The Rights and Responsibilities of Students with Disabilities:

Qualified students with disabilities have the right to an equal opportunity to participate in programs offered through Montgomery College. Students who choose to exercise these rights have the responsibility to initiate and participate in the accommodation process. Recognizing this, students: Have a responsibility to identify themselves as needing accommodation in a timely fashion. The student must provide documentation from an appropriate professional. Have a responsibility to document how their disability affects a particular delivery system, instructional method, or evaluation criteria when requesting accommodation. Have a responsibility to actively participate in the search for accommodations and auxiliary aids. Have the same obligation as any student to meet and maintain the institution's academic and technical standards. Have a right to be evaluated based on their ability, not their disability. If their disability affects the outcome of an evaluation method they are entitled to an evaluation by alternate means. Are entitled to an equal opportunity to learn. If the location, delivery system or instructional methodology limits their access, participation, or ability to benefit, they have a right to reasonable alterations in those aspects of the course (or program) to accommodate their disability. Are entitled to an equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of the academic community at a comparable level that is provided to any student. Have a right to appeal decisions concerning accommodations. For information on appeal processes contact the College Office of Equity and Diversity.

The Rights and Responsibilities of the College:

Montgomery College has a responsibility to identify and maintain the academic and technical standards that are fundamental in providing quality academic programs while ensuring access to students with disabilities. In meeting these obligations the College: Has the responsibility to inform its applicants and students about the availability and the range of accommodations. Has the responsibility to ensure that all of its programs (not necessarily all physical facilities) are accessible. Has the responsibility to make reasonable adjustments in the delivery, instructional method and evaluation system for a course to accommodate the specific manifestation of the disability. Has the responsibility to adjust, substitute or waive any requirement/course that has a disproportionately negative impact on a disability and is not fundamental to the student's academic program. Has the right to identify and establish the abilities, skills, and knowledge necessary for successful entrance into its programs and to evaluate applicants on that basis. Has the right to identify and establish the abilities, skills, and knowledge that are fundamental to academic programs/courses and to evaluate each student's performance on that basis. Has the right to request and review documentation in support of accommodation requests. Based on this review by appropriately designated individuals, the College has the right to refuse an unsupported or unreasonable request. Has the right to select between equally effective methods of accommodating a student with a disability. Has the right to refuse an accommodation based on undue hardship as determined by designated College officials (e.g. a major structural renovation). Adapted from: Ohio State University (OSU) Accessibility Rights and Responsibilities: Intro/Education, Access to Instructional Programs website. Retrieved April 10, 2003 from http://ada.osu.edu/Resources/RightsIntro.htm

An excellent resource, "Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities," is available from the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, (1-877-433-7827) or (1-800-872-5327) and online at http://www.ed.gov/ocr.

Student Records and Student Rights:

• The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) pertains to confidential student educational records. Notice of student rights and procedures for inspection, correction and disclosure of information in student records under FERPA are available on the Internet at www.montgomerycollege.edu/curricula/apndx.htm. (See Appendix D of the College Catalog). You can also obtain a copy of this information by contacting the Admissions, Records, and Registration Office. The FERPA notice is also available in Adobe Acrobat format.