Page 21 - MDC-College-Handbook-2021

SPECIAL Support Services
By law, all colleges must have an office for students with documented learning needs. This means services are typically limited to students who have had a history of learning challenges and need accommodations to help them succeed in school settings. Most colleges want you to have an evaluation done by a private psychologist, and it must be no more than three years old.
Colleges vary in how comprehensive their services are and how well they can get the professors to cooperate. Your Guidance and College Counseling Department has books that rank colleges according to how well they work with special needs students.
If you need special services, you should ask to visit their offices on any college visit. In general, colleges will offer one of the following three levels of service:
General Services: Generally all schools will offer some guidance on how to acclimate to college and have special service offices. All will grant basic accommodations like extended time. Schools that offer only general services expect students to advocate for themselves. If you need more extensive help, you must be prepared to seek services from private agencies or cope within your own devices. The offices are usually staffed with only one or two people no matter the size of the college
Special Service Program: This level of service may provide more accommodations like tutoring, note takers, audiotapes for basic classes and counseling. Some may even offer monitoring and specific help in organization and time management. Staff members may have varying levels of professional credentials, from student workers to learning specialists. There is usually some attempt to adequately provide guidance and to keep services available to all who qualify.
Comprehensive Program: There are some colleges that have well organized and comprehensive programs available to those who request and apply. Frequently these programs have separate applications and fees. The level of contact with the students is frequent and the program professionals will usually monitor and intervene on the student’s behalf, if needed. The program is designed around the individual’s need and accommodations/services are offered accordingly. These programs are usually well staffed with qualified professionals and their tutorial services are of high quality.
Gulliver Preparatory MDC - 19 - Class of 2021