Services for Students with Disabilities

Click on a question to go to the response.

1. What is "current documentation" of disability?
2. What are accommodations?
3. What services are not provided?
4. Is there financial aid available?
5. Is there transportation available?
6. What is the procedure for "Emergency Exit" if I am blind or physically disabled?
7. What Adaptive Technology is available?
8. What if books on tape or other adaptive equipment is needed for home use?

1.What is "current documentation" of disability?
Learning Disability - A complete IEP and psychological evaluation from your high school that is less than three years old.

Hearing Loss - An IEP and an audiogram.

Vision Loss - An IEP and a Snellen Chart.

Physical Impairment or Disease - An IEP, if you have one, or a current physician's report listing functional limitations and subsequent educational effects.

Psychiatric Diagnosis - A DSM-IV Diagnosis, and a list of prescribed medications as well as the name and address of your current therapist, and written indication (if necessary) that you are not currently a danger to yourself or others.

Other documentation that may be accepted includes information provided by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, DDD, or the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Please keep a copy of your documentation yourself. Do not give us your only copy. Documentation is not kept on file indefinitely. If you do not use our services within a two-year period and do not pick up your file, it will be destroyed.

2. What are accommodations?
Accommodations are services that are individually based on each student's disability and functional limitations. You must come to our office to obtain services, even if taking on-line classes. Services are not put in place automatically like they are in high school.
Accommodations may include use of a tape recorder, interpreters, notetakers, tutors or extra time for tests. Adaptive equipment is available in the library and in S-131.

Please plan early or the individual service you require may not be available.

3.What services are not provided?
Colleges do not provide segregated Special Education. Students with disabilities must meet the same academic standards.
Appropriate behavior is also expected. The presence of a disability does not mean that inappropriate language or conduct is acceptable.

On-going psychiatric treatment is not provided, nor is personal attendant care.

4.Is there financial aid available?
There are many sources of financial aid available, but most require meeting strict application deadlines. Plan early by contacting the Financial Aid Office at (201) 447-7148.

Other sources may include:

The Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation
60 State St.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 996-8970

Developmental Disabilities Council
1-800-792-8858

Commission for the Blind
and Visually Impaired
Newark, NJ 07101
(973) 648-2512

5. Is there transportation available?
Access Link
(973) 491-7000

Bergen County Special Transportation
(201) 646-2772

6.What is the procedure for "Emergency Exit" if I am blind or physically disabled?
Staff will review the procedure during orientation. There are "Areas of Rescue" on each of the floors, except the Main Floor. There are telephones at each "Area of Rescue" that will link you with our Public Safety Office.

7.What Adaptive Technology is available?
There is adaptive technology in our dedicated lab in S-131, the library, the Tech Building and other labs and classrooms.

The Adaptive Technology includes JAWS, Zoomtex, Kurzweil, Co-writer and Inspiration. Please have a set of headphones for personal use.

8. What if books on tape or other adaptive equipment is needed for home use?
Check with:
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic http://www.rfbd.org/
or:
http://www.bookshare.org/
that all may read...
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped http://lcweb.loc.gov/nls/
For adaptive technology at home contact the:
Adaptive Technology Center
College of New Jersey
609-771-2610
http://adaptivetech.tcnj.edu/
Other tips:It is important to use an academic counselor to assist you in selecting classes.

Orientation is essential.

OSS is not a walk-in service. The staff works by appointment.

Cursing, yelling or threatening never helps and is not allowed.

The best students make the most use of their accommodations.

If you have not been mainstreamed in the past, then, it is very important that you use the support services. Success is never guaranteed without work.