Disability Resources & Services at Rio Salado
Rio Salado provides information, resources, and services which promote a successful learning experience for students with documented disabilities. Depending upon the disability and the resources Rio Salado has available, students with documented disabilities may receive accommodations that include, but are not limited to, sign language interpreters, text in alternative format, readers/scribes, and extended test-taking time.
Disability Resources and Services Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday 8 A.M.-4 P.M.
Manager: Christina Bolyard
Student Services Specialist, Sr.: Kathy Kendall
Administrative Assistant: Mary Kilmer
Sign Up for Disability Services
A student wishing to register for services must meet MCCCD admissions requirements, be enrolled as an MCCCD student, and must provide Disability Resources and Services (DRS) with required documentation verifying the nature and extent of the disability prior to receiving any accommodation. The DRS Manager is responsible for evaluating documentation and determining accommodation eligibility. Students must provide documentation that complies with all applicable requirements of the MCCCD Documentation Policy. If the DRS Manager advises a student that his/her documentation is incomplete, RSC reserves the right not to provide services or accommodations until all documentation specified in the Documentation Policy is provided. Students submitting only IEPs (Individual Educational Plans) or incomplete documentation, or if a particular accommodation request is not justified by the information provided in the student’s documentation, the student is responsible to pursue whatever additional documentation is required and to pay any costs thereof.
Academic adjustments (accommodations) must be requested each semester even if you had them previously. Please note that every time DRS Connect asks for your "username" and your "student I.D.", both terms refer to your MCCCD MEID number. The "password" will be the same private password you created originally with your MEID. If you are a new student to Disability Resources and Services, please complete a new student application.
If you need any assistance with this process please feel free to contact our office at (480) 517-8562
Documentation
View the Maricopa Community Colleges Accommodations and Required Disability Documentation. https://district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/section-2/2-8
Non-Discrimination Policy:
The Non-Discrimination Policy can be found on the Maricopa County Community College District website. https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/non-discrimination-statements
Frequently Asked Questions
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What services does the DRS Office provide?
The DRS Office provides registered students with accommodations. Accommodations are established to provide opportunities for academic success and equal opportunity for students with disabilities to demonstrate their knowledge. Accommodations that may be provided include testing accommodations appropriate for the disability, note-takers, interpreters, adaptive equipment such as print enlarger, assistive listening devices, computer software, and voice recognition, textbooks in an alternative format, tutoring in math, reading, and English, and temporary accommodations for temporary impairments.
For more information, see the Accommodations Proces section below.
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How do I register?
In order to register through the DRS office, a student must provide documentation to the DRS office, as well as fill an online application at DRS Connect.
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What documentation do I need?
The documentation must (1) verify the existence of a disability as defined under Section 504 and under the ADA; and (2) establish a clear connection between the accommodations being requested and the effects of the disability. For more information, see the documentation link.
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How do I get accommodations?
A student must first register with the DRS Office in order to receive accommodations. Once the student has registered with both the registration form and submitted the documentation, an advisor will review the file and contact the student for an in-take appointment.
Accommodations must be requested online at DRS Connect each semester. The Instructor Notification letter with the approved accommodations will be emailed to each assigned instructor for the course.
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Where can I get a Psycho-Educational Evaluation?
Unlike in high school, RSC does not provide the services for a psycho-educational evaluation. If a student requires a psycho-educational evaluation in order to provide proper documentation, the student must acquire the evaluation from a licensed professional. A student may speak to his/her personal doctor, or the DRS Office has contact information for doctors. It is important to note that prices vary, and come as a cost to the student. For more information on the psycho-educational evaluation, please check out the learning disability section on the documentation link.
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Is my documentation confidential?
The DRS Office functions under the laws of FERPA. The information provided may only be discussed with the student. However, if the student wishes to have the information released to someone else (i.e. a parent/spouse), the student must fill out a release of information form before the DRS Office will discuss any information with anyone other than the student.
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If I'm transferring to/from another school, does my documentation transfer?
If you transfer to another school, the documentation does not automatically transfer with you. However, if you are transferring from RSC to a different school and would like the DRS Office to forward your documentation, you must sign a release of information form, and provide the information for where you would like the documentation to be sent. If you are transferring to RSC from a school where you are already receiving accommodations, you may contact the school and have them send their information to the DRS Office at RSC. The documentation that a student provides to the DRS Office at RSC, will stay on file at RSC for up to 3 years after a student is no longer attending RSC.
Accommodation Process
Rio Salado College Disability Resources and Services (DRS) handles each student's request on an individual basis, given a reasonable time frame. Please refer to the chart below when requesting a special service. Although the following timelines are preferred, Rio Salado College DRS strives to provide the services as quickly as possible.
Services and accommodations are available at no cost to qualifying Rio Salado students. To qualify for accommodations you must meet MCCCD eligibility requirements and provide disability documentation.
After you complete your application in DRS Connect and provide the necessary documentation, we will evaluate your request for accommodation and service requests on an individual, case-by-case basis. To help us meet your needs please provide as much of the following as possible:
- Physical: mobility, dexterity, endurance, etc.
- Perceptual: sensory experience, vision, hearing
- Cognitive: attention, distractibility, communication, etc.
- Behavioral: action and reaction responses
- Descriptions of treatments, medications, accommodations, auxiliary aids, assistive technology, and services currently in use and their general effectiveness as tools for access
- Additional accommodations or tools with a description of how you feel they will be helpful.
If we need additional or current documentation it is the responsibility of the student to seek out the relevant professionals and incur any fees related to evaluations.
Policies, Procedures and Regulations: Disability Rights provides additional information about Maricopa Community College District policies and federal guidelines.
FAQ from the U.S. Department of Education regarding your rights and responsibilities.