Accommodations for Student Accessibility
The Center for Student Accessibility (CSA), formerly known as Disability Support Services, provides accommodations and support for students with disabilities to ensure equal access to a quality education through participation in every aspect of life.
Responsibility to our Students
Palm Beach State College (PBSC) is obligated to make a reasonable accommodation only to the known limitations of a qualified student with a disability.
To determine reasonable accommodations, the Center for Student Accessibility (CSA) may seek information from appropriate college personnel regarding essential standards for:
- Courses
- Programs
- Services
- Internships
- Jobs, Activities
- Facilities
Student Rights
- To participate equally in and benefit from courses, programs, services and activities
offered through the College.
- To access reasonable accommodations and/or auxiliary aids and services with equity.
- To expect confidentiality regarding disability-related information and to choose to
whom information about that disability will be disclosed except as disclosures are
required/permitted by law.
- To file an appeal in the event that a disability discrimination issue cannot be satisfactorily
resolved. For procedure see Policy 6Hx-18-5.86 below.
- Complaints can also be filed with the Atlanta Office of the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 61 Forsyth St., S.W. Suite 19T70, Atlanta GA 30303-8927, Telephone number 404-974-9406.
Student Responsibilities
- To participate equally in and benefit from courses, programs, services and activities
offered through the College.
- To access reasonable accommodations and/or auxiliary aids and services with equity.
- To expect confidentiality regarding disability-related information and to choose to
whom information about that disability will be disclosed except as disclosures are
required/permitted by law.
- To file an appeal in the event that a disability discrimination issue cannot be satisfactorily
resolved.
- Complaints can also be filed with the Atlanta Office of the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 61 Forsyth St., S.W. Suite 19T70, Atlanta GA 30303-8927, Telephone number 404-974-9406.
Services are available to students who:
- have an impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- have provided documentation as requested.
- have met with a CSA professional and requested accommodations.
Students with a wide variety of diagnoses can benefit from our services. These include impairments that affect:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Physical Mobility
- Learning
- Speech
- Mental Health
- Multiple Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations are determined by examining:
- The barriers resulting from the interaction between the documented disability and the campus environment;
- Whether or not the student has access to the course, program, service, internship, activity, or facility without accommodation and the possible accommodations that might remove barriers;
- Whether essential elements of the course, program, service, internship, activity, or facility are compromised or fundamentally altered by the accommodation.
Final determination of reasonable accommodations is made by the Center for Student Accessibility.
Before requesting services from the Center of Student Accessibility, you must register with our office. Registration includes verifying your disability and speaking with a CSA advisor or manager. Disclosure of a disability is voluntary. If you may need services, accommodations or access for your disability follow these steps to register.
Steps to Register with CSA
- Submit current documentation from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional
to support the disability claim prior to meeting with CSA advisor or manager to studentaccessibility@palmbeachstate.edu.
- Make an appointment with the Center of Student Accessibility (CSA) advisor or manager
on the campus you will be attending.
- Complete intake process at the meeting with a CSA advisor or manager.
- Request services each term (Minimum of three weeks’ notice) by completing the Semester Request for Services Online Form.
Complete the Semester Request for Services Online Form
If an alternate format for the Semester Request for Services Form is needed, please email studentaccessibility@palmbeachstate.edu for the form to be emailed to you.
Already Registered with CSA?
If you have already registered with CSA and have met with the advisor or manager, you are ready to request accommodations specific to your needs.
Request services each term (Minimum of three weeks notice) through the CSA office.
Complete the Semester Request for Services Online Form
If an alternate format for the Semester Request for Services Form is needed, please email studentaccessibility@palmbeachstate.edu for the form to be emailed to you.
The policies were developed to ensure that students receive the best services possible as well as equal access to programs and facilities.
What are you responsible for?
| Action or Service | Who is responsible for completion? | Minimum time required for completion |
|---|---|---|
| Submission of medical/testing documentation to the Center for Student Accessibility | Student | At least three weeks prior to date of requested services |
| Determination of student eligibility for accommodations and/or support services | Center for Student Accessibility (CSA) | Within three weeks of receiving documentation |
| Meet with individual instructors to discuss disability-related accommodations | Student | Within three weeks after instruction begins or one week after approval of documentation by CSA |
| Provision of other prescribed accommodations for the students authorized by CSA | Instructor and/or CSA | Within at least two weeks following request made by student |
| Request for alternate format services for textbook materials from CSA | Student | Four weeks before instruction begins |
| Request for alternate format services for handouts and exam materials from CSA | Student | At least two weeks before date needed |
| Request for Interpreter Services | Student | At least two weeks before date needed |
| Request for furniture | Student | At least two weeks before date needed |
| Request for note taking services | Student | At least two weeks before date needed |
The Center for Student Accessibility does not have a role in determining course attendance policies. Attendance policies are set by faculty at the departmental or individual level.
Faculty determine policies regarding missed assignments, quizzes, exams, projects, labs, or other class requirements. Faculty are not required to lower or effect substantial modifications of standards for accommodation purposes.
CSA can provide students with written verification of their disabilities, based on appropriate medical and/or psychological documentation. These verification forms may be distributed by students to faculty to initiate discussions of attendance and make-up policies and procedures. CSA advisors or manager may also email faculty on students' behalf if a specific absence is because of a disability.
Alternate furniture may be provided to students for whom the standard desks and chairs in classrooms are inaccessible due to physical disability. Examples of alternate furniture include padded or supported seating and stand-alone tables.
Please note: This accommodation must be approved by an advisor and will depend on the symptoms and severity of the student's disability.
Request Process
- Students requesting alternate furniture need to make the request through their CSA Advisor.
- Requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
If you have any questions about this accommodation, please contact the Center for Student Accessibility office on the campus you will be taking classes.
Guidelines
- The Center for Student Accessibility will make every effort to accommodate requests for alternate furniture using a surplus of adaptive furniture owned by Palm Beach State College. In cases where CSA cannot locate furniture in its own inventory, CSA will help the student make a request to the academic department in which the class(s) are held.
- The Center for Student Accessibility advisors will inform faculty regarding the placement of specific furniture in classrooms and priority use by the student with a disability during class/lab hours.
- Should PBSC need to purchase furniture for the student, CSA will make every effort to obtain what the student requests or a reasonable alternative.
- Due to college purchasing procedures, furniture is ordered through specific vendors; this may cause a delay in the receipt of the item. When placing orders, the Center for Student Accessibility will work diligently with the purchasing office to help ensure prompt delivery. CSA cannot guarantee the specific delivery date of furniture.
- Students must bring their own cushions or orthopedic supports, as needed and is responsibility for their property. (Palm Beach State College is not responsible for items left in the classroom or other locations at the College).
- Accessible furniture provided by the Center for Student Accessibility and Palm Beach State College should be considered only to improve classroom accessibility and is not prescriptive in nature.
Alternate media is an alternative to standard printed academic materials such as textbooks, lab manuals, class handouts, and tests. The Center for Student Accessibility provides academically related material in alternative formats for students who are registered with CSA office and who have been deemed eligible.
Eligibility for alternate instructional material is based on the professional documentation provided by the student that verifies the student has a print disability which inhibits the functional use of standard instructional material in print format.
Please note: This accommodation must be approved by an advisor and will depend on the symptoms and severity of the student's disability.
Request Process
- An individual with a disability requesting alternate media for the first time must
meet with an CSA staff member to determine eligibility for the service.
- Once found to be eligible, the individual must read, agree to, and sign the Alternate
Media Agreement.
- Each semester, students requesting texts in alternate media formats, must contact the CSA advisor. Requests for alternate media are handled on a first come, first serve basis. Conversion of materials can take up to 6 weeks.
Media Guidelines
- Student must be currently enrolled in the course or courses for which they are requesting alternate media.
- Own a physical copy of the textbook or other course material and provide an original receipt to CSA (Copy of the receipt will be maintained by CSA).
- Handouts must be clean, original, and scan ready copies.
- Material provided to CSA for the purpose of conversion to alternative format may be disassembled and returned to the student in its altered condition.
- CSA will not be held responsible for any damage to the materials that occur as a result of conversion to alternative format.
- Due to the volume of requests, CSA requires 6 weeks to convert textbooks into alternate formats (conversion time is determined on a case by case basis).
- Due to the volume of requests, CSA requires 1 week to convert course handouts into alternate formats (conversion time is determined on a case by case basis).
- Upon review of material to be formatted and converted, CSA staff will notify the student regarding conversion progress.
- Students will not copy or reproduce alternatively formatted instruction materials nor allow anyone else to do so pursuant to the requirements of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976 as amended (17 U.S.C §101 et seq.). Students understand that any violation of this agreement may be considered a violation of the Palm Beach State College’s Code of Conduct and could result in discontinued service.
The Center for Student Accessibility offers a variety of note taking options such as guided notes, instructor lecture notes, copies of notes by a designated note taker, audio recordings, printed PowerPoint presentations or transcription services. All the note taking options listed will not be provided to a student; however, the CSA advisor or manager and student will discuss which services are ideal for the accommodation requested.
Please note: This accommodation must be approved by the Center for Student Accessibility office and will depend on the symptoms and severity of the student's disability.
Request Process
- Students must submit a new request for each class every semester using the Semester Request Service Form.
- Once you submit your request for note takers, you will be contacted by the CSA advisor
to discuss the accommodation provided.
- You will receive a follow-up email confirming the note taking service provided for
the class or classes requested.
- If you do not receive your notes within 48-hours from the class, contact your CSA advisor immediately.
Notetaking Assistance Guidelines
- Note takers are not authorized to provide tutoring, instructional support or editing.
- It is the student's responsibility to notify CSA immediately regarding schedule changes, incomplete, late or no notes.
- At the end of the semester, you will have the opportunity to evaluate the note taking service.
Please note: If you have any questions about this accommodation, please contact the Center for Student Accessibility on the campus you are taking classes.
Continuing students who are registered with CSA are eligible for priority registration. Priority registration increases the probability that students with disabilities will secure registration in a course schedule that is most conducive to their disability related needs. Current college policy is to allow priority groups to use the portal to register for classes on the first day of open registration for the coming semester. Students should be prepared with their class lists for the coming semester on the first day of registration.
Students are notified through the portal, of the time and date they may first use the portal for registration of classes. Students can contact CSA office if they have received a date for registration that is past the opening day.
If a student needs an accommodation to register for classes, a CSA advisor or manager can assist in arrangements.
Students can enter the portal to add, drop, or rearrange classes throughout the open enrollment period.
If you have already registered with CSA and have met with the advisor or manager, you are ready to request accommodations specific to your needs.
Request services each term (Minimum of three weeks notice) through the CSA office.
Complete the Semester Request for Services Online Form
If an alternate format for the Semester Request for Services Form is needed, please email studentaccessibility@palmbeachstate.edu for the form to be emailed to you.
Student Life
As a student, you will have access to everything you need for an amazing learning experience and to gear up for your next step after graduation. There are a number of resources available to students.
Student Learning Center (SLC)
Scribe services entail producing written material on behalf of the student during an exam, quiz or other written-based assignment.
Please note: This accommodation must be approved by a CSA advisor or manager and will depend on the symptoms and severity of the student's disability and the requirements of the course.
Scribe Request Process
- Students must submit a new request for each class every semester.
- Requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
- Requests may be submitted to the CSA office where you are taking classes.
- Notify CSA if you change your class schedule.
Scriber Guidelines
- Students are responsible for all the written material produced by scribes, including content, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling.
- Scribes will write only what is dictated to them. They are not permitted to answer questions about the content of the dictated material or to provide tutoring services for students. Students are responsible for adjusting their dictation speed to ensure scribes can record everything communicated.
- Students are expected to give individual direction to scribes.
- Should the student experience a problem with Scribe, they may speak directly to him or her. The student may also meet with a CSA advisor or manager to work towards agreed upon solution.
- Scribes are provided for academic curriculum support only. Scribes are not provided for personal need.
- CSA reserves the right to discontinue service if any of the above is violated or abused.
- Students are given the opportunity to evaluate the Scribe at the end of each semester.
- Scribes for exams and quizzes are CSA staff only. To maintain testing integrity and accreditation standards students are not allowed to serve as Scribes under any circumstances. Any request by faculty, staff or student for student to serve as a Scribe will be denied.
Service Animal Definition
A service animal is an animal trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including physical, sensory, mental, psychological, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. Service animals do not always have a harness, sign, or symbol indicating that they are service animals.
Florida state law does not restrict the type of animal that can serve as a service animal; however, only service animals that are dogs or miniature horses are permitted at Palm Beach State College.
Service Animal Owner’s Responsibilities
The service animal’s owner is responsible for:
- Keeping the animal under direct control
- Ensuring that the animal is not disruptive
- Cleaning up after the animal immediately and disposing of waste and debris promptly
- Dealing with any damage or injury caused by the service animal
- If the owner is not able to keep the service animal under control and the service animal poses a threat to anyone the owner will be asked to remove the service animal
Interpreters in an academic setting or other activities support students that are deaf and hard of hearing by ensuring effective communication between the student and others is realized with the use of sign language.
Please note: This accommodation must be approved by an advisor and will depend on the symptoms and severity of the student's hearing loss and essential needs.
All arrangements for interpreting services must be made through the Center for Student Accessibility.
Sign Language Interpreter Request Process
- Meet with CSA advisor or manager to determine eligibility for service.
- Provide CSA advisor with a copy of your class schedule.
The Center for Student Accessibility will be changing their method of delivery for their Letter of Notification. The Letter of Notification is the letter you provide to your instructor informing them of your accommodations. This change will be effective June 2020. The new delivery method will be electronic. The Letter of Notification will be emailed to you and each of your professors using the Palm Beach State College email address only.
The new delivery method aligns with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s standard for social distancing and to maintain safety for the college community.
If you prefer to directly provide your own Letter(s) of Notification to your professor(s), please complete the opt-out form.
NOTE: This form must be received at least 48 business hours in advance of requesting accommodations/completion of the Semester Request for Services form.
