Location:
Room 2121
Phone:
Phone: (305) 237-2767
Fax Number: (305) 237-0880
TTY: (305) 237-2547
The purpose of this handbook is to provide information to students with disabilities and assist them in gaining equal access to the many programs and activities available at the Kendall Campus. You will also find information on advisement, counseling, orientation, registration, financial aid, and job placement. It gives further details about using the Library, participating in campus activities, and finding your way around campus. The handbook also provides information about services such as career assessment, rehabilitative agencies, assistance with test taking, audio visual equipment and auxiliary aids.
The involvement of the Kendall Campus administration, faculty, staff, and students in finding solutions to the concerns of students with disabilities demonstrates a deep commitment to equal access and equal opportunity.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the first civil rights law protecting people with disabilities from discrimination. Section 504 states: "No otherwise qualified disabled person in the United States, as defined in Section 7, shall, solely by reason of disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity."
The regulations define a 'disabled person' as any person who has a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment. "Qualified disabled person" means, with respect to post-secondary and vocational education services, a disabled person who meets academic and technical standards requisite to admission or participation in the educational program or activity. Federal regulations can avoid taking unnecessary classes. Registered students are eligible to use the Center's resources. The Career Assessment Center is located in Room 3151. The phone number is (305) 237-2125.
Community Education
The Division of Community Education offers non-credit courses and some credit courses in vocational education. There are extensive non-credit courses in personal development, languages, professional development, business, and recreation. Classes are offered at on and off campus sites throughout the community. Grades are not usually given for non-credit courses. The Division of Community Education is located in Room 3129. The phone number is (305) 237-2161.
Student Life
The Student Life Office is the place to go to get involved in extra and co-curricular activities. The mission of the Student Life Office is to develop and implement services and activities that will help students achieve academic success and enhance their personal and educational development as well as offer opportunities for cultural enrichment and community involvement. Through the Student Life Office you may obtain your student ID, parking decals, applications to form a new student organization, activities calendars, voter registration forms, Student Life Handbooks, student insurance applications and Students' Rights and Responsibilities Handbooks. The Student Life Office is located in Room 100, phone number (305) 237-2321.
Honors Classes
The Honors College offers a rigorous curriculum with a challenging array of courses, seminars, and enrichment activities. This office offers many honors courses. Students who are eligible are urged to contact this office. The Honors College is located in Room 3202. The phone number is (305) 237-2148.
Open College
Open College offers some college-level courses for students who wish to earn college credits with few or possibly no visits to the campus. Students at any campus can enroll in Open College courses. For further information, you can contact Open College at (305) 237-3028.
Advisement and Career Services
The Advisement and Career Services department provides students with information about MDC and assists students with course selection. This office also conducts periodic workshops on job interviewing techniques, dressing for success, and resume writing. This office will assist any registered student or alumni. The Advisement and Career Services office is located in Room 3151. The phone number is (305) 237-2125.
Considerable material is available for students to review in order to assist them in determining a career field. A staff career counselor is available to assist students and can provide career assessments by appointment. Students are encouraged to seek the services of this office during their first semester of studies. Early identification of a chosen career require post-secondary education to be free of discrimination against people with disabilities in recruitment, admissions, and treatment after admission in all programs and activities.
MDC has set institutional goals which should be of special interest to people with disabilities. The first goal is to accept students as they are and provide them the opportunity to take their next steps according to their choice. Educational programs are offered for occupational training, preparation for transfer to upper division colleges and universities, A.A. and A.S. Degrees, as well as personal enrichment. To assist a student in making an informed choice based on his or her unique abilities, the college provides a number of services such as aptitude, interest, and basic skills testing, career and individual counseling, and academic advisement.
The second goal is to provide sufficient diversity of programs, and ease of lateral movement so that the maximum number of students will find appropriate programs without unduly extending the time necessary for successful completion of a course of study. Students at Kendall Campus can choose from different modes of instruction:
- Departmental studies (traditional classrooms—lectures, small group discussion, audio-visual presentations, and seminars)
- College Prep studies in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics
- Web-based courses through our Virtual College
- Non-credit courses and programs through the School of Community Education and the Vocational Department
- Study Abroad
Recorded Textbooks
Recorded textbooks are available for students with disabilities. Students must apply for this service from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (R.F.B.D.). This application should be done as soon as possible. In the bookstore, you can find out the title and author of your textbook for your courses, listed by your course sequence number and the department that is offering the class. Once you have done this, call R.F.B.D. as soon as possible to request your recorded text. If R.F.B.D. has not recorded your particular textbook, it will take them a while to do so. Students need to send two copies of the text to R.F.B.D. in order for books to be recorded. The Palm Beach County phone number for R.F.B.D. is (561) 297-4444 and for member services the phone number to call is 1(800) 221-4792. The R.F.B.D. website is www.RFBD.ORG.
The Library of Congress - Talking Book Library may have some of the literary and non academic books that may be required in English and other classes. Their local number is (305) 751-8687.
College Prep Programs and Courses
For a nominal fee, The S.O.C.R.A.T.E..S. Tutoring Service's program offers computerized instruction for students needing academic development. The S.O.C.R.A.T.E.S. program offers instruction in basic Math, Reading, and Writing. The S.O.C.R.A.T.E.S. program is located inside the Computer Courtyard, in Room 2141. The phone number is (305) 237-0851.
In addition, the College Prep Department offers courses in basic English, Reading, and Math if a student's basic skills test scores indicate remedial placement.
Registration is open well in advance of each term. It is important to register as early as possible to ensure you get the courses and instructors you want. Visit the ACCESS Disability Services Office located in Room 2121 as early as possible to choose your classes and establish any services you may need.
After you have registered you must pay your fees by the due date printed on your class schedule or your classes will be dropped. If anyone else is paying for your classes (e.g. Voc. Rehab.), it is still your responsibility to ensure that the classes are paid for by the due date listed on your course schedule. After fees have been paid, your registration is complete.
This office primarily handles Pell Grants for eligible students. Students are urged to apply for financial aid before April 15 to be eligible for the next academic year. It takes five to eight weeks for your application to be processed. The Financial Aid staff is available to answer questions or assist you with your application. The Financial Aid office also has student loan applications and sponsors the federally funded program of work-study. Students must apply for work-study at the Financial Aid Office. If approved, students are referred to various departments on campus for work assignments. The Financial Aid Office is located in Room 3116. The phone number (305) 237-2325.
The office of ACCESS Disability Services will gladly assist students in their choices.
Congress passed Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL93-112), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Both laws prohibit discrimination of individuals with disabilities. While the laws are designed to protect you from discrimination on the basis of your disability, they do not give you special privileges. A student with a disability may qualify for a substitution of specific course work, or for the waiver of a sub-section of the CLAS or TABE tests. Florida law enables the college, in certain instances, to alter entrance and graduation requirements. If you feel that you are being discriminated against due to your disability, you may contact Dr. Joy Ruff, Director of Equal Opportunity Programs at the Kendall Campus, at (305) 237-2090.
The admissions policy for people with disabilities is the same as for any other person applying for admission to the college. There is no pre-admission inquiry concerning disabling conditions. Applications are available in the Registrar's Office in Building 3 (Usina Hall) or online at www.mdc.edu in the Prospective Students section of the website. Once an applicant has applied, been admitted, and assigned a student number, they can register for courses. The phone number is (305) 237-2222. The College Prep Reading and Writing Department is located in Room 6319. The College Prep Math Lab is located in Room 3324. A standard high school diploma is required for admission into college prep courses.
Math and Science Labs
The Math Department offers tutorial assistance for any student enrolled in a math course. There is also assistance available for some science courses. The tutoring lab is located in Room 3326. The Natural and Social Science Multimedia Lab is located in Room 2119. Hours of operation are: Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 am to 7:30 pm and Fri. 9:00 am to 1:30 pm.
Library
By presenting your valid MDC ID card you will have Library privileges. The Library staff will provide you with an orientation upon request. Students may check out most materials from the circulation section of the Library. Periodicals cannot be checked out. Some college catalogs are available for student use in the Library. The Library is located in Building 2 on the second floor. The phone number is (305) 237-2291.
Computer Courtyard
The Computer Courtyard is located in Room 2100. It is open Mon.-Thurs. from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm, Fri. from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm and Sat. from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Courtyard offers a variety of technological resources and offers full internet access and multimedia facilities including scanners, printers, and a variety of software programs. Study tables are available inside the Courtyard to provide a less formal environment for group study. Group study rooms are also available with reservations.
Metro Transit Authority buses make regular stops at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus. The bus drop-off and pick-up location is in front of the plaza, between Buildings 1 and 3 facing SW 104th Street. To find the appropriate buses to get to Kendall Campus, you can contact the Metro Bus Trip Planning Department at (305) 770-3131.
Metro-Dade County also offers Special Transportation Services (S.T.S.) for citizens who are disabled or elderly and meet their eligibility requirements. S.T.S. runs similar to a cab service and covers all of Dade County. Please make arrangements with this service as early as possible. They can be reached at (305) 264-9000.
Designated Handicapped parking spaces are available in close proximity to the buildings on campus. The blue state-issued handicapped tag must be visible hanging from your rear view mirror. SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
For the most part there are very few barriers on campus that would cause difficulty for a person with physical disabilities. If you do have an issue of physical accessibility, please contact our office. some elective courses. Other campus resources, such as study labs, should also be used to enhance academic success. Students have the responsibility to attend every tutoring session in order to continue this service.
Equipment
Students with documented disabilities are eligible to borrow various equipment from our Department. A request for classroom equipment must be approved by ACCESS Disability Services. This includes tape recorders, laptops, notetaking devices and adaptive software. Students must obtain a referral request from ACCESS Disability Services. At the end of each semester, the equipment must be returned to the ACCESS Department, and if need be, reauthorized for the next semester. Students must meet certain eligibility criteria for use of equipment.
ACCESS Learning Center (ALC)
The ACCESS Learning Center (ALC) is located in room 2121-12A. The ALC is open Mon.-Thurs. from 8am-7pm and Friday 8am-4:30pm. The ALC is equipped with computer stations and tutoring areas. It will provide a quiet atmosphere where students can focus on research papers, assignments, and receive academic support, (e.g. Reading, Writing, and Math). Specialized adaptive software, such as JAWS, Zoomtext and Kurzweil is available for students with visual impairments, learning disabilities and other disabilities. Workshops will also be provided for students to enhance their study and organizational skills.
Students who have visual impairments who wish to have any type of support services must see an advisor in ACCESS Disability Services before registering for class. (Bring a copy of your most recent eye report if not already on file.) Variable speed recorders, talking calculators, and various software are available. Most, if not all, computers on campus can be made accessible through screen enlargement or speech software. There are also Braille printers in the ACCESS Learning Center located in Room 2121-12A. Students wanting access to class materials in Braille should bring such items to the ACCESS office to be transcribed. Students with visual impairments are encouraged to apply to Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic and/or Talking Book Library early. The Division of Blind Services (DBS) provides assistance, including equipment and mobility training to assist visually impaired students. Contact your DBS counselor for assistance at (305) 377-5339.
Support services are available for students with specific learning disabilities. ACCESS Disability Services has staff members specialized to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities. Documentation of the diagnostics used to determine a learning disability (e.g. psychological evaluation, IEP) is required in order to determine eligibility for services. Students may bring in their documentation or they can sign a release form furnished with the address of where the diagnostics were conducted and the ACCESS Department will request the information.
It takes about three weeks to request and obtain a student's diagnostics. After reviewing the evaluation with the student, recommendations are made for appropriate accommodations. Some of the accommodations offered are: tutoring, recording of lectures and additional time for tests.
Students with other disabilities not mentioned who are in need of assistance should identify themselves to ACCESS Disability Services as soon as possible to see if they are eligible for services.
Specialized Advisement and Counseling
Students with disabilities are encouraged to seek advisement from ACCESS Disability Services. Many students with disabilities feel more comfortable obtaining advisement from counselors in this office. You should register with ACCESS Disability Services two months before the semester begins because many classes become full and your choices will be limited.
Letters to Instructors
With a student's permission the ACCESS Disability Services will prepare letters for instructors with information regarding your disability and accommodations needed. The information is to be delivered by the student during the first week of classes. ACCESS Disability Services suggests that you identify yourself to the instructor during the first week of classes, either before or after class, or during the instructor's office hours. Please request an appointment to discuss your specific needs.
Individualized Testing
Students who receive recommendation from the ACCESS office may qualify for testing accommodations. Accommodations may include: extended time, accessible mediums, and separate testing environments. An instructor may allow the student additional time for classroom exams during the class period. If this is not possible or desired, the instructor should deliver the test to the Testing Department in Room 5213. Students using the Testing Department must obtain a referral form from the ACCESS office. For standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, CPT and CLAS requirement testing, students must obtain a testing referral form before the registration deadline for that particular test. The phone number is (305) 237-2341.
Tutoring
Within our resources, tutors are available to assist students with disabilities in their course work. The students should communicate with his or her ACCESS Disability advisor about the need for tutoring before the beginning of each semester or as early into each semester as possible. There is a maximum number of hours per week available for tutoring. All tutoring must be done on campus in the ACCESS Learning Center located in Room 2121-12A. Tutors are available for most required courses and Notetaking assistance is available for students who have a disability that prevents them from writing. The service must be approved by your advisor in ACCESS Disability Services and arranged in advance. It is your responsibility to provide your notetakers with paper. You must also be in attendance for this service to be provided.
These same students also qualify for writing assistance when taking tests. Once approved, you must request that your instructor send the test to the Testing Department. The student is also responsible for requesting a writer for the test. The writer is not allowed to assist you with any answers on the test. The assistant will write only what you dictate.
Tape recorders and other equipment are made available when deemed appropriate. These items are checked out at the beginning of each semester and must be returned at the end of each semester unless other arrangements have been made with an ACCESS advisor.
Students who are deaf or hard of hearing who wish to have any type of support services must see an advisor in ACCESS Disability Services before registering for classes (bring a copy of your most recent audiogram if not already on file). Please see your advisor 10 days prior to the first day of class to arrange for services. Time is needed to schedule sign language interpreters, captionists, and/or notetaking services. Students should make an appointment with their advisor by calling or visiting the office located in Room 2121. The phone number is (305) 237-2767 or (305) 237-2547 (Voice/TTY).
Return to Our Services