WCTC Students

Students with Disabilities

Student Accessibility

Recognizing the vocational, career and learning needs of each student, WCTC’s Student Accessibility Office (SAO) is committed to providing a range of individualized services to ensure equal access and inclusion for students with disabilities.

We work closely with counselors, faculty, advisors, mentors and other staff to help you address your needs while keeping your disability information confidential (unless we have your written permission).

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Contact Information

WCTC Student Accessibility Office

College Center, Room C-021

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday

  • 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday

  • 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Appointments

WCTC Student Accessibility staff are available to meet with you in person, via Zoom or by telephone. To schedule an appointment, please call 262.691.5318.

Accessibility Services

  • Transition services for high school students planning to attend WCTC
  • ACCUPLACER/placement testing accommodations
  • Access to assistive technology devices and software
  • Low-distraction testing center
  • Extended time on exams and quizzes
  • Note-taking assistance
  • Sign language interpreting
  • Captioning/Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART)
  • Alternative media

Whom We Serve

We coordinate no-cost services for students who have a documented disability that substantially limits any major life activity, including but not limited to walking, talking, learning, hearing or seeing.

Community members who need accommodations while visiting campus should contact the department that sponsored the event as far in advance as possible so that we can work together to accommodate your needs.

 

Student Eligibility Process

Requesting accommodations is a three-part process:

1

Self-identify

You must first self-identify as a student with a disability requesting accommodations. To begin, complete the online Accommodation Request Form. If you are unable to complete the form or need assistance to do so, contact the Student Accessibility Office in person, by phone or via email.

Request Accommodations >

  • If you need to request a sign language interpreter, contact interpreter@wctc.edu or text 262.225.3651.
  • Please note, it may take several weeks to review and/or process your documentation. We strongly encourage new students to request accommodations one semester prior to starting their program. Continuing students must renew each semester.
2

Provide Disability Information/Documentation

In order to accommodate your requests, we will need information about how your disability is likely to affect you while attending WCTC. You can upload your disability documentation when you complete the online Accommodation Request Form, or submit it separately prior to your first meeting. Any information/documentation you can readily share prior to the first meeting is helpful.

We recognize that barriers exist that may make it difficult to present third-party disability documentation. Please don't delay meeting with us for not having appropriate paperwork.

To help gather the information we need to best support you, please share the appropriate form(s) below with your licensed care professional:

If you already have information/documentation, please either:

  • Upload it when you complete the online Accommodation Request Form.
  • Bring it in person to: Student Accessibility Office, College Center, Room C-021
  • Email it to: SAO@wctc.edu
  • Fax it to: 262.691.5089
  • Mail it to: Student Accessibility Office, Room C-021, 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072

Additional documentation may be necessary, but will be limited to the need for the accommodation requested.

3

Intake Interview

The intake interview is a critical step toward determining eligibility. Once you self-identify to the Student Accessibility Office, a Disability Specialist will schedule an appointment to complete this interview.

The purpose of the interview is to learn what functional limitations you are experiencing and what accommodations you will need. This interactive process allows us to work together to determine the most appropriate accommodations for your needs.

More to Know

In order to be eligible for accommodations through SAO, you must:

  • Have a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities that includes, but is not limited to, walking, talking, learning, hearing or seeing.
  • Have and provide current and appropriate information/documentation of such a disability, when necessary.

Our staff may need to communicate with WCTC faculty and staff who have a legitimate educational interest in order to coordinate and facilitate accommodations on your behalf. Such communication is permitted under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

You must provide written consent before SAO may disclose information to individuals outside of the institution (i.e. parents, spouse, DVR counselor, therapist, doctor, etc.). Disability status, diagnostic information and/or indication of the use of accommodations is not shown on WCTC transcripts. SAO will not re-release disability documentation records to any third party.

Waukesha County Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, arrest or conviction record, membership in any component of the military forces of the United States or Wisconsin, or other applicable legislated categories. This includes WCTC’s services, employment programs and educational programs. The lack of English skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in College programs.

We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint and against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or who otherwise oppose discrimination.

To report an incident of discrimination, harassment, retaliation or sexual misconduct, please complete our online complaint form.

 


Federal Disability Laws and Guidance

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. 

 

Section 504 states, in part, that “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States, as defined in section 705(20) of this title, shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”