Student Rights

Every qualified student with a disability has the right to:

• Equal access to educational and co-curricular programs, services, activities, and facilities available through OTC.
• Reasonable and effective accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids as determined on a case-by-case basis.
• Confidentiality regarding disability information including the right to choose to whom the disclosure of disability is made except as required by law.
• Participate in the interactive process of developing their accommodation plan.
• Protection from discrimination, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be free from verbal and/or physical abuse.
• Students have the right to refuse and/or discontinue their relationship with the Disability Support Services at any time.
• Students have the right to submit a grievance if they feel their rights have been violated in any way. A grievance may be filed pursuant to Policy 5.17 – Grievance Procedures for Students – OTC Policies and Procedures.

Student Responsibilities

Every Student with a disability has the responsibility to:

• Identify as an individual with a disability and request accommodations through completion of the DSS application and the intake process in a timely manner.
• Provide documentation from a professional source verifying the nature and extent of the functional limitations caused by their disability, and supports their need for the requested accommodations.
• Present their Accommodation Letter to their instructors in order to utilize accommodations.
• Contact their Disability Resource Counselor (DRC) to request adjustments to their accommodation plan.
• Inform DSS of any concerns related to their accommodations, their treatment related to their disability, and/or any access issues as soon as they arise.
• Complete an “Exam Request Form” three business days before an exam if they desire to utilize their accommodations for that exam.
• Return assistive technology and/or adaptive equipment borrowed from DSS.
• Understand confidentiality and the responsibility of DSS staff to report if they pose a danger to themselves or others.
• Meet all OTC academic and conduct standards.

Institutional Responsibilities

Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) through DSS has the responsibility to:

• Maintain the college’s academic standards.
• Maintain confidentiality: not sharing information about a student’s disability with faculty, staff, parents/guardians, or other entities unless:
  • Student has a signed Release of Information on file
  • Or there is an explicit need to know circumstance

• Promote disability equity and inclusion on all OTC campuses.

Institutional Rights

Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) through DSS has the right to:

• Require qualifying disability documentation to verify eligibility for disability accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids.
• Discuss student’s eligibility with diagnosing professionals if signed consent is on file.
• Select from among equally effective/appropriate accommodations, adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids in consultation with the student through an interactive process.
• Deny request for accommodations, academic adjustments, or/or auxiliary aids when disability documentation does not identify a specific disability, fails to verify the need for the requested services, or is not provided in a timely manner.
• Deny requests for accommodations, adjustment and/or auxiliary aids that are inappropriate or unreasonable based on the disability documentation including any that:
  • Pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others;
  • Constitute a substantial change or alteration of an essential course element/program standard, or
  • Pose undue financial or administrative burden on the college.