Skip to content

If you need an accommodation based on a disability to fully participate in a program/event, please contact us. Be sure to allow enough time prior to the program or event and be ready to provide documents of the disability. Information disclosed about your disability will remain confidential. Students with mobility disabilities should contact Disability Resources & Access to register for emergency evacuation plans, notification of elevators and procedures.

What is a disability?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and Amendment Acts of 2008 and 2016 protects and considers a person disabled if he or she:

  • has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits a major life activity
  • has a record of such an impairment, or
  • is regarded as having such an impairment

A “qualified person with a disability” is defined, as one who meets the requisite academic and technical standards required for admission or participation in the postsecondary institution’s programs and activities. The above laws protect the civil rights of individuals who are qualified to participate and who have disabilities such as, but not limited to, the following:

  • Deaf/hard of hearing
  • Developmental disabilities
  • Blind/vision loss
  • Intellectual disabilities
  • Mobility disabilities
  • Learning disabilities
  • Mental health disabilities
  • Chronic health problems

What is an accommodation?

When we say “accommodations” we are referring to modifications to the educational program, academic adjustments, and auxiliary aids so that the student with a disability is not “denied the benefits of, or excluded from participation in”, an educational program.

Accommodations…

  • Do not lower standards or guarantee the success of the person receiving these services
  • Do reduce the negative effects of the disability of receiving information and demonstrating course mastery
  • Do not reduce the student’s personal responsibility in learning the course material

In this way students with disabilities are afforded an equal opportunity to benefit from educational programs as their counterparts, non-disabled students’ experience.

Educational programs are not required to make program modifications, academic adjustments, which would fundamentally alter a program, or are an undue administrative financial burden.

Types of Accommodations

Students with mobility disabilities should contact Disability Resources & Access to register for emergency evacuation plans, notification of elevators and procedures.

Testing

Extended time, minimum distraction area, use of a reader, scribe, or computer.

Note-takers

A fellow student in class may be willing to make a copy of his/her notes. Sometimes instructors have a class outline or class notes they will share with the students.

Books on alternative format

Staff members will assist students in obtaining textbooks or other class materials from publishers or use software to create an audio book if not available from the publisher.

Equipment loan

The office has a limited amount of smart pens, digital recorders, handheld magnifiers, and talking calculators.

Assistive technology

ZoomText, Natural Reader, Read Write and Kurzweil software are available in the Disability Resources & Access Office.

Sign language interpreters

Interpreters are provided for classes and other campus activities. Proper notice required.

Online Testing Accommodations

Special accommodations can be made for students taking online courses and testing. Common accommodations include extended time on exams, reduced distraction testing locations and readers and scribes for exams.

How to Receive Accommodations

Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Services

How does an instructor refer a student for accommodation services?

Encourage the student to contact a member of the Disability Resources & Access staff. You may want to contact the office yourself to follow up on your referral.

What are the rights and responsibilities of students with respect to disability accommodations?

In accordance with the Americans w/Disabilities Act of 1990, Amendment Acts of 2008 and 2016, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, students with disabilities and Black Hawk College share the following rights and responsibilities:

Students who attend Black Hawk College have the right to:

  • Equal access to all educational opportunities offered at BHC. This includes services, programs, courses, activities, jobs, and facilities;
  • Equal opportunity to learn and receive reasonable accommodations and services;
  • Confidentiality of all disability documentation as well as the right to decide which parties outside BHC may receive this information, whenever appropriate; and
  •  Information about services, programs and /or resources available in accessible formats (print, large print, audio, Interpreter, etc.).

Students who attend Black Hawk College have the responsibility to:

  • Meet qualification criteria and maintain essential institutional conduct for services, programs, courses, activities, jobs and facilities;
  • Provide required and sufficient documentation of disability from an appropriate professional and demonstrates how the disability is limiting in the participation of services, programs, courses, activities, jobs and facilities;
  • Identify as a person with a disability when accommodation is needed and seek information, academic/personal counseling and assistance when needed; and
  • Follow the appropriate procedures for obtaining reasonable accommodations and other services, such as providing the accommodation form from to your instructor, as well as accessing tutoring services.
  • Take an active role in making accommodations work (give it your best shot) and in resolving concerns with appropriate professionals.
  • Become familiar with all policies and responsibilities outlined in the Disability Resources & Access Student Handbook.

What are some examples of accommodations that are not made or arranged by the Disabilities Resources and Access Office?

The ADA does not require colleges to provide personal assistants, individual personal tutors, or personal assistive technology. Accommodations are not made which would reduce academic expectations, alter the curriculum or which would eliminate essential components of any course.

What accommodations are available for online courses and testing?

Once enrolled in your online course, you will receive information regarding your exams. The dates of your exams should be listed in your syllabus (or will be scheduled by your instructor). The instructor will determine the specifics regarding your exam.

Some courses may require proctored exams which must be taken under the supervision of a certified test proctor or proctoring software.

  • It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for an approved proctor or proctoring site to supervise all off-campus examinations.
  • Please check with your instructor or the Black Hawk College Testing Center to inquire about specific information regarding your exam and proctoring information.

If you take tests in the Disability Resources & Access Office, the following guidelines apply:

  • Students are asked to give Disability Resources & Access at least four work-days notice when scheduling a test. Test date, time, course and instructor’s information are required when scheduling your test. This can be done with a quick phone call or email.
  • Students do not need to speak to the Disability Resources & Access coordinator if they give sufficient notice. Just call the main number at 309-796-5900 or email accessQC@bhc.edu.
  • Disability Resources & Access will send an electronic Exam Notification Form to the instructor which indicates appropriate accommodations.
Contact Disability Services

Disability Resources & Access
Jen Holldorf, Coordinator
309-796-5903
HolldorfJ@bhc.edu

Quad-Cities Campus
Building 1, Room 241
309-796-5900
AccessQC@bhc.edu

East Campus
Building A-236
309-854-1713
AccessEC@bhc.edu

More to Explore