Student responsibilities

Self Advocacy
Self-Advocacy: A Critical Skill for Success
The ability to self-advocate is critical to the success of students with disabilities in college. All requests for accommodations and services must come from the student (not a parent or case manager). The one exception to this requirement is when someone else has been formally named as the student’s legal guardian via a court order. In such instances, it is important our office is informed of the guardian’s status and have a copy of the court order on file.
Student Responsibilities
Student Responsibilities
  • Self-identify and request accommodations.
    Students are under no obligation to disclose a disability unless an accommodation is being requested. Those who do wish to request accommodations may do so at any time during their enrollment at Parkland College. However, students who require accommodations to be in place on the first day of classes need to request them at least four weeks in advance, otherwise we cannot guarantee that accommodations will be available on the first day of classes.
  • Request accommodation notifications to your instructors each semester. They begin only after your instructors receive the notification letter. Please note that accommodations are not applied retroactively.
  • Monitor the effectiveness of your accommodations.
    Students with disabilities are responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of their accommodations and for contacting our office should problems arise.
  • Schedule exams in our office in advance.
    Students who wish to take exams in our office with accommodations should schedule exams two full working days in advance for regular course exams, one week in advance for midterm and final exams. 
  • Request accommodations, equipment, and service at least four weeks before they are needed.
  • Students with disabilities must maintain the same academic standards required of all students as outlined in the Parkland College catalog.
  • All Parkland students including students with disabilities must abide by the Student Conduct Code.
Personal Care Attendants
Parkland College makes every reasonable effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In keeping with this commitment, Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) may be necessary to address the personal needs of a student with a disability so that he/she can participate in the College’s activities, services, and programs. In order for the student who requires PCA services to have the same independent experience as all other college students, it is in the student’s best interest to hire an impartial PCA who is not a family member or close friend.
An otherwise qualified student requesting services that may include assistance in toileting and being repositioned in chairs to having medication placed in the mouth from peers, staff, or faculty will be required to obtain a personal attendant. The College does not assume assume liability of risk involved, coordination, or financial responsibilities for personal attendant services.

It is the student’s responsibility to:
  • Submit appropriate documentation to the Accessibility Services that supports the necessity of having a PCA.
  • Secure a PCA prior to attending any college-related activity (i.e. placement testing, enrollment, or class attendance). The College will not be responsible for providing a PCA on an interim basis.
  • Ensure that each PCA registers with Accessibility Services and signs the Personal Care Attendant Agreement form each semester.
  • Ensure that if personnel changes occur during the semester, he/she and the new PCA register with Accessibility Services and sign a new PCA Agreement Form.
  • Direct the activities of the PCA while at Parkland College.
  • Have a back-up plan or alternative plan of action should the regular PCA not be available to work with him/her on a particular day or in a particular class.
  • Follow the College’s policies and abide by the Student Conduct Code.
  • Pay for all PCA services or secure payment through a third party (i.e. DHS-DRS, DSC, etc.).

A Personal Care Attendant is expected to:
  • Follow all applicable College policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
  • Allow the student to take responsibility for his/her own progress in class.
  • Refrain from participating in class discussions.
  • Refrain from engaging in or intervening in conversations between the student and faculty, staff, or other students.
  • Refrain from discussing any confidential information about the student with faculty, staff, or students.
If a student or a PCA fails to abide by the above policies and procedures, Accessibility Services may make a determination that the PCA will not be allowed to accompany the student on campus.

Students who are vocational rehabilitation clients should check with vocational rehabilitation counselor for assistance with obtaining and paying for personal attendants.
Service Animals
The ADA defines a service animal as “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.” These service animals assist the person with a disability in the activities of daily living.