Disability Support Services

WELCOME to Northwest College! You are about to embark on a journey that may very well change your life in ways you never dreamed possible. Your journey from this point will require courage, commitment, and the ability to see beyond the here and now. In many ways you will be changing yourself, your view of the world, and the way in which other people see you. So often students say, “if only things were different, I could…” And then the visualization stops. So, change yourself, modify your life plans, look into the future and cast yourself into a different role. In the process of taking control of your own destiny, you often influence the way in which other people treat you. You will encourage respect and admiration. This also can include the way you view yourself. By changing yourself in small ways, you can change one aspect of your world for the better. Let the journey begin…

Housing Accommodations

Northwest College ("NWC" or the "College") recognizes the importance of providing reasonable accommodations in its housing procedures and practices where necessary for individuals with disabilities to use and access College housing.

Academic Accommodations

We are here to help you succeed in your program of study. We can help you learn to feel more comfortable talking to your instructors and how to coordinate accommodations. We encourage you to come to us with questions or concerns at any time.

Students with disabilities can work with Disability Services staff to bring their dreams to reality. It takes time, it takes commitment, and it takes the courage to say, “I need help.” Most students would rather pretend that they are perfectly capable of attending college, working, maintaining relationships, and keeping their worlds in perfect order, than to appear they are incapable. The truth is, we all need assistance whether we have a disabling condition or not.

Getting Started

First, and most important: make an appointment – at the beginning of every term – with Disability Services. Disability Services can help you arrange the accommodations you will need to get started successfully.

Difference Between High School and College

College students with disabilities have equal access to a college’s educational programs and physical facilities. Students with disabilities are not entitled to a college education but do have civil rights as college students.

Service and Assistance Animals

Northwest College strives to create an environment of equal access and is committed to upholding individual rights through the guidance and support of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADAAA as well as The Fair Housing Act.

The College offers a number of services to help students with disabilities succeed in their academic work. To make arrangements for services, contact Disability Services to talk about your experiences and expectations to help identify what types of accommodations you may need and what information needs to be gathered to support those accommodations. There are multiple sources and types of information that are useful, including educational records such as an Individualized Education Plan, letters from educators, diagnostic reports, letters from health care providers, records of past accommodations from testing agencies or employers, letters or records from local, state or federal agencies such as an Social Security Disability Insurance determination or Veterans Affairs records.

Physical Impairments

Visual, hearing, mobility, chronic illness, speech

Psychological Impairments

Depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Learning Disorders

Learning disabilities, acquired brain injury, Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

What is a disability?

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a person with a disability is anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially impairs or restricts one or more major life activities. These functions may include caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working. To accommodate special needs, the office of Disability Services coordinates a variety of accommodations to assist students in their academic endeavors.

 

Steps To A Great Academic Year

Step One
You may request services or accommodations to fit your individual needs by scheduling an appointment for an initial interview with a coordinator of Disability Services soon after the application process begins. We will need enough information to know that you have a disability and to understand its current impact well enough to anticipate accommodations you may need or to support accommodations you are requesting.

Ten Things To Know

Students
Should introduce themselves, as soon as possible, to discuss their accommodations and to ensure that the provision of accommodations is successfully accomplished. Should visit their professors regularly for help with coursework and advice.