Disability Support Services
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Bluegrass Community & Technical College
103 Oswald Building
Cooper Drive
Lexington, KY 40506-0235
(859)257-4872 (Voice)
(866)774-4872 (Voice/Toll Free)
(859) 257-6068 (TTY)
Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Bluegrass Community & Technical College is an equal opportunity institution
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The Disability Support Services (DSS) office at Bluegrass Community & Technical College
provides a full range of services to more than 500 students each year who
have disabilities. DSS goals are to ensure equal access and full participation
for persons with disabilities in post-secondary education as outlined by
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and to empower students with
disabilities to obtain the life skills necessary for a fulfilling, productive
lifestyle after leaving Bluegrass Community & Technical College.
What services are available?
Services are based on the individual need of each student and may include:
ensuring a physically accessible environment; specialized academic advising;
career counseling; supportive counseling; interpreters for students
who are deaf or hard of hearing; specialized equipment (FM listening devices,
TTY, etc.);specialized computer software (Kurzweil Voice for Windows, Kurzweil
1000/3000, ZoomText, MathType, etc.); recorded or electronic textbooks; enlarged, brailled
or taped text; notetaking; readers; writers/scribes; tutors; testing accommodations;
and special parking permits.
In addition to these services, the DSS staff serve as liaisons
with college faculty, staff and administrators, vocational rehabilitation
counselors, and other social service agencies. The DSS staff routinely
work with community agencies on behalf of current and prospective students
with disabilities. Typically, the DSS Director maintains regular
contact with the Kentucky Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, insurance
or worker compensation case managers, rehabilitation centers, adult education
centers and vocational/technical schools. Students are also assisted in
transferring to other educational institutions and/or programs upon their request.
Full participation in the DSS program is encouraged from the initial
admission contact throughout the student's academic career. Students are
not segregated or labeled because of their disability but are encouraged
to assume full responsibility in securing the reasonable accommodations
needed for a particular academic program. Positive peer contacts
as well as guidance from the DSS staff and other College faculty and staff also
play a major role in encouraging participation in the DSS program.
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What is considered a disability?
LCC uses the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a guide to define
disability. A condition that substantially limits a major life activity
(such as walking, talking, learning, hearing and/or seeing) and is covered
under the ADA makes a student eligible for services from DSS. Services
can be provided to students who are deaf or hard of hearing, students with
learning disabilities, head injuries, chronic health conditions (such as
diabetes, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, psychiatric disabilities, etc.), mobility,
visual, speech and coordination impairments.
Temporary conditions such as broken arms, sprained ankles, etc. are
also included in this definition.
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How do I request services?
Students can request services by contacting the DSS office located in the
Student Support Center, 103 Oswald Building. An appointment should be made
as soon as possible to discuss documentation requirements, reasonable accommodations
and procedures for notifying instructors. Parents, faculty, staff, or community
agencies such as the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation may also make
referrals. However, services are voluntary and provided only upon student
request. All referrals are confidential and whether or not to disclose
the nature of the disability to anyone else is left up to the student.
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What about documentation?
It is the responsibility of the student requesting reasonable accommodations
to provide documentation of their disability to the Disability Support Services
office. Documentation should be current, demonstrate the existence
of a disability, support the reasonable accommodations requested by the student,
and have been conducted by a qualified examiner. Students with learning disabilities
must provide psychological testing reports to receive services. A comprehensive
assessment battery and the resulting diagnostic report should include a diagnostic
interview, assessment of aptitude, academic achievement, information processing
and a diagnosis. Other students may need a letter from a physician,
psychologist, psychiatrist, or other health care professional. The DSS
staff can provide specific information on what is required for each student.
All disability documentation is considered confidential and does not
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Am I eligible for financial aid?
All students wishing to apply for financial aid should contact the LCC
Financial Aid Office. Even if you are a client of Vocational Rehabilitation,
you must complete a Free Federal Application for Student Financial Aid.
Do this as early as possible to avoid delays in receiving any aid
for which you may be eligible. If you need assistance in completing the
application, contact the DSS office.
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What about special parking?
A student may qualify for a permit to park in spaces designated for individuals
with disabilities if they have a permanent or temporary physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits mobility. Applications are available
in the DSS office or online at http://www.uky.edu/Parking/disabled.htm
. The student completes Section I of the application and
the student's physician completes Section II. When the completed application
is returned to the DSS office, it is forwarded to the Application Review
Committee at the University of Kentucky. When necessary, the DSS staff
can issue a temporary permit until a decision is received from the Committee.
Parking areas for students with disabilities are patrolled and tickets
issued 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Permits or license plates issued
by government agencies are not sufficient for parking in spaces designated
for students with disabilities on LCC/UK campus.
Are Attendant Care Services available?
Attendant Care Services are not provided by LCC. If you will need attendant
care services, contact your local Department of Vocational
Rehabilitation .
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Where can I meet other students?
The Athena Club
is a student organization created to assume an advocacy role on behalf
of students with disabilities, make students aware of opportunities available
to individuals with disabilities, educate the community and help dispel
myths surrounding disabilities and provide interpersonal support and social
activities. Membership is open to all Bluegrass Community & Technical College and University
of Kentucky students, with or without disabilities. Membership information
is available in the DSS office.
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A few sites that you may want to visit:
Student Resources Help preparing for college, financial aid, college survival tips and more....
Faculty Resources
Catalog
Kentucky Community and Technical College System
The University of Kentucky
Kentucky ADA Coordinator
Mobility International
The Career Center for Work Force Diversity
Americans with Disabilities
Act
Society,
Culture and Disabilities
Send questions or comments to Disability Support
Services at veronica.miller@kctcs.edu
Last updated June 10, 2005 
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