Registering with Disability Support Services
By law, students who have disabilities are not required to identify themselves as having a disability. Although encouraged to register with Disability Support Services (DSS) immediately upon entrance to Seminole State, it is not uncommon for students to forget to seek assistance until they experience difficulties with coursework.
Students are considered to have a disability if they display a physical or mental impairment that significantly affects one or more major life activities, have a record of impairment, or are regarded as having an impairment by a recognized agency.
Students who would like to be considered for academic accommodations need to visit any one of our DSS campus locations to discuss options that might be available and how to register (see steps to register at the bottom of the page). All services provided by DSS are offered at no cost to the student and are tailored to meet the individual student's needs. The responsibility for determining a student's eligibility for services rests with the DSS staff.
- To register with DSS at Seminole State College, please visit our Disability Support Services (DSS) documentation guidelines webpage.
Transition from Public School to Postsecondary Education
Public High School | College |
|---|---|
| Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) is guaranteed by law. | The law does not guarantee admission to a college or university. |
| Schools are obligated to seek out and identify students with disabilities. | The student is responsible for locating the disability services office and inquiring about receiving services. |
| Obligation to evaluate students with disabilities. | No obligation to evaluate students with disabilities. |
| Must alter course content or evaluation system if necessary. | No obligation to alter the content of courses or the evaluation system. |
| Students receive support with budgeting their time and planning their schoolwork. | Students are responsible for budgeting, time management, and planning their coursework. |
| Student progress is monitored by school staff. | Student progress is self-monitored. |
| The school will seek out students to provide accommodations. | Students must self-identify and self-advocate to receive accommodations. |
| The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is mandated and implemented. | There are no Individual Education Plans (IEP) at the college level. |
DSS Office Locations
Campus | Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Altamonte Springs | ALT-107 | 407.404.6005 |
| Heathrow | HEA-115 | 407.708.2110 |
| Oviedo | OVF-102D | 407.971.5114 |
| Sanford/Lake Mary | SC-130 | 407.708.2110 |
Steps Necessary to Receive Academic Accommodations
Step 1: Provide the required documentation based on the guidelines.
Provide up-to-date, current documentation from a licensed professional based on the guidelines (see documentation guidelines).
- The appropriate clinical documentation should substantiate the disability and present evidence to establish a rationale supporting the need for accommodations.
- A school plan, such as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, is insufficient documentation in and of itself, but can be included as part of a more evaluative report.
Step 2: Complete the DSS forms.
Please contact DSS to complete the required forms for services at Seminole State College of Florida:
Email dss@seminolestate.edu
Phone
- Sanford/Lake Mary: 407.708.2110
- Altamonte Springs: 407.404.6005
- Oviedo: 407.971.5114
- Text for DHH: 321.296.9844
Step 3: Meet with a DSS Coordinator.
Contact and meet with a DSS Coordinator at any of the Seminole State College campuses to discuss accommodations that may be necessary. We recommend students contact the DSS office at their preferred campus to schedule an intake appointment.
DSS will make the final determination, based on the information received, whether appropriate and reasonable accommodations are warranted and can be provided to the individual.
Until all steps of the registration process have been completed, the student will be considered pending with DSS and will not be eligible for services or accommodations. Faxed/mailed documentation will be held in pending status for 90 days from the date of receipt and will be shredded after the specified period. The student may, however, begin the process again at any time.
Note: Seminole State College does not provide housing, personal attendant care, or readers for personal study or transportation
Information for Veterans Registering with DSS
It is important to know that the standards used by the military or Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) are used for the purpose of service-related separation or claims/issues. The postsecondary laws Sections 504 and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) that provide academic adjustments have a different definition of what constitutes a disability than the one used by Seminole State. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, a ”finding by the military or VA that a veteran is entitled to disability-related benefits or services does not mean that he or she is automatically entitled to receive academic adjustments in a postsecondary setting.”
Most of the evaluations and documentation developed by military or Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) personnel does not provide information focusing on how a person's disability affects learning and other major life activities related to the postsecondary education setting. The VA documentation could be submitted as part of the registration process, but supplemental materials may be required to provide full documentation of your disability.