Accessibility Services
Welcome to Accessibility Services
Accessibility Services supports students with any type of diagnosed disability, including, but not limited to, physical disabilities, chronic medical conditions, learning impairments, psychological conditions, as well as short-term health issues and any needs related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Students are served in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to provide equal educational access by minimizing the impacts of disability/illness/injury in the classroom and other learning environments. They also provide support for gender related situations, such pregnancy and childbirth, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
If you received accommodations in high school, or are a dual enrolled student, and had/have an IEP or 504 Plan, you must follow the College’s process to determine and receive accommodations for your YTC classes.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us – cass@yorktech.edu or 803-327-8007.
If you have been diagnosed with a permanent disability or chronic health condition, follow the five-step process below for requesting accommodations.
Complete the Accessibility Services Intake Form.
Send documentation to Accessibility Services by email to cass@yorktech.edu or by fax to 803-325-2897.
Be sure that your documentation clearly states your full name and is dated. Some examples of acceptable documentation include:
- Letter (on letterhead) and/or a signed evaluation from your healthcare provider verifying your diagnosis(es) and any restrictions.
- Medical records from a hospital stay or provider visit verifying your diagnosis(es).
- For ADHD and anxiety disorders, you can request a form from our office that you can have completed by your provider.
A staff member will reach out to schedule an intake meeting with a Student Accessibility Specialist (SAS).
What should I expect at the intake meeting?
At the intake meeting, your SAS will ask about any accommodations you may have had in the past, review your documentation, and will want you to explain how your diagnosis(es) affects you in the learning environment. There is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to determining accommodations. The process for determining how to best meet your needs will be based on what you share and your documentation.
Complete the “Faculty Notification Request Form” each semester. You will receive an email at the beginning of each semester to remind you to complete this form. Your completion of this form provides permission for us to share your approved accommodations with your instructors.
Please note that students who are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19 should review the guidelines on the Coronavirus Information page in addition to following the process and guidance in this section.
Short-term Health Issues Impacting You for More than One Week:
If you are experiencing a short-term healthcare issue, such as recovering from an illness or surgery, and anticipate that your health situation will impact you for more than a week, complete the Short-term Temporary Accommodations Intake Form.
You should also communicate with your instructor(s) about your situation. Do not wait to notify your instructor(s) if you will need to miss class, clinicals, a test, etc. You do not need to share the specifics about your health, only that you are experiencing a health-related issue that is affecting your ability to participate fully in the course(s).
Once you have completed the intake form, which includes uploading documentation, a staff member will reach out by email. If you do not include your documentation in the form, you can send by email to cass@yorktech.edu or by fax to 803-325-2897. Depending on your situation, a meeting may be scheduled to discuss your needs.
Accessibility Services will reach out to your instructors to discuss and verify the best option(s) for you regarding your class(es) and any missed work, etc. and will communicate with you about the available options.
Short-term Health Issues Impacting You for a Week or Less:
Refer to your syllabi for your instructors’ absence policies and procedures.
Communicate promptly with your instructor(s) about your situation. When communicating with your instructors, you do not need to disclose the specifics about your health, only that you are experiencing a health-related issue that is affecting your ability to participate fully in the course(s).
Here’s an example of how to effectively communicate with your instructor:
Dear [Faculty Name],
My name is [Name and student ID#], and I'm enrolled in your course, [Course name].
I am currently experiencing symptoms related to a recent injury/illness that are preventing me from [GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES: turning in an assignment on time / taking an upcoming exam or quiz / attending class or lab].
I still wish to attend to my coursework, but my condition is temporarily impacting my ability to fully participate in class. I anticipate that this will only last a few days, but if it extends beyond one week, I will work with Accessibility Services.
I look forward to working with you directly to find a solution that will allow me time to recover while keeping up with my class.
Thank you in advance for your help and support during this time.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
If approved for certain testing accommodations, you may be allowed to take tests in Accessibility Service in J Building or the Assessment Center. The location will be determined by your SAS based on your individual needs. Click on the drop-down menu below to see the process for scheduling a test in each location.
You can schedule a testing appointment for the Assessment Center through Navigate, phone, or email:
- Schedule through Navigate
- Call 803-981-7176
- Email: AssessmentCenter@yorktech.edu
You can schedule a testing appointment in Accessibility Services by phone, email, or through our scheduling form:
- Phone: 803-327-8007
- Email: cass@yorktech.edu
- Form: Schedule Testing in Accessibility Services
If you are pregnant, recently experienced a miscarriage, or recently given birth, Accessibility Services is here to support you. Title IX (federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities) assures that you receive appropriate accommodations to address the impacts of pregnancy and childbirth.
See our Pregnancy & Childbirth Support/Accommodations: Student Instructions & Information to learn about the steps you need to take to access support.
Are you currently nursing? If you find you need a place to tend to any nursing needs, there is a lactation lounge located in the H Building. Click here for more information about accessing this space.
In accordance with ADA and the South Carolina State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education (SBTCE), service animals are welcome in York Technical College buildings. A service animal is one that has been trained to perform a task directly related to a person’s disability.
Only service animals are allowed. Emotional support animals are not permitted in any York Technical College building.
For more information about service animals, click here to visit ADA.gov and click here to review the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education Procedure for Service Animals. You can also contact CASS at cass@yorktech.edu or 803-327-8007 if you have any questions or concerns regarding animals in YTC facilities.
The following resources will also be helpful to you.
Please note: The inclusion of any outside resources/websites in this list does not indicate YTC's endorsement.
Counseling, Accessibility, and Support Services
J Building, cass@yorktech.edu, 803-327-8007
Student Accessibility Specialists:
Kendall Lowery (Student Accessibility Coordinator)
klowery@yorktech.edu, 803-325-2894
Linda Tennant (Student Accessibility Specialist)
ltennant@yorktech.edu, 803-325-2896