College Life
 

Disability Support Services (DSS) ensures equal access and opportunity in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and relevant state and federal laws. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is defined as a person who has 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 office is located on the fourth floor of the Megastructure at the Main Campus, in Rooms 4122-I and 4122-K, within the Office of Student Development and Counseling. Additionally, Ms. Maria Mercado is available on Tuesdays at the West Essex Campus, in Room 137 B. The purpose of Disability Support Services is to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities who are otherwise qualified. It also supports and aids individuals with disabilities, helping them increase independence, access education, and improve their overall well-being.

Disability Support Services also provides students with information regarding, but not limited to, the Learning Center, Educational Opportunity Fund Program, and Adult Learning Center.

The goal of DSS is to support students with disabilities in meeting their educational objectives through individualized assistance. Services aim to reduce isolation, build self-confidence, promote advocacy, and remove academic barriers. Disability Services in the Office of Student Development and Counseling helps students overcome obstacles. Support is available to help provide essential services to meet students’ needs.

Students who self-identify with a disability may be eligible for DSS. Eligibility is determined after submission of a completed application and required documentation. The DSS Coordinators evaluate eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

1
Apply to Disability Services
  • Students must self-identify and complete the Disability Support Services Application.
  • Meet Ms. Maria Mercado or Ms. Barbara Lewis and submit the required documentation.
 
 
2
Accommodation Letter
  • Disability Support Services will engage in the interactive process and provide reasonable accommodations, where appropriate. Thereafter, Disability Support Services will issue Accommodation Letters for students to provide to the Professors.
 
 
3
Grievance Procedure
  • Please first contact Ms. Maria Mercado or Ms. Barbara Lewis, Disability Services Coordinators.

 

HOW DO STUDENTS REQUEST ACCOMMODATIONS?

  • The coordinators shall follow state and federal laws and regulations to reasonably accommodate students with disabilities, qualified to receive services under the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other applicable state and federal laws.
  • Students are responsible for self-identifying and shall request reasonable accommodations from the College and make their requests to the coordinators. Students will contact the Coordinators, Ms. Maria Mercado or Ms. Barbara Lewis, in rooms 4122-I and 4122-K, via email at [email protected], or by calling (973) 877-3071, to schedule an appointment.
  • Students who self-identify their disability and wish to seek a reasonable accommodation from the College shall provide appropriate medical documentation that is no more than two years old from the date of the accommodation request. Such documentation shall confirm their disability, indicate how disability impacts their functioning, and further support their need for a reasonable accommodation from a qualified medical provider.
  • Students must present the documentation outlined in the Reg 5-22.
  • The Coordinators shall document the interactive process for determining the reasonable accommodations that can be offered, including when and how a request for accommodations is made and the possible accommodations to be considered.
    • After a thorough assessment of the supporting documentation and once a decision is made whether to grant or deny the accommodation, the documentation is provided to the student. The student is immediately responsible for presenting the accommodation to the respective faculty in each course. The faculty members and students are expected to make reasonable accommodations as detailed.
  • Medical information provided concerning requests for reasonable accommodation, including information about a student’s disability, will be treated as confidential and protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and the ADA.
  • Under this Regulation, Students are responsible for furnishing a HIPAA release form authorizing the College to interact with the student’s health care provider to determine reasonable accommodations.
  • All information regarding a student with a disability shall be kept confidential per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and will only be disclosed upon the student’s consent, unless required under the law. Copies of accommodation letters and applications are kept and maintained in the students’ files. Disability Support Services assumes responsibility for maintaining the confidentiality of the files and will not release any part of the documentation without the student’s informed and written consent. Disability Services shares information with the Student Development and Counseling staff to support students with disabilities who require assistance.

 

WHAT ARE THE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES?

Informal Complaint Process

Students are first encouraged to resolve any complaints about their request for reasonable accommodations with the Disability Coordinators. If the Disability Coordinators do not remedy the complaint, it will then be reviewed by the Director of Student Development and Career Services (“Director”). If a resolution cannot be achieved, the student may appeal to the College’s Section 504 Coordinator.

 

Formal Complaint Process

The Section 504 Coordinator will conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation. If the Section 504 Coordinator determines that a violation has occurred, the Section 504 Coordinator shall prepare a written report of the findings and recommendations. The report shall be sent to the appropriate Area Heads (Dean of Student Affairs and/or Vice President of Academic Affairs) to implement any appropriate remedies, as deemed necessary. The decision of the Dean of Student Affairs and/or the Vice President of Academic Affairs will determine the remedies to be implemented. The outcome of the appeal will be shared with the Director and the student in a letter.

The Disability Services Coordinator’s contact information:

Maria Mercado
(973) 877-3071 or 1914
Room 4122I
[email protected] or [email protected]

Barbara Lewis
(973) 877-3453
Room 4122K
[email protected] or [email protected]