All students who have been accepted by West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) or the Community and Technical College at WVU Tech (C&T at WVU Tech), are registered for classes and have documentation that meets the institution's documentation criteria approved through the WVU Tech / C&T at WVU Tech Office of Disability Services are eligible under appropriate circumstances to receive disability related accommodations within their educational program and classes.
You must register in person with the WVU Tech / C&T at WVU Tech Office of Disability Services and present your documentation for determination of eligibility. During this process you will meet with an Disability Counselor who will discuss pertinent institutional policies, the documentation/accommodation process and available services. Once your documentation is approved, reasonable and appropriate accommodations will be decided for your classes. As the student, you will be involved with the Disability Counselor in determining reasonable accommodations within your classes.
To qualify as a person with a disability within WVU Tech / C&T at WVU Tech policies, in addition to being appropriately diagnosed with a particular condition, you must provide documentation that clearly substantiates, through diagnostic test data, significant, below average limitations to your functioning. If the areas of functioning you consider weaknesses are within the average range of functioning compared to others your age, you may not be considered disabled and not eligible to receive disability-related accommodations.
The Americans with Disabilities Act Office (Office of Disability Services) is located in the Tech Center, Room 101. If more specific directions are needed, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 304-442-3096.
Admission to WVU Tech / C&T at WVU Tech is based upon an applicant's meeting published admission criteria of either institution.
Students are notified of acceptance to WVU Tech / C&T at WVU Tech by a letter from the Office of Admissions and Records.
Students seeking admission to the various programs and majors must meet the admissions requirements for the particular program and/or major with no preferences provided on the basis of disability. Requirements for entry into, participation in and completion of various majors and programs are available in the WVU Tech / C&T at WVU Tech catalog.
Program requirements will not be waived. However, reasonable accommodations are considered as appropriate means for a student to be able to satisfy published requirements. Please contact the WVU Tech / C&T at WVU Tech Office of Admissions and Records online at: http://www.wvutech.edu or call (1-888-554-TECH or 304-442-3167) to obtain admission applications or additional admissions information.
For a student requesting services for a temporary disability the initial procedure is similar to that of all other disabilities. The student must first schedule an appointment with the Disability Counselor who will inform them at that time of the necessary documentation for their specific disability, and explain the accommodation process.
The Office of Disability Services recognizes all types of disabilities, although some are more commonly seen than others. To meet the adult criteria of a disability pursuant to federal law, the student must have "a significant impairment that substantially limits their functioning". A significant impairment is defined as "below average functioning."
It is the student's responsibility to provide the Office of Disability Services with the appropriate documentation of their disability, which usually comes from a physician, psychologist, or other licensed professional. Documentation is needed to fully address the current diagnosis and specific functional limitations, as well as to assess testing data that substantiates a "significant impairment" in academic functioning.
It is the responsibility of the student to provide the appropriate documentation of their disability. If requested, the Office of Disability Services can make suggestions concerning local testing options for learning disability evaluations. Every student has the right to obtain their documentation wherever they choose. If you are eligible for services through your state vocational rehabilitation agency, you may qualify for an evaluation at no cost to you. You may locate your state vocational rehabilitation agency through the Department of Education Web Page: http://www.ed.gov/orrices/OSERS/RSA/Resources/State/
For more information concerning the responsibilities of a post-secondary student with a disability please visit this webpage: http://www.ed.gov/ocr/transition.html
WVU Tech and the C&T at WVU Tech offer a variety of adaptive resources. Please contact the Office of Disability Services for specific details.
Any individual who feels they have been discriminated against or treated unjustly may file a complaint with the assistance of the Office of Disability Services located in Room 101 of the Tech Center or by contacting the WVU Executive officer for Social Justice by calling Jennifer McIntosh at 304-293-5496 or email at Jennifer.McIntosh@mail.wvu.edu.
Requests for temporary parking permits should be made in person to the Office of Disability Services. At the time of the request the individual should present documentation of their temporary handicap to the Office of Disability Services in the form of a statement issued by the treating physician specifying the diagnosis, that the need for temporary handicapped parking exists, and the anticipated time period for which the permit would be needed.
Once the documentation procedure is completed, the student will meet with the Disability Counselor to formulate and write accommodation authorization letters that are then presented to specified professors by the student. These letters state information pertaining to the accommodations that are to be provided; they do not state information pertinent to the type of disability. Once developed, the letters are then hand-delivered by the student in a confidential manner, to each professor typically during his/her office hours. Students must verbally request authorized accommodations from their professors. Accommodations must be requested each semester from the Office of Disability Services.
The Office of Disability Services takes the confidentiality of your information seriously. Federal law requires that information obtained on the behalf of a student or that must be released to another party must be approved in writing by the student. You will be asked to sign a release of information in order for the Office of Disability Services to communicate with your parents, your physician, or your therapist. You may inquire about signing a release of information with your Disability Counselor.
Special seating is available for guests with physical limitations, as well as guests requiring the services of the interpreters. It is necessary to call the Office of Disability Services at (304) 981-6210 to reserve special seating. Please note: only one guest can accompany the guest requiring special seating. Additional guests must sit in the general setting areas. Graduates with disabilities should contact the Disability Counselor to make arrangements for accommodations during the ceremony. Ushers will direct guests to their seats.
331 Vining Library
Montgomery, WV 25136
(304) 981-6210