The goal of Accessibility Services is to remove barriers to create equal access to the college’s programs and activities for all. Accessibility Services works directly with students through an interactive process to provide accommodated services and resources to facilitate equitable opportunities for learning. This website lays out process for students with a permanent or temporary disability to qualify for accommodations.
What is a disability?
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and 2008, a person with a disability, is someone who has a physical, sensory or mental impairment which materially limits one or more major life activities; has record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment.
Request Services
Upon a student’s self-disclosure of a disability, Accessibility Services will begin the interactive process with each student to determine eligibility for appropriate and reasonable accommodations that meet the individual needs of the student. The website link below allows for a student to make an appointment to begin this process. Students can begin with a new student general overview appointment.
The list below highlights our most common accommodations provided to students. This is not an exhaustive list and is also not a menu. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case-basis.
Examples of accommodations:
- Extended testing time
- Reduced distraction testing
- Interpreting services
- Course materials in alternative format
- Preferential seating
It is also important to note what are considered unreasonable accommodations. The list below highlights what are considered unreasonable.
Examples of unreasonable accommodations:
- Personal devices for students to keep
- Care attendants or case managers
- Homework assistance
- Transportation
- Individualized tutoring other than what is provided to all students
- Accommodations that are financially or administratively unreasonable or alter essential course requirements or academic standards.
Please note: Anoka Technical College is not required to provide academic modifications that change the nature of any academic requirements that are fundamental to a course, program of study, or to meet licensing requirements.
Registration
Approved student accommodations are for one academic semester. Students are required make an appointment and meet with Accessibility Services to begin or renew accommodations.
- To qualify for accommodations, students must provide Accessibility Services with documentation regarding their disability. Acceptable forms of documentation can include:
- Prior Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
- Prior 504 plan
- Records from a private school
- Records from a local/state educational agency
- Plan from a previous institution of higher education
- Military record
- Record, evaluation, or additional information from a qualified health professional
- Complete the Application for Accommodations This document is a way for students to describe their current challenges as it relates to their disability or disabilities. Students also have the opportunity to self-report any previous accommodations that have been used in the past.
- Upon receipt of your documentation and application for accommodations, your information will be reviewed to establish qualification for accommodations. Accessibility Services will directly contact students after review, to book their mandatory Intake appointment.
- Schedule your intake appointment. Students should select intake OR renewal appointment.
Schedule an appointment
This appointment is an interactive meeting that can be completed remotely or in-person. In preparation for their intake appointment, students should review the Postsecondary Resource Guide that highlights the transition to college for students with disabilities. This will help student draft any questions they might have for their intake appointment.
Students are expected to attend the meeting for the full amount of time, as Accessibility Services will work with the student to determine reasonable accommodations. Once accommodations are established, student permission is required for Accessibility Services to provide instructor notice of approved accommodations in a summarized Letter of Accommodation.
Report Prior to the Start of the Semester
It is the student's responsibility to provide Accessibility Services with their course schedule prior to each semester start, thereby allowing time to make arrangements for accommodations. Make your appointment well before semester start to ensure accommodations can be arranged. While it is recommended that students self-identify at the start of each semester, students should be aware they may request accommodations at any time. Please note, accommodations cannot be backdated.
Renewing Accommodations
Accommodations are in place for one academic semester and do not automatically renew. There are several opportunities throughout the semester in which Accessibility Services will reach out to current students when it is time to renew for a new semester. Current or previously enrolled students may wish to renew their approved accommodations by contacting Accessibility Services directly. Renewing students are required to send an updated course schedule when renewing accommodations. As accommodations can take time to arrange, students should renew their accommodations well in advance.
Student Rights and Appeals
- Students have the right to equal access for ATC courses and activities, at no cost.
- Students have a right to confidentiality regarding their disability. However, disclosure is required to qualify for accommodations and services. When these accommodations and/or services are provided by Anoka Tech faculty, staff, service providers and/or other college officials with a legitimate educational interest, you have given consent for Accessibility Services to release pertinent information from your file limited to providing these services.
- Expect Accessibility Services to act as your resource and liaison for addressing questions or problems regarding your accommodations.
- Students have the right to receive course instructor notifications regarding accommodation denials that fundamentally alter course requirements.
- Students have the right to discontinue services at any time by informing Accessibility Services.
- Students have the right to appeal an unfairly denied reasonable accommodation request. Students can schedule meeting with Accessibility Services to review the merits of the appeal. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of this meeting, students may submit an Informal Student Complaint Form to Dean of Student Affairs at AN-112 or by calling 763-433-1424.
- Students have the right to report unequal treatment based on disability encountered at the college. Students must follow the steps in the student formal complaint process as outlined in Policy 3.12: Student Complaint Process. All complaints must be filed within 30 days of the day the incident occurring.
Additional Accessibility Resources
Anoka Technical College supports all students admitted to college.
Students with documented disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to programs.
In order to apply for test accommodations, students with disabilities must meet with Accessibility Services. Documentation will be required. Apply early to allow time to make arrangements for accommodations.
The Testing Center is open BY APPOINTMENT ONLY for accommodated testing during our service hours Monday through Friday.
*All accommodated testing appointments must be scheduled in advance. All students scheduling an accommodated testing appointment must be approved by Accessibility Services. More information about accommodations can be found by contacting Accessibility Services or calling 763-576-7950.
AFTER a student has been approved for accommodated testing, they can schedule their accommodated exam(s) with Testing Center staff at TestingServices@delicious-drop.com or 763-576-7830.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Accommodations cannot be backdated or provided for tests/exams already taken.
Sign language interpreting services are defined as assisting with communication between deaf or hard of hearing people and hearing people. Interpreters are available for classroom, lab, and tutored sessions as well as for meetings with varied college personnel.
Request interpreters prior to the start of each semester. Though we try to honor late requests we cannot guarantee results; immediate assistance may be limited due to resource availability.
At the start of each semester, it is the student's responsibility to provide the Accessibility Services with their course schedule, thereby allowing time to arrange requested accommodations. Call 763 576-7950 to make an appointment to meet with Accessibility Services staff.
Accessibility Services will try to honor requests for specific interpreters, but cannot guarantee requests will be fulfilled. Interpreter availability is a major factor.
Accessibility Services assists students in gaining access to course materials in an alternative format. Often times, accommodations can be made for students to be provided with PowerPoint slides, classroom notes, and other written materials in a format and timeframe that best suits the student's disability and particular academic need.
Through Accessibility Services, students may be able to access their textbook(s) in an electronic format (PDF). Students should note, requests to publishers for books in electronic or alternative format can take time and a receipt of purchase will be required before a request will be made.
Additionally, equipment or adaptive devices may be available for student use. Use of such devices are approved solely when the accommodation is reasonable for that student's disability. On a case-by-case basis, students may check out equipment for a duration that is agreed upon between the student and Accessibility Services.
Accessibility Services frequently facilitates referrals and connections between the student and other supportive services on campus. Some of the additional supportive services that are available to ALL students can include: tutoring, advising, and counseling.
Get Transportation
The Traveler provides transportation for individuals with special needs. Metro Mobility, a program of the Metropolitan Council oversees all ADA Paratransit Service in the Twin Cities.
Where to Park
Anoka Technical College provides multiple parking spaces with the designated international symbol for disabled parking. Students and employees who have a State of Minnesota disabilities license plate or a temporary/permanent parking permit may park in any of those locations. All main entrances are equipped with power-assisted doors. The elevator in Building A (providing access to Auditoriums A and B) is the only location on campus which is not at ground level.
Temporary parking for individuals who require closer parking because of surgery/injury may also be provided by the Accessibility Services. Documentation from your medical doctor will be required; length of time special parking privileges are needed must be noted.
Are you transitioning from high school to college?
Transitioning from high school to college can be a difficult adjustment period. For many up to this point, counselors and parents were the ones making the educational decisions for the student. As a college student however, the decisions about your education are made by you, the student.
Self-advocacy or the ability to act on your own behalf is one of the most important tools you can possess while in college. It is an expectation that students work on developing their own self-advocacy. In self-advocacy. Students should become aware of their strengths and weaknesses, develop communication skills between themselves, their instructors and classmates, and advance their problem-solving skills to meet classroom deadlines and course standards.
Some students may feel the need to allow another person to assist them in making educational decisions while learning to advocate for themselves. Students can choose to have someone like a parent, guardian, or third party added to their student account to be able to discuss private information.
Consent to Release Information
Anoka Technical College requires consent before any private educational information will be shared with anyone other than that student. This form can be submitted at any time to add or remove a third party from a student account. The Consent to Release Information form must be completed on yearly basis to renew a third party on a student account.
Please check out this Resource Guide for more information in preparing students with disabilities for the college environment.