ccq.edu.qa Student Special Needs Services Qatar : Community College

Organization : Community College of Qatar
Type of Facility : Student Special Needs Services
Country: Qatar

Website : http://ccq.edu.qa/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122&Itemid=706

Student Special Needs Services :

Mission Statement:
To provide programs and services that ensure fair and appropriate access to programs, services, facilities, and activities for students with special needs, within the proper environment

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Policy:
The Community College of Qatar offers accommodations counseling, evaluation referral, disability-related information, and adaptive technology counseling and equipment for academically related purposes. Although Special Needs Services does not offer disability evaluation and/or testing, tutoring, personal expenses, attendants or scholarships, we will provide referral information.

Definition:
A “special need” is defined as a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Learning is an example of a major life activity. If you have a mental or physical condition, a history of such a condition, or a condition which may be considered by others as substantially limiting, you may have a defined special need. In accordance with Law No 2 of the year 2004, and Article 49 in the Constitution of Qatar: “Education is the right of all.”, and “the State shall extend efforts to achieve fair and appropriate access in education for all”.

In this regard, the Community College Qatar will ensure to provide educational opportunities that guarantee fair and appropriate access to programs, services, facilities, and activities for students with special needs. A “Special need” is not a factor in the Admission to the Community College of Qatar. All applicants to the Community College of Qatar are reviewed through the same admissions process.

Procedures:
** All Students with Special Needs must see SNS Counselor.
** All documentation is required before any special needs services can be administered.
** All documentation and student information is confidential information, and will be at the disposal of only the SNS Counselor. SNS Counselors are the only authorized individuals to administer SNS accommodation letters, and approved services.
** All SNS documentation will be kept in a secure database and file system, accessible only to SNS Counselor.

Registration Process:
In order to receive special needs-related accommodations and services, you should abide by the following process:
** Apply to the Community College of Qatar through the regular admissions process.
** Provide current and comprehensive documentation of a diagnosed special need which requires accommodation.
** Register with SNS at the beginning of each semester.

In order to register with the Special Needs Services Office, a student must present documentation of legally recognized special needs. SNS serves as the repository for medical documentation of disabilities. Documentation submitted to SNS is confidential and used solely for the purpose of assisting students in identifying and securing accommodations and services to support their full participation at the Community College of Qatar.

Once documentation has been submitted:
** The Special Needs Services Office and SNS Counselor will review all documentation and determine whether the student is eligible to receive SNS services based on the documented special needs.
** Each student will meet with the SNS Counselor to determine appropriate accommodations.

** Appropriate accommodations are determined by the SNS counselor and the student, in consultation with legal documented special needs assessment, previous accommodations, and functional limitations of the student. Refer to the Accommodations Section for more information on accommodations.

** During this initial meeting with the SNS Counselor, SNS policies and procedures are discussed with the student. The student is responsible for delivering the accommodations letters generated in this meeting to the instructors. Students are encouraged to meet with their instructors to discuss their testing and other accommodations and to answer any questions the instructors may have.

Documentation submitted should be current (in most cases no older than three to five years), comprehensive, and include the following:
** Student’s name
** Date of evaluation and/or last contact
** A specific diagnosis, including level of severity

** The specific findings in support of this diagnosis including relevant history, observations of the individual, tests administered, test results, and your interpretation of those test results. For a diagnosis of Learning Disability, ADD or ADHD, a neuropsychological examination or psycho-educational evaluation is required to determine eligibility for services as a student with a disability. Objective evidence of a substantial limitation must be provided.

** A description of the student’s functional limitations as they are directly related to the stated disabilities and necessitate any accommodations.
** The evaluator’s name, address, telephone number (in the event our office needs to contact the evaluator), and professional credential relevant to the diagnosis. (i.e., M.D., Ph.D., LSSP).

The documentation must be on letterhead, typed, dated, and signed.

How to Get Documentation:
The professional making the diagnosis of a disability should be an appropriately trained evaluator, such as a physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or educational diagnostician. For example, an audiologist would diagnose a hearing impairment; a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker would diagnose a psychological disability. Documentation from a family member or family friend is not acceptable.

SNS provides Guidelines for Documentation. If you have and questions about documentation that is requested, please feel free to contact the SNS Counselor at 4495-3710 (Female Counselor) or 4495-3709 (Male Counselor)

SNS reserves the right to request additional information or evaluation. Information regarding resources to use in obtaining an evaluation is available from our office.

Accommodations:
The goal of accommodations is to provide access to educational programs and co-curricular activities.

Some general information about accommodations:
** Accommodations are provided on an individual basis as needs arise. Accommodations are designed around the needs of the student.
** Examples of accommodations include: extended testing time, interpreters, note-taking, reader services, scribe services, audio books and other adaptive technology services.
** Providing accommodations such as extended test time or altered test formats is the responsibility of the faculty member. SNS may provide suggestions or assistance when necessary to implement the accommodation.

** Although not accommodations, SNS supports students with issues and situations related to advocacy, accessibility, and attendant care.
** SNS is a resource for information including, but not limited to, tutoring services, study skills and time management, community resources, disability awareness, and various community college services.
** Although the Community College of Qatar is not required to accommodate students with temporary disabilities (i.e., limbs in casts, a severe case of mononucleosis), faculty and staff may provide assistance such as recruiting volunteer note-takers or giving extensions on tests or paper deadlines.
** With the support of the IT Department, Special Needs Services has the capability to provide adaptive technology when needed. Specific accommodations will be arranged through Special Needs Services.