Some students may have had an IEP/504 plan during High School. This plan followed you throughout your High School career and identified the accommodations your teachers/school were expected to provide you. Whether you were accommodated in high school or not, in college you (the student) are expected to request your accommodations and inform those instructors of your choosing. Perhaps it is only one instructor, perhaps it will be all of them. Planning ahead, starting early, and making a connection with your instructor(s) is key to ensuring you are successfully accommodated in college.
An Accommodation Access Plan (AP) letter will be sent to you and at the same time to your instructors once you have submitted documentation and met with the disability counselor, Hillary Holland.
Your AP letter will list the specific accommodations you are requesting for your classes. You can decide with your disability counselor which classes you will want your accommodations for, or you can choose to have them for all classes.
Please note: If you need to amend your Access Plan, you can do so by logging into your online account in Accommodate and uploading new documentation to support an added accommodation. You will then need to meet with Hillary Holland to discuss adding an accommodation.
If you are a new student to VWCC and have not requested accommodations you will use the link below to get to the online intake form:*
https://virginiawestern-accommodate.symplicity.com/public_accommodation
*You should already be fully registered as a student and have your classes selected before requesting accommodations. Once the ODS office receives your intake form and documentation, you will be able to go into Accommodate and select a time to meet with the ODS counselor. You will have a choice of meeting by Zoom or in person.
Step 1: REQUEST your Accommodation Access Plan(s) (Returning Students)
Accommodation Access Plans must be requested each semester and for each instructor of your choosing. Students are strongly encouraged to make this request early in the semester.
To request accommodations as a returning student, log in to your account in Accommodate using your MY VWCC login. There you will select “Accommodations” and then “New Semester Request for AP.” Login for returning students: https://virginiawestern-accommodate.symplicity.com/
Step 2: Approval and Receiving Your AP
Once your accommodations are approved for the new semester you will get an email with your Access Plan (Accommodations) letter and your instructors will receive an email with your AP as well. Both the student and the instructor will be asked to sign the AP. You will then log into Accommodate to complete the request by signing your new AP.
You do not need to disclose your disability to the instructor, but many students find it helpful to use this opportunity to discuss how they learn best or what aspects of learning might be difficult for them.
Distance Learning/Online Students: You will receive a copy of your AP letter once your accommodations are approved and your instructor will also receive a copy. You will also be required to sign your AP letter by logging into Accommodate.
Click here for some helpful tips for speaking to your instructor.
Step 3: Signing Your AP Letter
You will receive an email from the Office of Disability Services saying your new letter is ready for your signature. To sign your AP you will log into Accommodate and select “Accommodations” at the top of the menu then select “Accommodation Letters.” Choose the newest letter then scroll to the bottom of the letter to type in your signature and click “save.”
Link to log into Accommodate to sign your new AP letter: https://virginiawestern-accommodate.symplicity.com/
Distance Learning/Online Students: You will request your new accommodations letter (AP) the same way as instructed above.
For those students receiving testing accommodations in ODS, those signed and returned Access Plans allow you to schedule your tests online.
Contact Us
Office of Disability Services
Student Life Center S207
540-857-7286
Fax: 540-857-7918
TTY: All users 711
disabilityservices@virginiawestern.edu
Hillary Holland, LPC
Disability Counselor/ADA Coordinator
hholland@virginiawestern.edu
Mailing Address:
3096 Colonial Ave, SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
Hours of Operation
Mon-Thurs: 8:00AM-5:00PM
Friday: 8:00AM-4:30PM
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