Services may include assistive technology, sign language interpreters, test accommodations, study skills and time management strategies. We will collaborate with you to determine the appropriate reasonable accommodations and services that you need, based on the information that you provide to us. (See step 2 in How to Get Help at PVCC, below.) Our Disability Services Counselor is available to consult with diagnosticians regarding requirements for your specific disabilities.

Assistive Technology Available to Students with Disabilities

Differences in High School and College Services and Accommodations
You will find some differences in the ways that high schools and colleges approach the delivery of services and accommodations to students with disabilities and we've summarized these differences for you in this helpful comparison. Please contact PVCC's Disability Services Counselor if you have any questions.

1. Prior to enrolling in classes at PVCC, contact our Disability Services Counselor. You will need to request accommodations before the beginning of each semester. You can email, call 434.961.5281 or stop by Room M125 in the Main Building.
2. Provide documentation (psychological, educational and/or medical evaluations) You may submit the documentation in person to our Disability Services Counselor or you may mail the documentation to:

   PVCC
   Disability Services Office
   501 College Drive, Room M125
   Charlottesville, VA 22902
   

3. Discuss with the Disability Services Counselor which accommodations are reasonable and which strategies you can use to be successful. (See Tips for College Success, below.)
4. After registering for classes and prior to the first day of classes, provide a copy of your class schedule to the Disability Services Counselor, who will develop accommodation letters for you to give to your instructors.
5. Meet with each of your instructors to give her or him your accommodation letter and discuss your accommodations. We recommend that you meet with instructors during their office hours or after class, if time is available. Before class and during class are typically not convenient times for an instructor to talk to you.
6. Contact the Disability Services Counselor as soon as possible if you are having any problems with your classes or with your accommodations.

• Have a good understanding of your disability and how it affects your learning.
• Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. (We all have them!)
• Become a self advocate. We encourage you to communicate your needs and utilize available resources.
• Use the accommodations and resources available to you. Ask for help and feel comfortable asking questions.
• Work hard and allow the time you need to manage college work.

What is a disability?
The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a person with a disability as an individual who has a physical or mental limitation that "substantially limits one or more major life activities". Major life activities include reading, learning, writing, performing calculations, walking, seeing, hearing and speaking.

What should I do if I've been diagnosed with a disability and need accommodations?
You should make an appointment with the Disability Services Counselor and present documentation of your disability. (See Step 2 under How to Get Help at PVCC.) Once accommodations are approved, letters will be developed for your instructors and you will be responsible for giving the letters to your instructors during the first week of class.

Will professors know my diagnosis?
Specific diagnoses are not mentioned in the accommodation letters. You are encouraged to discuss your needs with faculty as early as possible in the semester but you do not have to disclose your specific disability. If a faculty member requests more information, general information about your difficulty may be offered.

I am nervous about talking to my instructors about my need for accommodations. How should I approach them?
Most of the faculty here at PVCC have worked with students with disabilities and have provided accommodations to them. They also receive guidance from our Disability Services Counselor. We encourage you to communicate your needs early in the semester and also recommend that you meet with your instructors during their office hours or after class. Before class and during class are typically not convenient times for an instructor to talk to you.

What should I do if I am struggling in my classes and I think I may have a disability?
Make an appointment to meet with the Disability Services Counselor at PVCC, who will assess your situation assist you by making a referral to an outside testing provider, if needed.