ADA Compliance & DSS Policies

Lake Washington Institute of Technology was designed to accommodate the needs of students with physical impairments:

• Floor levels in the elevators are marked in Braille.
• Entrances and exits are wide enough for standard wheelchairs.
• Electrically controlled doors are located at all entrances.
• Restrooms are equipped to accommodate individuals with disabilities.

The college also provides a campus map listing wheelchair ramps, entries and disability permit parking areas. A copy can also be obtained by calling (425) 739-8300.

Parking spaces are reserved near entrances for persons with disabilities, and ramp access is provided to buildings. For disabled parking permits, contact Washington State Department of Licensing.

Find more information about the American Disabilities Act. 

Disability Support Services Policies

Our Commitment

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is committed to providing qualified students with a documented disability an equal opportunity to access the benefits, rights, and privileges of college services, programs, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the student's needs, in compliance with the ADA section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Amendments of 2008, and state of Washington Laws of 1994, Chapter 105.

For student disability support services and accommodations please contact the Disabilities Support Services office.  

Policy Statement

The college will not exclude, deny the benefits of, or otherwise subject students to discrimination under any college program or activity, on the basis of disability. The college commits to giving qualified students with a documented disability equal opportunity to access the benefits, rights, and privileges of college services, programs, and activities, in the most integrated setting appropriate to the student's needs, consistent with federal and state law.

The college commits to giving reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids and services, to qualified students with disabilities. This policy identifies the rights and responsibilities of students under federal and state law (Section 202 of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and RCW 28B.10.910 -914) and establishes clear guidelines to seek and receive reasonable accommodations.

Scope of Accommodations

1. Reasonable accommodations under this policy include, but are not limited to:
   1. academic adjustments, such as modification of academic requirements and flexibility in test-taking arrangements;
   2. adjustments in nonacademic services and other rules; and
   3. auxiliary aids and services.
2. The college will make those modifications to its academic requirements that:
   1. are necessary to ensure that those requirements do not discriminate, or have the effect of discriminating, against an otherwise qualified student with a disability based on that disability and
   2. do not impose an undue hardship on the college or require alteration of essential program requirements.
3. Appropriate academic and occupational training adjustments/reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified students with disabilities for recruitment, the application process, enrollment, registration, financial aid, course work, academic counseling, and college programs and services.
   1. Section 202 of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act states:
      No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from the participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs or activities of any public entity, or be subject to discrimination by any such entity.
   2. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act states:
      No otherwise qualified, handicapped individual in the United States shall solely, by reasons of his or her handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Definitions

1. "Academic Adjustments" in college programs and services are modifications of those programs, policies, practices, and procedures that enable qualified students with a disability to have an equal opportunity to benefit from and have access to college programs and services and providing auxiliary aids and services.
2. "Student" is a person enrolled at the college.
3. An "otherwise qualified student with a disability" is one who, with or without reasonable accommodations, meets the academic and technical standards required for admission to, participation in, and/or fulfilling the essential requirements of college programs or activities.
4. A "student with a disability" is a student who (l) has a physical, mental or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more of his or her major life activities; and (2) has a record of such an impairment, or a student who has an abnormal condition that is medically recognizable or diagnosable.
5. "Undue hardship" is any excessively costly, extensive, substantial, or disruptive modification or one that would substantially alter the nature or operation of the institution or any of its programs or services or threaten the health or safety of the college community.
6. "Program accessibility" means that all programs and services, when viewed in their entirety, are accessible to persons with a disability.
7. "Core services" are those services listed in State of Washington Laws of 1994, Chapter 105 (RCW 28B.10.910 - .914), that are necessary to ensure students with disabilities are reasonably accommodated at the college.
8. "Course substitution" is the replacement of a specific course required for a degree or certificate program with another course that measures the same learning objectives/skills as the required course.
9. "Due Diligence" is the good faith effort by the student to provide information requested by the college within established guidelines.

Obligations of the College

The college shall:

1. Comply with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Amendments of 2008 and section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and State of Washington Laws of 1994, Chapter 105 (RCW 28B.10.910 - .914), as amended.
2. Notify students of the college's policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of disability and of steps the student may take if he or she believes discrimination has taken place. This notice shall be included in all formal correspondence that communicates decisions or policies adversely affecting the student's status or rights with the institution of higher education. This notice shall include the telephone numbers of the United States Department of Education, United States Office of Civil Rights, and the Washington State Human Rights Commission.
3. Make available to all students' information on the services available to disabled students, including the name and location of the student services office, which provides disability support services, and the process for accessing those services.
4. Work with the student, faculty, and staff on a case-by-case basis, to select and provide those accommodations and core services appropriate for each qualified student with a disability.
5. Develop procedures to protect the confidentiality of information regarding the nature and extent of the documented disability.
6. Maintain the academic integrity of its programs.
7. Not make pre-admission inquiry as to whether the applicant has a disability, except as provided by law.
8. Work collaboratively with eligible students to determine what accommodations are reasonable and appropriate. To identify the accommodations that are reasonable based on the nature and extent of a student's disability, the college may require specific documentation from the student's physician.

Disability Support Services Office

1. The disability support services office is responsible for the coordination of services to otherwise qualified students with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations. A disability support services office staff member will work with each student with a disability that has requested reasonable accommodations.
2. The college is committed to a reasonable approach in the identification of students with disabilities, including contacting all students who voluntarily self-identify during the college admission orientation or registration process.  Information regarding a disability will be kept confidential unless the student signs a release of information form. A parent or legal guardian must sign the form for a student under the age of 18.
3. The disability support services office staff will assist and advise each otherwise qualified student with a disability who requests accommodations under this policy in developing an instructional plan, identifying those reasonable accommodations appropriate for the student, and ensuring that the agreed-upon accommodations are provided.

Academic Adjustments-Examples by Categories

The process of selecting reasonable accommodations for each qualified student with a disability shall be made on a case-by-case basis, appropriate to the nature and extent of the student's disability.

A.  Academic Accommodations

Academic accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

1. Flexibility in timelines for completion of courses, certification, and degree requirements;
2. Substitution of specific courses required for the completion of degrees with courses that measure the same learning objectives/skills as the required courses;
3. Adaptation of the manner in which specific courses are conducted;
4. Flexibility in teaching methods and test-taking arrangements; and
5. Flexibility in credits required to satisfy institutional eligibility for financial aid within federal and state financial aid guidelines. 

B.  Auxiliary Aids and Services

1. Flexible procedures in the admissions process (early registration);
2. Qualified sign language, oral and tactile interpreters, or other technological alternatives;
3. Access to adaptive equipment including, but not limited to: Telecommunication Device for the Deaf, FM communicators, closed caption devices, amplified telephone receivers, closed circuit televisions, low-vision reading aids, player/recorders for 15/16 4-track tapes, photocopy machine able to use eleven-by-seventeen inch paper, Braille devices and computer enhancements;
4. Textbooks and other educational materials in alternative media, including, but not limited to large print, Braille, electronic format, and audio tape;
5. Provision of readers, note takers, and/or proofreaders; and
6. Release of syllabi, study guides, and other appropriate instructor-produced materials in advance of general distribution and access beyond the regular classroom session to slides, films, overheads, and other media, and taping of lectures.

C.  Access

1. Ongoing review and coordination of efforts to ensure campus accessibility, including barrier-free design, signage, identification of hazards, of mobility barriers, maintenance of access during construction, snow and ice clearance, and adequate disability parking for all facilities;
2.  Facilitating physical access to programs and services including relocating classes, activities, and services to accessible facilities;
3. Referral to appropriate on-campus and off-campus resources, services and agencies; and
4. Accessibility to tutoring, mentoring, counseling, and academic advising, if available on campus, for students with disabilities. Course Substitutions and Waivers
   1. The college recognizes that certain disabilities may preclude a student from successfully completing a specific course requirement for a degree even with appropriate accommodations. The college recognizes its obligation to accommodate disabled students without compromising the integrity of the academic program.
   2. Under the American Disabilities Act, the college is not required to waive essential requirements of a student's program of instruction. Therefore, every student enrolled in a degree program at the college is required to meet the essential requirements of a degree program.
   3. The college recognizes that altered methods of course delivery and/or providing core services will enable most disabled students to successfully complete course requirements, except in unusual circumstances. Therefore, the disabled student will attempt to successfully complete the required courses with accommodations.
   4. If the student is unsuccessful in completing the course, the student may request course substitution under this policy. Waivers of degree program requirements will be rarely given, and then only after the student has attempted, with appropriate reasonable accommodations, to meet those requirements. If a waiver of a course is granted, the student must still attain the required number of credits for the program.

D.  Course Substitutions and Waivers

1. The college recognizes that certain disabilities may preclude a student from successfully completing a specific course requirement for a degree even with appropriate accommodations. The college recognizes its obligation to accommodate disabled students without compromising the integrity of the academic program.
2. Under the American Disabilities Act, the college is not required to waive essential requirements of a student's program of instruction. Therefore, every student enrolled in a degree program at the college is required to meet the essential requirements of a degree program.
3. The college recognizes that altered methods of course delivery and/or providing core services will enable most disabled students to successfully complete course requirements, except in unusual circumstances. Therefore, the disabled student will attempt to successfully complete the required courses with accommodations.
4. If the student is unsuccessful in completing the course, the student may request course substitution under this policy. Waivers of degree program requirements will be rarely given, and then only after the student has attempted, with appropriate reasonable accommodations, to meet those requirements. If a waiver of a course is granted, the student must still attain the required number of credits for the program.

E.  Service Animals

The college adheres to the policy outlined by the Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice for service animals.

This policy does not provide rights or obligations not provided by applicable laws.

Adopted October 11, 1995
Revised September 18, 2000

No student shall, on the basis of his or her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination under any college program or activity. The college is committed to providing qualified students with a documented disability an equal opportunity to access the benefits, rights, and privileges of college services, programs, and activities, in the most integrated setting appropriate to the student's needs, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Amendments of 2008, and state of Washington Laws of 1994, Chapter 105 (RCW 28B.10.910 - .914).