DISABLED STUDENT SERVICES

Academic Skills Center
Mulligan Physical Science Center, Lobby
Telephone: (570) 208-5841

The student with a disability is continually challenged to maximize his or her educational potential. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 guarantee the rights of all students to equal access to an education that is limited only by personal ability and not by physical or psychological disability.
The goal of Disability Services, coordinated by the Academic Skills Center, is to maximize a student's educational potential while helping him or her develop and maintain independence. The program philosophy is one that encourages self-advocacy.

Eligibility
Services are available to any member of the King's community - student, faculty, or staff member - who has a disability. Individuals eligible for service include, but are not limited to, those with mobility, orthopedic, hearing, vision, or speech impairments, as well as those with learning disabilities. Individuals with temporary disabilities, such as those resulting from injury or surgery, are also eligible for services.

Services
Any student with a disability who is considering King's College is eligible for a comprehensive pre-admission interview and is offered information on services and resources available through Disability Services.
New students are provided with priority scheduling that allows them to schedule their classes at a given location or at certain times of the day, if needed.
Academic testing accommodations and proctoring for special needs are available. Students are provided with assistance, as needed, with orientation, registration, on-campus housing arrangements, tutoring, and contact with faculty members regarding academic accommodations.
Disability Services provides a liaison role with community resources, including the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Pennsylvania Blindness and Visual Services, and Recording for the Blind.
The goal of the Disability Services Program at King's College is to maximize a student's educational potential while helping him or her maintain independence and develop self-advocacy skills. Disability services are provided, but not limited to, those students with mobility, orthopedic, hearing, vision, speech impairments, and learning disabilities. Students with temporary disabilities, such as those resulting from injury, surgery, or other illness, are also eligible for services. These services recognize the rights of all qualified students with disabilities to equal access to an education as guaranteed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The Disability Services Program at King's College is coordinated by the Academic Skills Center, located on the lobby floor of the Mulligan Science Center. A request for services or accommodations may be initiated by registering with the Academic Skills Center and providing appropriate documentation. Students are encouraged to contact the Director of the Academic Skills Center at the time of their admission to King's College to discuss their concerns and to develop appropriate plans to meet their educational needs. A detailed pamphlet describing the services and accommodations provided is available in the Academic Skills Center and the Office of Admissions.
In a continuing commitment to provide an educational environment that is accessible to all students, King's College has established the Committee to Improve Services to Students with Disabilities (CISSD). The Committee meets regularly through the academic year to review disability policies and procedures, to suggest educational programming, to address concerns about the physical plant, and to be an advocate group for students with disabilities. The Committee includes representation from admissions, academic affairs, student affairs, faculty and students. Students are encouraged to voice their concerns to this Committee; a list of the Committee's current membership is available in the Academic Skills Center.
When a student believes their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are not being appropriately addressed, King's College has established the following procedure to address the student's concerns.
The student should first meet with the Director of the Academic Skills Center, who serves as ADA Coordinator for King's College. This meeting should occur within 30 working days from the time the student identifies a concern. At that time, the following information shall be provided in writing:
1. the name and address of the student(s)
2. a brief description of the student's concern or complaint
The Director of the Academic Skills Center will investigate this matter and propose a resolution in writing within 10 working days of the initial meeting.
1. If a resolution cannot be reached, the Director of the Academic Skills Center shall arrange a con- ference with the student and the faculty mem-
ber(s), administrator(s), or staff member(s)
identified in the complaint. This conference will occur within 20 working days of the initial
complaint.
1a. If a resolution cannot be reached in this confer-
ence, then a copy of all written documentation
and records shall be forwarded to the appropri- ate Senior Staff member responsible for the
office or service identified in the complaint.
1b. The Senior Staff member will review all written documentation and will investigate the stud-
ent's complaint. The Senior Staff member will issue a written determination of the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolu-
tion. The Senior Staff member will forward a copy of the resolution of the complaint to all
parties involved within 30 working days of
receipt of the written complaint.
2. If the complaint is directed toward the director of academic skills center, the complainant will submit in writing the appropriate information
as described above to the associate vice-presi- dent for academic affairs. The associate vice-
president for academic affairs will investigate
the complaint and propose a resolution in writ- ing within 10 working days of receipt of the
initial complaint.
2a. If a resolution of the complaint cannot be reach- ed, then a conference will be arranged with the complainant, and the Director of the Academic Skills Center, and the vice-president for aca-
demic affairs within 20 working days of the
written complaint.
2b. The vice-president for academic affairs will is- sue a written determination of the validity of
the complaint and a description of the resolu-
tion. The vice-president for academic affairs
will forward a copy of the resolution to all par- ties involved within 30 working days of the re- ceipt of the written complaint.
A written record of conferences and supporting documentation provided by any and all parties involved shall be compiled and maintained by the Director of the Academic Skills Center. All records are protected under the Privacy Act of 1974.

Residence Life: Housing Assignments
Students with disabilities that require specialized housing are accommodated in the College residence halls.
Facilities: It is strongly recommended that students with disabilities that limit their physical mobility, be assigned to the second floor of Esseff Hall (the first residential floor) for women and in Holy Cross Hall (the first occupied residential floor) for men.
Bathroom: On each of those floors there is a private bath available for students who require special bath facilities.
Space: If a student needs extra space due to a wheel chair or equipment, the student will be given a single room at the double rate.
Fulltime Attendant: If a student requires an attendant, a non-student attendant will be permitted to live in the room at no extra costs.
College Apartments
Flood Hall contains student's apartments for juniors and seniors with four students per unit. Flood Hall is equipped with a handicapped accessible apartment on the lower level of the building. This apartment is adjacent to an accessible entryway and the laundry facilities and lounge are on the same floor.
A student with a disability will be given priority in selecting the handicapped-accessible apartment.
The process for living in Flood Hall handicapped accessible apartment is:
o The student and his/her prospective apartment mates (preferably three but no less than two additional
people) will sign up for the Flood Hall lottery in the process developed by the Office of Residence Life for the Floor Hall lottery.
o At the time the disabled student signs up for the lot- tery, they must make known to the Office of Resi-
dence Life, in writing, their disability and need to
be assigned to the handicapped apartment.
o If the disabled student and his/her apartment mates win an apartment, they will automatically be as-
signed to the handicapped accessible apartment.
Students living in Flood Hall are to be aware that the building is located on the top of a hill above the main part of campus. While Flood Hall is handicapped accessible, the student needs to consider accessibility according to the location of the hall. During inclement weather access to the building may be difficult.