Emmanuel College is committed to providing equal access and treatment for students with disabilities. The Disability Services/ADA Coordinator coordinates services and accommodations for students with disabilities in compliance with federal disability law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as they apply to students. Reasonable accommodations are defined as adjustments or modifications that enable a qualified individual with a documented disability to participate as fully as possible in an educational program. An adjustment or modification must be reasonable and may not be provided if it would alter essential academic or technical requirements or result in undue financial or administrative burdens.
Examples of covered conditions under this policy include, but are not limited to: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); autism spectrum disorders (ASD); chronic medical conditions (cystic fibrosis, diabetes); learning disabilities; mental health disabilities (bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder); mobility disabilities (use of wheelchair or other assistive device); neurological disorders (traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, motor or tic disorders); orthopedic disabilities (bone or muscle disorders, connective tissue disorders); and sensory disabilities (hearing, vision). In addition, Temporary Medical Conditions (TMCI) such as injuries, acute illnesses, surgeries, pregnancy and/or related medical conditions, and breastfeeding and expelling breastmilk, may not qualify as permanent disabling conditions. However, we do provide assistance to students and guidance on working with a temporary medical condition while attending Emmanuel College, and we’d be happy to meet with you to discuss your requests.
While a student may submit a request for access accommodations and services at any point during their academic career, the accommodations are not applied retroactively. Therefore, we advise students to begin the registration process as early as possible. Incoming 1st year students or transfer students are advised to start the process as soon as they have been admitted to Emmanuel College. Current Emmanuel College students should contact the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator as soon as they have established a need for accommodations. A student’s failure to give timely notice may hinder Emmanuel College’s ability to adequately coordinate services and provide instructors with reasonable notice of the approved accommodations.
Provisional accommodations may be provided for students for a specific number of working days or one semester, pending the receipt of official and complete documentation of a student’s disability or disabilities. These cases will be handled individually and at the discretion of the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator. Provisional accommodations, if approved, will be for up to one semester only pending further appropriate documentation.
Because each person’s situation is unique and documentation requirements vary by situation, the College’s Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator will talk to you about documentation requirements during the initial meeting. No student should delay meeting with the ADA Coordinator out of concern for not having the appropriate paperwork.
The following are the steps that a student should take in order to request an access accommodation or service at the College:
- Fill out the Request for Access Accommodations and Services Form.
- Have your provider fill out the Provider Documentation Form and submit all supporting documentation. Your provider may email or fax this information to the number listed below.
- The Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator will contact you after receiving both forms and any additional supporting documentation that you may send, to schedule an intake meeting and engage in an interactive process regarding the student’s request.
- Attend the intake meeting with the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator. If the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator determines that an in person meeting is not necessary (as
they may do, for example, if you have already met with one of them in person to discuss accommodations) or not feasible (for example, because of your current location or because of a semester break), the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator will assist you with submitting the necessary information electronically. - If the ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator determines that you are an otherwise qualified student with a disability, and thus eligible for accommodations, the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator Director or Access Coordinator will engage in an interactive process with you and, as necessary, relevant College officials (e.g., course instructors, housing personnel, admissions staff, coaches, etc.) and others to determine the appropriate accommodation(s).
- If your request for accommodations is approved, the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator will generate an Access Accommodations and Services Memo, which documents the accommodation(s) you have been granted. You are responsible for producing this memo to the faculty and request the accommodation in a timely manner. If your request is not approved, the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator will notify you in writing of the decision and related reasoning.
Students are entitled to request additional accommodations or academic adjustments during the course of the semester, or at any time during their tenure at Emmanuel College. Students are also entitled to request modifications to the nature of the accommodations. Students must work with the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator to determine the appropriate changes to accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services. The office should be contacted at earliest indication of emerging accommodation needs. Upon request, the Director of Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator will work to coordinate and provide new accommodations or modifications to existing accommodations in a timely manner.
Emmanuel College (“Emmanuel” or “the College”) is committed to maintaining an environment that is free of unlawful harassment and discrimination. In accordance with federal law and its commitment to a fair and open campus environment, the College cannot and will not tolerate discrimination against or harassment of any individual or group based upon race, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), color, religion, uniformed services, national origin, ethnicity, genetic information, age, disability, veteran’s status, or any factor that is a prohibited consideration under applicable law. The Office of Equity & Compliance handles all complaints related to the above. Students who wish to report discriminatory harassment should contact the College’s Title IX Coordinator:
Courtney Hamil
Director of Equity & Compliance
Title IX & Section 504 Coordinator
(706) 680-1247
Emmanuel College is dedicated to meeting its obligations under the ADA, ADAAA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as meeting its own deeply rooted commitment to its students. Emmanuel College has therefore adopted an internal appeals process for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints or disagreements regarding accommodations, modifications, and/or auxiliary aids and services for courses, programs, activities, facilities, or services at Emmanuel College. When a student feels that an accommodation, modification, and/or auxiliary aid or service is not appropriate, reasonable, or effective, or the student has been denied a request for such, or an approved accommodation is not being provided/implemented, or feels that there is a lack of physical access to campus facilities or programs they can choose to report the incident through either of the following procedures:
1) Consult with the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or your Access Coordinator
- Students can discuss their concerns and review the process and policy by which the accommodation request was reviewed.
- Discuss concerns about physical access to campus facilities or programs to determine to facilitate and seek a resolution.
- If a student has not been provided with an approved accommodation, the student should immediately notify the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator to engage in an interactive process to seek resolution.
- Students are able to submit additional documentation for review at any time.
2) Consult with the Director of Equity & Compliance/Section 504 Coordinator
- If the complaint is regarding the Disability Services/ADA Coordinator or Access Coordinator.
- If concerns persist, the student can submit an Accommodation Appeal Form by email or fax to the Director of Equity & Compliance/Section 504 Coordinator within 10 business days of when the student was notified of the accommodation decision.
- The Director of Equity & Compliance/Section 504 Coordinator will review the appeal request in light of all relevant information and will notify the student in writing of the final decision in a timely manner. The decision of the Director of Equity and Compliance/Section 504 Coordinator is final.
The availability and use of this Grievance Procedure does not prevent a student from filing a complaint of discrimination with external agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). A student may file a formal complaint with OCR if the student believes he or she has been denied a reasonable accommodation in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the ADA Amendments Acts of 2008. That office will determine whether a further investigation is warranted.
Information about how to file a complaint with OCR can be obtained from:
Atlanta Office Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
61 Forsyth St. S.W., Suite 19T10 Atlanta, GA 30303-8927
Telephone: 404-974-9406
Facsimile: 404-974-9471
TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR.Atlanta@ed.gov
