Disability Services

To ensure Platt College provides quality undergraduate education to students, the College seeks to provide an environment conducive to learning, teaching, working, and participating in diverse learning activities. Platt College strives to be supportive of the academic, personal and work related needs of each individual and is committed to facilitating the full participation of students with a disability in the life of the College.

Platt College recognizes and supports the standards set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitations Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which are designed to prevent discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, students are encouraged to contact the Academic Support and Career Services Coordinator at the beginning of their program for possible assistance with accommodations. Individuals (potential applicants, students, and/or employees) are responsible for voluntarily and confidentially providing appropriate documentation regarding the nature and extent of a disability. Platt College cannot make accommodations that are unduly burdensome or that fundamentally alter the nature of the College’s programs. Medical documentation of disabilities and requested accommodations must be presented in writing at the beginning of a student’s program. Platt College is committed to equal access and participation for all persons, including those with disabilities, in academic and other programs sponsored by Platt College. The Academic Support and Career Services Coordinator assists the College community to create and maintain a welcoming, accessible environment for perspective students, students and employees with disabilities. Policy 03:05:00 ADA outlines Platt College's specific services regarding Americans with Disabilities Act. For more information about Disability Services, contact Darla Dolph, Academic Support and Career Services Coordinator, via email or phone 303.369.5151 ext 231.

The Disability Determination

The first step of the process is a determination of whether the individual is disabled within the meaning of the ADA and Section 504. To be disabled under those laws, a person must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. To be "substantially limited" by an impairment means that the individual cannot perform a major life activity that the average person in the general population can perform or that the individual is significantly restricted in performing that major life activity compared to the average person in the general population. In making the disability determination, individuals should consider the following:

  1. Is there a physical or mental impairment;
  2. Does the impairment limit a major life activity that an average person can perform with little or no difficulty, e.g. learning, reading, walking, hearing; and
  3. Does the impairment substantially limit the major life activity compared to the average person?

What is a Disability Under the ADA?

Disability is defined as any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, or working. “Substantially limited” generally means that a person is unable to perform a major life activity that the average person in the general population can perform. Mitigating or corrective measures such as medication, or corrective lenses may be considered when determining whether a person is substantially limited.

The ADA also prohibits discrimination against individuals who have a record or history of being substantially impaired and individuals who are regarded as having such impairments.

At Platt College, the Academic Support and Career Services Coordinator who is trained in ADA, decides whether a student meets the definition of disability under the ADA requires. Persons are not entitled to protection of the ADA simply because they have been diagnosed with a disability. The disability must substantially limit their ability to perform major life activities. Thus, this disability determination process is on a case-by-case basis. A college cannot set-up predetermined categories of what types of disabilities will be accommodated and what types will not.

Disability determinations normally are based on information that the individual provides to the College, including detailed and current medical documentation within the last three years from an appropriate professional regarding the nature and severity of the impairment and a description of the student's functional limitations. Once complete documentation is received, the Academic Support and Career Services Coordinator  may consult with external medical professionals to review the assessment and any recommended accommodations.