Welcome to the Accessibility Services Resource Center! On this page, you will be able to find information about obtaining accommodation services and other helpful information.
Black River Technical College seeks to be in compliance with both the spirit and the letter of the law as stated in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students seeking ADA accommodations must contact the ADA Coordinator:
Mrs. Bridget Guess
P.O. Box 468
Pocahontas, AR, 72455
Phone: (870) 248-4014
Fax: (870) 248-4100
bridget.guess@blackrivertech.edu
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, an individual with a disability is defined as a person who
- has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities;
- has a record of such impairment; or
- is regarded as having such impairment.
Major life activities as amended in 2008 include but are not limited to
- caring for oneself,
- performing manual tasks,
- seeing,
- hearing,
- eating,
- sleeping,
- walking,
- standing,
- lifting,
- bending,
- speaking,
- breathing,
- learning,
- reading,
- concentrating,
- thinking,
- communicating, and
- working.”
Also included are major bodily functions such as
- functions of the immune system,
- normal cell growth,
- digestive,
- bowel,
- bladder,
- neurological,
- brain,
- circulatory,
- respiratory,
- endocrine,
- hemic,
- lymphatic,
- musculoskeletal,
- special sense organs and skin,
- genitourinary,
- cardiovascular systems, and
- reproductive functions.
- Any student who will need accommodations must complete the Intake and Assessment form. Bring the form into Student Affairs and give to the ADA Coordinator. If you are a Paragould student, you may take this to Student Affairs at Paragould.
- Accessibility Services will need you to bring in documentation of your disability. These documents can include the following: IEP/504 Plan from High School (dated within the last three years), or a letter from a Physician along with documentation from the Physician’s office (letter or documentation cannot be on a prescription pad), or documentation from Vocational Rehab that includes a diagnosis. If you are providing documentation from a Physician, please have them to complete the Physicians form and provide all documentation they have. Submit the form and documentation to the ADA Coordinator in the Student Affairs offices on the Pocahontas campus. If you are a Paragould student, you may submit to Student Affairs at Paragould.
- Once you have turned in the proper documentation, the ADA Coordinator will review it and discuss with you the proper accommodations.
- Once accommodations are set, the Coordinator will email the student’s accommodations to each of the student’s instructors. The student will also be notified of the set accommodations.
- Each semester the student is enrolled, the Coordinator will look at the student’s schedule, and send proper accommodations to instructors.
The ADA Coordinator office will determine accommodations as mandated under federal law. Please remember that student needs are highly individualized and what works for one student with a particular disability may not be effective for another student with the same disability. Examples of accommodations are numerous. Below is a list of some common accommodations:
- Extended time for exams
- Low distraction testing rooms
- Large print exams
- Oral testing
- Interpreters
- Notetakers
- Copies of Notes and PowerPoint
- Recording lectures
- Books on tape or digital format
- Accessible room and/or desk
- Preferential seating
Black River Technical College offers various resources for students with any of the following:
- mobility impairments,
- are blind or have low vision,
- are deaf or hard of hearing, and
- learning disabilities.
This technology includes, but is not limited to adaptive equipment for computers. The Accessibility Services office has created a summary of all of the adaptive equipment, computer technologies, etc. available on campus.
- Dragon Naturally Speaking-A text to speech software that works with Windows operating system.
- Access Text-Helps students with low vision by obtaining electronic files from textbook publishers. These files are used to create accessible versions of the textbooks. Students then can read online with a magnifier that is built into their computer.
- Digital Recorders to record lectures.
- Self-carboning Paper for students who need a notetaker.
- Magnifiers to help students who have low vision.
- Interpreters for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Learning Ally helps students who need audiobooks instead of paper books.
- Headphones
- Colored transparent highlighters-designed for reading (helps with fluency, tracking and comprehension).
- Medical Spellex-designed for students with dyslexia who are in the medical field.
- Digital Voice Recorder-An ink pen that records.
If a student has a seizure disorder it is a possibility that the student may have an episode while on campus. Every student who as a seizure disorder should be encouraged to notify the ADA Coordinator of the degree of their disorder, preferred procedures, and emergency contacts. A copy this agreement will be given to instructors, security, and administrators as needed or at the discretion of the student.
If you have a history of seizures, please complete the Student Seizure Disorder Agreement and turn it into the ADA Coordinator.
The ADA Transitions Guide is for students who qualify under Americans with Disabilities Act that are transitioning from High School to College. This guide will help you understand the differences between High School and College accommodations. It will also give the student ideas for study habits and tips for success.
- BRTC has FREE tutoring services available to all enrolled students. It is located in the Student Success Center (TM106) on the Pocahontas campus, Monday-Thursday 7:30-4:30 and Friday 12:00-3:30. Contact Kim Adams at (870)248-4159 or kim.adams@blackrivertech.edu to arrange a tutoring session. Tutoring is located in Room PAC125 on the Paragould campus. Math tutoring is on Mondays. All other tutoring can be arranged by contacting Kim Adams at (870)248-4159 or kim.adams@blackrivertech.edu.
- There is a Career Counselor available on both campuses.
- BRTC has a Food Pantry available to students who qualify.