Specific Services Available - How to use:
Other Useful Information
Our mission is to assist in securing access to an equal education at Bucks for students with disabilities that impact on their learning; to encourage an environment of acceptance by removing barriers and addressing attitudes.
A "person with a disability" is anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.
In addition to those people who have visible disabilities-persons who are blind, deaf, or use a wheelchair - the definition includes people with a range of invisible disabilities. These include psychological, learning, and other neurological disabilities, as well as chronic health impairments such as epilepsy, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, cardiac conditions, HIV/AIDS, and more. (Documentation of the disability may be required.)
A person is considered to be a person with a disability if he/she has a disability, has a record of a disability, or is regarded as having a disability.
Documentation of a student’s disability may be required to determine if a student is eligible for services including accommodations. Appropriate documentation must have the following components:
Questions about documentation are invited and should be directed to the DS staff.
Students should be prepared to provide appropriate documentation in order to determine eligibility for services through the dS Office. Specific documentation guidelines are available here:
Medical Documentation Guidelines
Learning Disability Documentation Guidelines
Psychological or Mental Health Documentation
If you use screen reader software, please email leiggim@bucks.edu for compatible formats.
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For those with Hearing impairments:
For those with Learning impairments:
For those with Physical impairments
For those with Visual Impairments
All Students May Be Eligible For The Following Services:
Other accommodations may be available on a case by case basis. This is a sampling of the typical services provided to some students. It is not meant to be exhaustive of all possiblilities, nor to be considered as guarnteed to all students. Eligibility for any accommodation is determined by dS staff.
Students should contact disAbility Services (dS), located in the Student Services Center, on the first floor of the Rollins Center. The telephone number is 968-8182. We recommend making an appointment with either Marie Cooper, Director who works with students who have physical, health, psychological or neurological disabiities. Marge Zipin, the Learning Disability Specialist works with students who have learning impairments, attention disorders or neurological impairments. This is the time to introduce yourself, learn about services and request accommodations.
The documentation to verify one's disability and need for academic adjustments should meet these characteristics:
All documentation is kept confidential in dS and will not be shown to anyone without the student's written permission. A Request for Academic Adjustments is available at each campus, at the link below, and from any dS staff person.
You may download the to fill out and mail in. Academic Adjustment Request Form
If you are using screen reading software, email leiggim@bucks.edu for a compatible form.
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At BCCC the disAbility Services (dS) Office is responsible for determining eligibility for accommodations and recommending reasonable accommodations based on legal guidelines and the essential requirements of a course.
Students who are denied an accommodation by dS or do not receive a dS approved accommodation from an instructor may be eligible to an appeal. The student may appeal to the disAbility Services Office or to the instructor if the disAbility Services Office had previously approved the requested accommodations.
This appeal process is available to every student after a written request for academic adjustments is denied by dS staff or by the Instructor. You can download the steps and Academic Adjustment Appeal Form.
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If you use screen reader software, please email leiggim@bucks.edu for compatible formats.
Students have the right to:
Students are responsible for identifying their needs to dS before the semester begins or as soon as possible in order for adjustments to be in place when needed. Students who do not identify themselves may still be eligible for services at a later date and should contact dS as soon as possible.
Students are also responsible for providing documentation of their disability, according to the college's dS policies, and need for academic adjustments when necessary. dS may be able to assist in identifying reasonable accommodations.
Students who need academic adjustments and have provided necessary documentation are encouraged to follow these steps:
How to request accessible alternative texts
disAbility Services acquires accessible alternative texts in different ways. Most texts are acquired through the Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC). Here is the process for requesting your textbooks in alternative formats:
1. Speak to a dS staff who can approve that you are eligible for this service.
2. Go to the bookstore page link. Search for your courses and section and find your text book information. Here is the link: Bookstore Webpage
Be sure to get all of the following information:
Title
Author
Edition
ISBN #
Publisher (this is not on the bookstore page; please Google the book for publisher information)
Course Instructor
If the bookstore page link is not current contact the academic department that offers your course(s).
2. Complete the Request for Texts in Alternative Format ; include all books on one form if possible. Remember to enter the 7-Digit Course Number on the form (for example, BIOL115),and enter the 2- or 3-Digit Section Number (for example, E59 or ND). Incomplete forms slow the process.
Return form to grayp@bucks.edu , or fax to 215-968-8033(fax) .
3. Read carefully and complete by initialing and signing the AMAC Student Participation Agreement. You can initial it by typing in your initials and your name at the end.
4. Purchase the hard copy of your texts and provide a copy of the receipt to dS Office at Bucks.
If you are using screen reading software, email leiggim@bucks.edu for a compatible form.
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More resources for users of alternative format books
The dS office is happy to share information about other resources for accessible books, needed for study or pleasure, that can be accessed directly by the user. Resources are changing frequently. It is recommended that users try all resources available. Please note there are other resources in addition to the following:
1. STEPP The Student E-Rent Pilot Project (STEPP)
STEPP is an eTextbook rental program offering textbooks that "all" students can read by listening. This service costs less than the retail cost of a hard copy text and can be used on almost any device.
STEPP was launched by the AMAC, in partnership with CourseSmart and the AccessText, through a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education. This program is designed to meet the textbook rental needs of any postsecondary student and aims to help improve low-cost access to higher education textbooks for all students, including those with print-related disabilities.
To learn more visit STEPP or call AMAC at 404-894-8000 http://stepp.gatech.edu/faq.php
2. Learning Ally, previously known as Recordings For the Blind & Dyslexic
Learning Ally also produces textbooks in audio format They claim to have "the world’s largest digital library of accessible audio textbooks narrated by real people – not computers". Narrators include professionals in the content field: people who can explain every picture, diagram and chart. Learning Ally e-books can be used on a wide range of devices, from PCs to portable devices, such as the iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad.
Membership is $99 per year, and includes unlimited access to the full library. www.learningally.org
Interpreter Services may be provided when a student follows the instructions listed above in a timely fashion.
NOTE: dS makes an effort to respond to students' requests for specific interpreters but cannot guarantee requests will be fulfilled. Interpreter availability depends on many factors. We encourage students to discuss this with us.
The Consequences of misuse and abuse of Interpreting Services:
The procedures for note taking assistance in your classes are:
disAbility Services completes Accommodation Memo(s) and makes a copy to be sent to the student. The original (yellow or orange) memo is given to the instructor before classes begin along with some written tips for how best to assist the student in finding a qualified notetaker in the class.
The instructor makes an announcement to the class during the first week of the semester. The instructor will not identify the student who is requesting a notetaker but will help connect the volunteer with the student needing assistance after class.
If the notetaker wants to be paid for this service, he/she will need to fill out a Note Taker Application in the Disability Services Office (Rollins Room 8). They will also need to read the Note Taking Brochure and return the Note Taking Invoice. If not, the notetaker and the student requesting assistance should talk about how best to share notes.
If the notetaker wants to use the non-carbon, two-copy note pad, it is the responsibility of the student requesting assistance to come to the DS Office to sign out a Note-writer book. This book will need to be returned at the end of the semester.
Students requesting notetakers are expected to attend all classes and to take their own notes as best they can. The notetaker's notes can supplement what the student has. NOTETAKERS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO TAKE NOTES FOR A STUDENT WHO DOES NOT ATTEND CLASS UNLESS IT IS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE.
In summary, the following are Roles and Responsibilities for Attaining Notetakers
Disability Services
Instructor
Student
Notetaker
A "service animal" is defined as any animal specifically trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding persons with restricted vision, alerting those who have hearing losses to the presences of intruders, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.
Bucks County Community College and Disability Services (DS) recognize the need for students with disabilities to occasionally use trained service animals. Students who require the use of service animals are encouraged to discuss specific needs and services with DS professional staff, prior to starting classes. Students with disabilities, who want to bring a service animal to campus, must register with Disability Services.
Students are responsible for the animal's behavior while on campus. Service animals must comply with leash laws and be controlled by the student at all times. The student is ultimately responsible for the cleanliness, grooming and health of the animal, must ensure that proper vaccinations are current, and take responsibility for the proper disposal of all waste. If the service animal's behavior is disruptive, aggressive or destructive, the student will be held responsible and may be asked to remove the animal from campus.
(Adapted from Temple University’s Service Animal policy)
Whenever possible students are encouraged to take tests in the classroom or with the instructor as long as the needed modifications can be made. Aids such as interpreters, large print, computers, and extra time may be available for tests given in the classroom.
Students and instructors should work together with input from DS to determine the best way to administer tests to the student. A student is not required to take a test if accommodations are not made as earlier agreed. In this case the student should notify DS as soon as possible.
Prior to taking tests at the DS office, students should provide their instructor with a Test Proctor Form, available in DS.
When taking tests at the DS office students must schedule their tests at least 5 days in advance. Failure to provide this notice may effect the scheduling of the test. If our staffing resources are not acceptable to faculty they may provide their own personnel.
College policies and procedures concerning plagiarism will be strictly enforced, if there is evidence of plagiarism, the exam will be stopped, materials will be confiscated, and the instructor will be notified immediately. (See the college catalog for the College's Policy Regarding Cheating and Plagiarism).
Test Modifications Can Include:
Special parking areas are available for lift vans and appropriately marked accessible vehicles. Permits for these parking areas are available at the College's Security Office and Student Services. You can find more information on the Security and Safety Webpage.
Applications for both Pennsylvania Disability License Plates and Pennsylvania Disability Parking Placards are available at State Police Barracks, Auto Tags Service Centers, and the Disability Services Office.
FROM LOWER BUCKS:
Route 413 North through Langhorne Borough to the Newtown/Route 413 Bypass (traffic light after George School).
Left onto Bypass, straight onto Swamp Road at Tyler State Park. Follow signs to College (approx. 1 mile) on left.
FROM I-95:
I-95 to Exit 30-Newtown-Route 332. Proceed West towards Newtown and follow this road straight to the College entrance, approximately 5 miles on left.
FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE:
PA Turnpike to Exit 28-Philadelphia. Proceed to Route 1 North to Route 413 North. Take Route 413 North. Follow directions from Lower Bucks above.
FROM UPPER BUCKS:
Route 313 South or Route 202 East to Route 263 North (Buckingham). Follow Route 263 North for 2.5 miles to Route 413 South. Turn right onto Route 413 South towards Newtown and proceed for approximately 9 miles. At "T" Intersection in Newtown, turn right onto Durham Road (Route 532) and proceed to the next traffic light, facing the entrance to Tyler State Park. Turn right onto Swamp Road. The College is approximately 1 mile on the left.
FROM THE WARMINSTER, WARRINGTON AREA:
East on Street road (Route 132) to Second Street Pike (Route 232). Left on Second Street Pike into Richboro. Turn right onto Route 332 East (Richboro/Newtown Road) and proceed approximately 3 miles to Newtown, Route 413 Bypass. Turn left onto Bypass.
At next light, continue straight ahead to Swamp Road. The College is approximately 1 mile on the left.
FROM ABINGTON, WILLOW GROVE, HATBORO, WYNCOTE, JENKINTOWN:
North on Old York Road through Willow Grove and Hatboro to Street Road (Route. 132) in Warminster. Turn right onto Street Road. Follow directions above from the Warminster, Warrington area.
Please be sure to visit our campuses: Newtown | Lower Bucks | Upper Bucks | Online
Copyright © 2004, Bucks County Community College. All rights reserved.
275 Swamp Road, Newtown Pennsylvania 18940 · 215-968-8000
