Compliance

ADA/504 Compliance

As a member of the Louisiana Community College and Technical College System and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, River Parishes Community College is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. RPCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. At RPCC the lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in CTE classes and activities in our institution. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, no qualified person will be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by RPCC because of disability. RPCC will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in employment practices and activities, including, but not limited to, application procedures, hiring, tenure, promotion, advancement, termination, training, compensation, and benefits. Also, RPCC will not discriminate against a qualified individual because of the known disability of another individual with whom the qualified individual is known to have a relationship or association.

The Role of the ADA Coordinator

The Office of Student Services provides services, resources, and programs to ensure equal learning and working opportunities for students. The ADA Coordinator determines whether individuals are eligible for reasonable accommodation and the nature of the reasonable accommodation. The following person has been designated to respond to inquiries regarding The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, Section 504:

Shalither S. Cushenberry
Accessibility Services Coordinator
925 W. Edenborne Parkway
Gonzales, LA 70737
Phone: (225)743-8500
Email:[email protected]

Reasonable Accommodation

To establish accommodations that are reasonable, the ADA Coordinator proactively works to provide a collegiate environment that is inclusive and supportive of identifying and removing barriers to access and minimize the need for individual accommodations. Upon request, RPCC will provide reasonable accommodation(s) to otherwise qualified employees or students as required by law to ensure equal access to College employment, educational opportunities, programs, services, and activities in the most integrated setting, to the extent such requested accommodation(s) do not impose an undue hardship upon the College, constitute a fundamental alteration to a program or compromise academic integrity. In short, it is the responsibility of the employee or student to self-identify her/his disability status and subsequent need for accommodations. Neither supervisors, faculty, program sponsors, services units, or unit administrators may deny an accommodation request independently.

Accessibility Services Process, Documentation, and Confidentiality

Students seeking accommodations must self-identify by registering with the Office of Accessibility Services and provide professional documentation that describes the physical/mental condition for the accommodation sought and explains the functional impact of that condition in academic situations depending upon the particular kind of accommodation. RPCC utilizes this documentation for the facilitation of student access to courses, programs, and services. The student is ultimately responsible for providing all documentation, and the documentation provided must be current. In order to receive an accommodation letter, all professional documentation must be submitted to the ADA Coordinator six weeks prior to the start of each semester. For the purpose of providing reasonable accommodations, all documentation materials submitted by a student are maintained in the Office of Student Services with the ADA Coordinator. As the custodian of records for students’ or employees’ medical records, all disability and medical information is confidential and is not shared except where disclosure is required by law or is necessary to facilitate legitimate College processes, including granting appropriate reasonable accommodations, addressing direct threats or investigating claims or charges.

Appeal, Review, and Complaints

Any student with concerns regarding a determination of or services provided by Accessibility Services is strongly encouraged to submit the Grievance form to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Services.