Coordinator Explains What Accommodations Are Available to Students
By Halli Coulter | Observer Contributor
Mount Wachusett Community College is made up of almost 4,000 students, with only about 20% who utilize Disability Support Services. Amy LaBarge, Coordinator of MWCC’s Disability Services, outlined the support offered to eligible students and how one can go about using them.
LaBarge explained that the department supports and accommodates all disabilities and said she feels that the students who utilize these services find them helpful.
“At MWCC, we promote a culture of inclusion, accessibility, and equity,” LaBarge said.
The most common accommodation put in place for students is extended testing time, where they receive fifty percent more time to finish an exam. Other common accommodations include testing in a low distraction setting, being able to record class lectures, preferred seating, having tests read aloud, and many more.
According to MWCC’s Disability Services page, for students to be eligible to receive these accommodations, they must “voluntarily disclose a disability and provide official documentation” of the diagnosis.
Official documentation that is accepted are previous high school 504 plans (formal plans for students with disabilities), IEPs (Individualized Education Program) or evaluations, and any documents or recommendations from a health professional. All of this information should be from the last three years.
LaBarge said she feels as if some students start their first semester after graduating high school and do not reach out to Disability Support Services to continue the accommodations they previously received. Because of this, she said, the student may find their class difficult and then reach out for help. However, the good news is accommodations can be put into place at any point in a semester.
LaBarge reminded students that they are in the driver’s seat and urged those who qualify for disability services to reach out and receive the help they need. If a student is not sure how to start the process of receiving these services and accommodations, LaBarge recommended taking these steps:
1. Reach out to LaBarge or Disability Counselor, Ann Reynolds, by email, phone, or stop by their office on the Gardner campus. This information can be found on the MWCC Disability Services website.
2. Schedule an appointment. During this appointment, necessary documentation and accommodations will be discussed.
3. Acquire all the documentation needed. This includes official documentation of a diagnosis in the last three years from a health professional or previous school documents such as a 504 or an IEP.
In addition to services and accommodations, students with disabilities can become members of the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society.The Disability Services page explained, “[m]embers will assist in promoting disability awareness and pride at MWCC by helping coordinate and participating in fun virtual and on-campus activities. Members also serve as mentors and role models for other students.”
To become a member, the student needs to have a 3.10 GPA, have finished at least 24 credits while at college, as well as “present with a documented disability and work with one of the staff members of the Disability Services team [and] demonstrate an interest in disability issues.” If you want to learn more about Disability Support Services and Delta Alpha Pi, visit this link for more information: https://mwcc.edu/current-students/disability-services/.
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