Students who wish to request alternative media must be approved for accommodations
through the Disability Resource Center (DRC). Students must request alternative media
in a timely manner as publishers often get overwhelmed with requests at the beginning
of each semester.
Publishers who provide alternative media require proof of purchase of the textbook.
Students must provide the DRC with copies of receipts to show the book has been
purchased. Copies of receipts may be retained in office files. Once purchases have
been verified the DRC will work with current resources to obtain the textbook(s) in an
alternative format. The DRC will inform the student when the alternative media is
available.
The student may not violate the copyright of the book by reproducing or distributing
the alternative media.
Confidentiality Guidelines
Staff in the Disability Resource Center (DRC) strive to treat all personal information
with the strictest confidentiality. During the intake process DRC staff and the
student will discuss the Confidentiality Policy and what the student should expect.
Student information gathered for use in the DRC is considered education records under
FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act). DRC staff may release information to
college faculty and staff on a “need to know” basis. The need to know must be based on
compelling and legitimate educational reasons for the sharing of information. DRC
staff will not routinely inform faculty and staff of the nature of an individual
student’s disability. College policy requires that accommodations are provided once
the DRC has verified the existence of a disability and interacted with the student to
identify reasonable accommodations. On occasion, college staff other than the DRC may
require student information for completion of required reporting or for internal
auditing and monitoring. Every attempt will be made to maintain confidentiality
standards identified in this document.
Students are encouraged to obtain and keep copies of their documentation for future
use. They may request this documentation be released to persons or entities outside of
the College; however, written authorization to release confidential information will
be obtained from the student before any such information is released. This includes
releasing information to parents. Third party documentation sent directly to the DRC
may, at the discretion of DRC staff, require written authorization from the third
party before it can be released to the student or to another agency or postsecondary
institution.
Physical files and documentation of a student’s disability may be destroyed following
the College’s record retention policy.
Course Substitution and Waiver Guidelines
Requests for a course substitution or waiver due to a disability are considered on a
case-by-case basis. The following steps should be followed:
Students requesting this accommodation should first meet with the Disability
Resource Center (DRC) staff, who will conduct an intake interview with the
student. At the time of this meeting, the student should be prepared to present
information to support his/her request such as:
Documentation of disability from a licensed professional.
History, if any, of previous attempts at course for which waiver or
substitution is being requested
Current transcript
Letters of support from professionals and faculty members who can attest to
student’s difficulty with subject matter, attempts at successfully completing
the required course, class attendance, use of support services such as
tutoring and study skills instruction, etc
The DRC will follow the steps outlined in the Accommodation Policy with regard to
an in-take interview with the student and review of documentation provided by the
student
The DRC will determine whether the student has a disability and is eligible for
reasonable accommodations. Approval or denial of a course waiver or substitution
shall not be the sole responsibility of the DRC. A committee shall be convened to
determine whether a course waiver or substitution will lower academic standards or
substantially modify the program of study. Members of the committee may include,
but are not limited to: student’s faculty advisor, division manager for the
program of study in which the student is enrolled, general education division
manager, faculty responsible for delivery of the course being considered, faculty
who delivered previously attempted coursework in relevant subject matter by
student, a representative from the DRC, and a representative from the Registrar’s
Office.
The following decisions may be reached by the committee:
Request approved for a course substitution with recommendations for an
appropriate alternative course.
Request approved for a course waiver, considering the graduation requirements
for the student’s program.
Request denied. The student will be provided the reason(s) for denial.
If the initial request is denied by the DRC or the request is denied by
the Committee, the student has the right to appeal either decision using
the Student Grievance Procedure outline in the Student Handbook. Appeals
will be submitted to the Dean of Student Affairs.
Effective Communication
College of Eastern Idaho is committed to communicating effectively with individuals
who have communication disabilities. The goal is to ensure that communication with
people with these disabilities is equally effective as communication with people
without disabilities.
Individuals who have communication disabilities and need assistance should contact the
Disability Resource Center (DRC) by visiting Building 5, Room 591; by calling (208)
535-5462; or by emailing disability.resources@cei.edu.
Eligibility for Services
College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) is committed to providing educational opportunities to
all qualified individuals. In doing so, CEI complies with federal civil rights laws:
the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) as amended in 2008 (ADAAA), and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Americans with Disabilities Act:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people
with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation,
communications, and governmental activities. The ADA guarantees that individuals
with disabilities have the same opportunities to participate in these areas as
people without disabilities. To be protected by the ADA, one must have a
disability, which is defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history
or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having
such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that
are covered.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act:
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law designed to protect the
rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities which receive
federal financial assistance. Section 504 states: No otherwise qualified
individual with a disability in the United States. . . shall, solely by reason of
her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity
receiving Federal financial assistance . . .” At the postsecondary level, the
recipient (CEI) is required to provide students with appropriate academic
adjustments and auxiliary aids and services that are necessary to afford an
individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in a school’s
program. CEI is not required to make adjustments or provide aids or services that
would result in a fundamental alteration of its programs or impose an undue
burden. Students with disabilities must meet the academic and technical standards
requisite to admission or participation in College of Eastern Idaho’s programs or
activities. CEI may not impose upon students with disabilities other rules, such
as the prohibition of tape recorders in classrooms or of service animals in campus
buildings, that have the effect of limiting the participation of students with
disabilities in CEI’s educational programs or activities.
Notetaking Services
Requests for notetaking services, and other reasonable accommodations, are considered
on a case-by-case basis. There are several different types of notetaking services.
Through an interactive process the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and the student
with a disability will determine the most effective form of notetaking accommodation.
Types of notetaking services:
Livescribe Pen
Computerized pens which record the lecture and synch the notes with the
recording. Pens are available for checkout each semester from the DRC/library.
It is preferred, but not required, that a student notify an instructor
when a recording device is being used.
Digital/tape recorder for recording lectures
Students with disabilities are encouraged to utilize a tape recorder when
needed.
It is preferred, but not required, that a student notify an instructor
when a recording device is being used.
Peer note taker
Peer note takers may be recruited from the classes in which a student with a
disability is enrolled. Every attempt will be made to maintain confidentiality
for the student who is receiving this service. Notes are for the student with
a disability only – they may not be shared.
Cell Phone apps
There are a number of free or low-cost cell phone apps available for
notetaking.
Services for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
College of Eastern Idaho is committed to providing educational opportunities to all
qualified individuals. The College does not typically have American Sign Language
(ASL) interpreters or real-time transcribers on staff. Every attempt will be made to
arrange for interpreters and/or transcribers provided the request is made in a timely
manner.
To submit a request please contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) by visiting
Building 5, Room 591; by calling (208) 535-5462 ; or by
emailing
disability.resources@cei.edu
.
Cancellation/No Show Policy
While the DRC understands that emergencies may occur, it is important that students
make every attempt to notify the DRC as soon as possible if a change to arranged ASL
or other services will occur.
If the instructor cancels a class it is the student’s responsibility to notify the
DRC as soon as possible (within 24 hours, if possible).
If the student knows he/she will miss a scheduled class, the student is
responsible for notifying the DRC as soon as possible (within 24 hours, if
possible)
If an emergency arises, the student is responsible for notifying the DRC as soon
as possible.
Failure to provide 24-hour notice may result in the following actions:
First occurrence – a letter or e-mail will be sent to the student reminding the
student of policy and procedures related to interpreter services
Second occurrence – a letter or e-mail will be sent advising the student he/she
has failed to give 24-hour notice twice and that a third occurrence may result in
suspension of services until the student meets with DRC staff.
Third occurrence – Interpreter services may be suspended with a letter or e-mail
being sent to the student, who must then meet with DRC staff before consideration will
be given to reinitiate services.
