SP 19-60b – Student Disability Services

Colorado Community College System / System Procedure

SP 19-60b

APPROVED: September 23, 2016
EFFECTIVE: September 23, 2016
REVISED: April 13, 2022
RENUMBERED: April 13, 2022

REFERENCE: Board Policy (BP) 19-60, Prohibition of Discrimination, Harassment, or Retaliation; C.R.S. § 24-34-601

APPROVED:

/ Joseph A. Garcia /
Joseph A. Garcia, Chancellor

APPLICATION

This procedure applies to the Colorado Community College System, including its Colleges (CCCS or System).

BASIS

Federal law protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination by programs receiving federal financial assistance. Further, Colorado law protects against discrimination in places of public accommodation. Under these laws, CCCS is obligated to ensure all programs are accessible to qualified students with disabilities.

DEFINITIONS

“Major Life Activities” include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

“Physical or Mental Impairment” includes, but is not limited to:

any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or
any mental or psychological disorder, such as an intellectual disability, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.

“Qualified Student with a Disability” is any student who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such a person’s major life activities, (2) has a record of such impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such impairment.

“Reasonable Accommodation” includes any modification or adjustment that can be made without lowering or substantially modifying essential requirements of a course or academic program; fundamentally altering the nature of a service, program, or activity; posing an undue financial or administrative burden on the College; or posing a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

“Substantially Limits” means unable to perform a major life activity that the average person in the general population can perform, or significantly restricted as to the condition, manner or duration under which an individual can perform a major life activity as compared to the condition, manner, or duration under which the average person in the general population can perform that same major life activity.

PROCEDURE

RIGHTS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

The Colleges shall adopt procedures to provide qualified students with disabilities reasonable accommodations necessary to afford the student an equal opportunity to participate in the Colleges’ programs and activities, including appropriate academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services.

CCCS is not required to make adjustments or provide accommodations that would result in a fundamental alteration of those programs or impose an undue burden.

The Colleges shall ensure that individualized determinations are made regarding appropriate academic adjustments for each individual student with a disability. Students who are dissatisfied with the application of this procedure may file a complaint with the College under SP 4-31a (Student Complaint Procedure). Students who believe they have been harassed, discriminated or retaliated against based upon their disability may file a complaint with the College under SP 19-60a (Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct Resolution Process). Students with a need for a service animal on campus or emotional support animal in a campus housing facility should refer to SP 16-70a (Animals on Campus).

RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

The process of accommodation begins with the student’s request for an accommodation. The Colleges shall adopt procedures for students to follow in order to identify as a student with a disability and request an accommodation. The student should engage in the interactive process to complete College documentation of the disability. If a student is not in agreement with the accommodation decision, they may appeal to the College using the College’s appeal process.

The primary purpose of requiring documentation of disability is to help the College work interactively with the student to identify appropriate accommodations and services. The Colleges may establish their own reasonable requirements for documentation. The Colleges are not required to conduct or pay for an evaluation to document a student’s disability.

Documentation required by the College must not be overly burdensome nor require extensive analysis to establish the disability. The College shall maintain the confidentiality of all accommodation(s) and documentation of disability.

TEMPORARY MEDICAL CONDITIONS:

Each College shall adopt procedures for students with temporary medical conditions to request accommodations. Examples of temporary medical conditions include, but are not limited to, broken bones, recovery from surgical procedures, pregnancy-related medical conditions, and other non-permanent conditions that do not rise to the level of a disability under this procedure.

Students with temporary medical conditions have the responsibility to notify the College of their status and may only be granted accommodations for as long as they are medically necessary. Supporting documentation must be provided to the College.

REVISING THIS PROCEDURE

CCCS reserves the right to change any provision or requirements of this procedure at any time and the change shall become effective immediately.