraged to file a written statement of the incident to the Director of Disability Services. The Director of Disability Services will contact the student within five school days to discuss and attempt to resolve issues in a timely manner.
If the student is not satisfied with the response from the Director of Disability Services, the student may request a hearing with the ADA Committee. The ADA Committee is comprised of the following members: Director of Disability Services, Vice-President of Student Services, Chief Information Officer, Director of Human Resources, Director of Facilities Management, College Counselor and a Student Senate member. If resolution is not reached at this level, the student can file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights in Kansas City. The address and additional information are available upon request.