Disability Services
COVID-19:
The Disability Services Office (DSO) is currently working remotely to assist our students, their families, and our community. With guidance from state and local health officials to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, there are no in-person services available through our office. Rest assured, that Westchester Community College professionals are remotely working to continue to give you the level of service you expect and deserve!
We encourage all documentation be sent via e-mail due to remote operations and limited access to campus. Disability documentation sent by mail will be delayed in processing by at least 2 weeks.
As you scroll down through this page, you will find the information that you need to be in contact with us. Please read the information carefully and send us an e-mail at disability.services@sunywcc.edu with any questions.
VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS:
The Disability Services Office (DSO) will be offering virtual office hours on Monday 12pm-4pm | Wednesday 1pm-4pm | Friday 9am-1pm during remote operations for students to meet with someone from our office via Zoom. If you would like to schedule a Zoom meeting, please email the DSO for more information.
Office Information
Location:LIBRARY, GROUND LEVEL, ROOM G51
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9AM to 4PM (9am-12pm Fridays in the summer)
Phone: (914) 606 – 6287 Confidential Fax: (914) 606 – 7893
Email: Disability.Services@sunywcc.edu
Due to federal law, no individual other than the student may request his/her/their educational information unless a FERPA Form is on file with the Registrar's Office listing the individual as an authorized person. Cindy Katz
DSO Receptionist
E-mail: disability.services@sunywcc.edu
Phone: (914) 606-6287
Support Services
Westchester Community College provides services for students with documented learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, physical disabilities, visual, hearing, and other health impairments. The goal of our services is to foster student success and completion. We encourage individuals with disabilities to contact us to learn what support services are available to meet varying needs. Current services include but are not limited to the following:
Counseling
- Pre-admission counseling
- Voter registration assistance
- Referral to other campus services and appropriate community agencies
- Referral for diagnostic assessment as necessary
- Self-advocacy training
- Planning for after graduation
Academic
- Orientation and referral to tutorial services
- Assistance with developing learning strategies, coping and organizing skills
- Assistance in arranging for note takers, interpreters, readers and scribes
- Proctoring for extended time testing with accommodations
Physical
- Arranging for classroom accommodations
- Handicapped parking available on campus
- Ramps, elevators and electronic doors
Advocacy
- Ensure physical and programmatic access
- Support and assist faculty in understanding and meeting individual needs
- Provide information about specific disabilities and related laws
- Liaison with professors, high schools, community agencies, families and employers
Equipment
- Kurzweil 3000 scanning/screen reading
- CCTV print enlarger
- JAWS screen reader computer software
- Zoomtext onscreen magnifier
- Duxbury Braille Translator software and Braille printer
Sign Language Interpreters
One of the least understood provisions of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the requirement that government agencies, places of public accommodation, and in some instances private employers, furnish auxiliary aids, including qualified sign language interpreters, to people with sensory deficits.
ADA seeks to insure accessibility for deaf people by guaranteeing the right to an interpreter at no cost to them in a variety of settings including educational settings.
Westchester Community College (WCC) is committed to ensuring equal access to all persons with disabilities. All WCC offices will provide sign language interpreters to individuals who need and request them. WCC currently contracts with over 15 sign language interpreters who serve as independent contractors and provide interpreting services to the deaf and hard of hearing populations.
Scheduling sign language interpreters
For more information about scheduling sign language interpreters for cl
asses or a given event, please e-mail: angeliki.parashis@sunywcc.edu. or text your request to 845-654-5038 (cell).
If you are a sign language interpreter and would be interested in working with Westchester Community College through a vendor's contract agreement, please contact:
Contact Information
Angeliki Parashis angeliki.parashis@sunywcc.edu
Counselor for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Sign Language Interpreter Coordinator
ASL Instructor
Westchester Community College
75 Grasslands Road,
Classroom Building, Room 3
Valhalla, NY 10595
(914) 606-6236 (V)
(845) 654-5038 (cell)
Policies and Procedures
Counselors and Coach
Services provided by counselors in our office include, but are not limited to, supportive counseling, referral to campus services and community agencies, self-advocacy assistance, consultation with faculty, and post-Westchester Community College planning. Assistance in obtaining physical accommodations is also provided.
While operating remotely, email is the most efficient and responsive method of communication.
Counselors
Professor Sharon Massey
Coordinator of Disability Services
LIBRARY, GROUND LEVEL, ROOM G47
Email: Sharon.Massey@sunywcc.edu
Phone: (914) 606-6626
Professor Massey works with students to determine specific needs and helps students with issues related to their disability and also works with the faculty and staff to promote an understanding of the unique abilities, needs and challenges of students with disabilities.
Professor Renee Balotti
Counselor/Coordinator of Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
LIBRARY, GROUND LEVEL, ROOM G53
E-mail: Renee.Balotti@sunywcc.edu
Phone: (914) 606-8585
Professor Balotti assists the faculty and students in ensuring federally mandated accommodations for students with disabilities are in place. Students with documented disabilities in need of accommodations should email disability.services@sunywcc.edu.
Professor Marcia Kalkut
Counselor
LIBRARY, GROUND LEVEL, ROOM G51
E-mail: Marcia.Kalkut2@sunywcc.edu
Phone: (914) 606-6552
Professor Kalkut serves as a liaison between disabled students and the faculty and between Westchester Community College and community agencies. She provides support for students with learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, physical disabilities, visual and other health impairments. Services include supportive and vocational counseling, referral both to other services on campus and to agencies in the community, help with self-advocacy techniques, consultation with faculty, and post-Westchester Community College planning. Assistance in obtaining physical accommodations is also provided.
Professor Maisa Andraws
Counselor for Students with Visual and Physical Disabilities
LIBRARY, GROUND LEVEL, ROOM G51
E-mail: Maisa.Andraws@sunywcc.edu
Phone: (914) 606-6325
Professor Andraws provides counseling and assistance for students with visual and physical disabilities registered with the Disability Services Office. Students needing specific accommodations, such as seating adjustment, campus accessibility, etc., should contact Professor Andraws for support. Professor Andraws also collaborates with Access-VR counselors with services provided through the organization.
Professor Angeliki Parashis
Counselor for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
CLASSROOM BLDG, ROOM 3
E-mail: Angeliki.Parashis@sunywcc.edu
Phone: (914) 606-6236
Professor Parashis serves as an academic counselor for the deaf and hard of hearing students at Westchester Community College. Working closely with other counselors and professionals, she coordinates academic support services and accommodations for deaf students. She serves as a liaison between high schools, ACCES-VR offices, and colleges, to ensure that deaf students successfully transition into and out of Westchester Community College. Support services include but are not limited to academic advising, sign language interpreting and coordination of independently contracted interpreters. If a sign language interpreter is needed please contact Professor Parashis.
Professor Theresa Revans-McMenimon
Counselor for Students on the Autism Spectrum
CLASSROOM BLDG, ROOM 4
E-mail: TR14@sunywcc.edu
Phone: (914) 606-6336
Professor Revans-McMenimon serves as a counselor specialist for students on the Autism Spectrum. Services include academic and supportive counseling, assistance with organization and time management, and appropriate social skills for a college environment. Professor Revans-McMenimon also offers several workshops each semester on disclosure, stress management, and career assessments. In addition to composing the Disability Services Newsletter, Professor Revans-McMenimon is a member of the CARES Team at Westchester Community College.
Coach
Rose Marash
Academic Coach for Students with Disabilities in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs
LIBRARY, GROUND LEVEL, Room G51
E-mail: Rose.Marash@sunywcc.edu
Phone: (914) 606-6288
Rose Marash works with students in CTE programs to provide assistance with self-advocacy, career exploration and development, skill set identification, majors offered, and executive functioning skills. She also helps with campus referrals and acts as a liaison between students and staff when direct support is necessary.
Welcome! Below you will find some information to help you as you become a student at SUNY WCC.
Parent Guide
Your child has been accepted…now what?
Congratulations for all of your hard work and assistance in your son or daughter graduating high school! Now is an exciting time full of promise and change. It is likely that you have been very active in your child’s school career, going to CSE meetings, parent conferences, and making sure your child’s accommodations have been met. At this point, you are well versed in the K-12 school system. This page will give you a brief guide of the changes ahead as your son/daughter transitions out of high school and into college. Be assured that Disability Services at WCC is dedicated to student success for all our students.The Differences Between High School and College
IDEA no longer pertains to your son/daughter’s special education needs. Once out of the k-12 system, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) protects accommodation rights for your son/daughter. For more information regarding postsecondary education planning for students with disabilities click here and view the Policies and Procedures for the Disability Services Office.What Does This Mean?
- All services provided under the IEP do not necessarily transition to college services.
- A college student with a disability is entitled to full confidentiality. Information regarding grades, performance, attendance, etc. cannot be disclosed without a FERPA consent form signed by the student and notarized.
- In high school, teachers were given a copy of the student’s IEP. In college, the student’s disability documentation remains in the Disabilities Services office and is not disclosed to the professors.
- Students can work with a counselor from the Disabilities Services office to discuss effective methods to communicate their accommodation needs to their professors. To make this process easier, the student can request a green Referral to Faculty accommodation letter from the Disabilities Services office verifying that the student has a disability. Accommodation letters never disclose what the student’s disability is.
- The student must register with the Disabilities office each semester in order to receive accommodations and accommodation letters.
- Disabilities Services does not retest students regarding their disability. Students need to provide current documentation. Call our office for outside testing referrals.
Next Steps
After the student has applied and received a student ID number, the next step is for the student to make arrangements to take the Extended Time Placement Test with accommodations and discuss his/her individual needs. Services provided by counselors in our office include, but are not limited to, supportive and vocational counseling, referral to campus services and community agencies, self-advocacy assistance, consultation with faculty, and post-higher ed planning. Assistance in obtaining physical accommodations is also provided.Admissions Information for Students with Disabilities
Westchester Community College has an open admissions policy for students who have graduated from high school with a Regents or local diploma, and for those with a GED. Students who did not receive a high school diploma are not guaranteed admission to the college. These students should contact the Director of Admissions at 914-606-6735 for further information.
| Step 1: | Download, complete and submit an Admissions Application Form using this website or submit in person. |
| Step 2: | Request that your high school and/or doctor provide the following information:
email: Disability.Services@sunywcc.edu Valhalla, New York 10595 Confidential Fax (914) 606-7893 |
| Step 3: | Once you have received an acceptance letter from the Admissions Office, register for the Extended Time Placement Test. You must have an appointment to attend one of these testing sessions. It is the student’s responsibility to be sure that all documentation is sent to our office. All documentation supporting the need for accommodation must be on file in our office prior to your testing date. Testing accommodations are not available at other testing sessions or off-campus locations. Contact our office, Disability.Services@sunywcc.edu, as early as possible your documentation supports further accommodations other than extended time and a reduced distraction location; such as a reader, scribe, or sign language interpreter. |
| Keep In Mind: | Due to confidentiality laws, we cannot provide initial contact prompting you to sign up for accommodations with our office. It is your responsibility to self-disclose and sign up for testing accommodations through our office. Sign up for testing accommodations the 1st week of every semester for referrals to faculty (Green Sheets). Services are not automatic. A student must self-disclose to Disabilities Services & professors and self-advocate. Your first semester is NOT the time to go it alone without your accommodations. Come early and often to increase your academic success. |
Extended Time Placement Test
Directed Self-Placement (DSP) Questionnaire
You are only allowed to take each DSP Questionnaire once.Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, all on-campus placement testing is suspended until further notice. To allow students to complete the placement process remotely, Westchester Community College (WCC) has developed two Directed Self-Placement (DSP) Questionnaires, one in Mathematics and another in English and Reading. We ask that you complete BOTH questionnaires, which will be used in conjunction with other information about your academic history to place you into the appropriate courses.
The DSP is NOT an exam; it is a tool that will help WCC evaluate your past academic performance, study habits, and experiences in mathematics, reading, and writing. Each questionnaire may take up to 30 minutes to complete. You must complete BOTH questionnaires, even if you have been waived from one portion of the placement requirements. The highest placement result, including any waivers you may have received, will be used to determine your final course placement.
If you have a documented disability, submitted documentation to the Disability Services Office (DSO) and require assistance with the questionnaire, please contact the DSO at disability.services@sunywcc.edu.
To be redirected to the DSP Click Here
Summer Bridge Programs
S.T.A.R.T.
Student Transition and Readiness Training - Your first step towards college success!This year due to safety concerns, S.T.A.R.T. will be held virtually by our office.
August 17 to August 21
11:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
S.T.A.R.T.
Students on the Autism Spectrum are invited to apply to the specialized transition boot camp run by Professor Theresa Revans-McMenimon. She may be contacted at TR14@sunywcc.edu.
S.T.A.R.T. the semester strong with the week long Student Transition And Readiness Training run by the Disability Services Office for incoming students with disabilities.In order to register you need to have a documented disability and be registered to take classes at Westchester Community College in Fall 2020 as a first time student.
Topics covered include organization and time management, self advocacy, testing accommodations, learning styles, legal entitlements, navigating campus, information and resources for the student's support system and family, how to get involved in campus activities and ACCESS Club...and much more!
Presented by the Disability Services Counselors
Disability Services Office Disability.services@sunywcc.edu
Requirements
- Submit disability documentation to the Disability Services Office
- Be registered for Fall 2020 classes at Westchester Community College
Virtual Transition Boot Camp
Westchester Community College's Transition Boot Camp for Students on the Autism Spectrum.
Be a part of of this successful program during our 8th year!
This year due to safety concerns, the Transition Book Camp will be held virtually by Professor Theresa Revans-McMenimon.
Date: August 17 to August 27th
Students will learn about socializing on campus, readiness skills, and college writing.
Contact Professor Theresa for more information, TR14@sunywcc.edu
Accommodation Request Forms
Procedures to Request Testing Accommodations: Document
Request for Referrals for Faculty: Request Form
Schedule a Test with Accommodations through the DSO: Scheduling Form
Understand your Disability
You need to know about your disability. Know the things that you do well. Know the things that are difficult for you. Know what assistance has been helpful to you in managing your disability.Plan Ahead
Coming to college means rearranging your life. Financial needs, time demands, study schedules and course work vary greatly from high school. College courses require more study time outside of the classroom. Expectations of student performance are greater, and competition may be more intense. These expectations can be met with good planning. Apply for financial aid early. Consider the number of hours it will be necessary for you to work. Make arrangements for transportation and child care. Family and personal responsibilities and time commitments must also be considered. Set realistic goals and priorities for course work.Establish Contact with The DSO
Students with a documented disability, in need of accommodations, are responsible for disclosing this to the Disability Services Office (DSO) and providing documentation at disability.services@sunywcc.edu.
Once documentation has been approved, each semester the student can make an online request for accommodations by completing the Request for Referral to Faculty form https://www.sunywcc.edu/student-services/disability-services/request-for-referrals-to-faculty/.
Speak to your Professors
Once the student's request for accommodations is approved, the DSO staff will email professors a Referral to Faculty letter at their SUNYWCC email address, informing them of the accommodations the student is entitled to. Please note, that accommodations are not retroactive and not all accommodations from high school carry through to college. It is strongly recommended that the student discuss their accommodations with their professors at the beginning of the semester.
Make Contact Often
You may want to make contact regularly to talk over how you are progressing in your courses and to identify your needs in each class.
Be Aware of Procedures and Deadlines
Refer to the Procedure to Request Testing Accommodations document when your sign up for your accommodations. If you must take your exam outside the classroom, it is your responsibility to complete a Request for Testing Accommodations form at least 3 business days before your exam. This can be completed online. We may not be able to accommodate you if you do not give advanced notice.Dear Colleagues,
Even though we are working remotely, the DSO is still available to support and assist you in your efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities as required by law.
We encourage you to email us at disability.services@sunywcc.edu to discuss your questions and concerns throughout the semester.
Sincerely,
Professor Sharon Massey
Coordinator of Disability Services
Sharon.Massey@sunywcc.edu
Office: Library G47
Phone: (914) 606-6626
Professor Renee Balotti
Counselor/Coordinator of Accommodations
Renee. Balotti@sunywcc.edu
Office: Library G53
Phone: (914) 606-8585
Professor Maisa Andraws
Counselor for Students with Visual and Physical Disabilities
Maisa.Andraws@sunywcc.edu
Office: Library G52
Phone: (914) 606-6325
Professor
Marcia Kalkut
Counselor
Marcia.Kalkut2@sunywcc.edu
Office: Library G51
Phone: (914) 606-6552
Professor Angeliki Parashis
Counselor for Deaf Students
Angeliki.Parashis@sunywcc.edu
Office: Classroom Building 3
Phone: (914) 606-6236
Professor Theresa Revans-McMenimon
Counselor/Specialist for Students with Autism
TR14@sunywcc.edu
Office: Classroom Building 4
Phone: (914) 606-6336
Register to Vote
Westchester Community College students, who are eligible for services for Students with Disabilities, can register to vote at the Disabilities Services Accommodations Office, Library G51 or Classroom Building room 4. Our staff will provide students with voter registration application forms, assistance with completing the forms, and submitting them to the New York State Board of Elections. For more information regarding voter registration, visit New York State’s Board of Election website http://www.elections.ny.gov/, or to download a voter registration form.