Disability Services is the designated office that provides reasonable accommodations and services to students with disabilities.
This office:
- requests and maintains disability-related documents;
- certifies eligibility for services;
- and determines and develops plans for reasonable accommodations such as academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services as mandated under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Services:
Disability Services Registration Process
Students who are seeking services at Penn State must self-disclose the need for academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and/or services to Disability Services.
In order for a student's disorder or impairment to be considered a disability, the student must demonstrate through documentation that the disorder/impairment meets the definition of a disability under Title II of the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
As part of building self-advocacy skills, it is extremely important that you, the Penn State student, complete these steps/forms, not your parent or other concerned individual. If you are not certain how to answer a question, please feel free to ask a parent or other concerned individual for suggestions, but you should enter the answers yourself.
Please follow the steps below to determine if you are eligible to receive academic accommodations at Penn State New Kensington.
Step 1. Complete the Online Introductory Questionnaire
The Online Introductory Questionnaire begins the actual intake/registration process and should be completed within 30 days of your intake appointment (see Step 3). It takes about 30 minutes to complete and asks for more detailed information about your diagnosis and academic needs, such as the name and description of your diagnosis, how your diagnosis affects your learning, which accommodations you’ve had in the past, the name and dosage of medications you take, your health and psychological history, family diagnosis similarities, etc., so be sure to collect any needed information before you begin the Online Introductory Questionnaire.
This Online Introductory Questionnaire is for current or newly admitted Penn State New Kensington students only. If you were registered for Disability Services at another Penn State campus, you do not need to complete this form. Please request your file be sent to Penn State New Kensington from your previous Penn State campus.
Step 2. Collect and Submit Required Documentation
Please review the Documentation Guidelines found on Penn State’s primary Student Disability Resources (SDR) website and remember that all disability documentation and/or verification forms must have original signatures from the health or medical professional currently treating you for the diagnosis for which you are requesting reasonable academic accommodations.
Documentation for Penn State New Kensington students may be uploaded via our secure upload tool.
Step 3. Schedule an Intake Meeting
After completing Steps 1 & 2, contact the Disability Services office at Penn State New Kensington to schedule an appointment. You can make this appointment several ways:
- Email the campus Disability Services Coordinator, Oscar Aguilera [email protected], with your availability by listing three or four one-hour time periods from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday - Friday.
- Call Oscar Aguilera at 724-334-6744. If you need to leave a message, please speak clearly leaving your name and PSU ID number so your call can be returned.
Proctored Exams
Proctored testing for students with disabilities will take place in the distraction-free study room located inside the Success Center. Students must schedule their exams with the Success Center at least three business in advance. Faculty must drop off exams to the Success Center before the scheduled exam for processing.
Alternative Text
Depending on the nature and functional limitations of a student's documented disability, they may be eligible for alternative textbook and course materials. Alternative text provides students access to print material through different methods (e.g., electronic files, large print files, audio, Braille). Students who are approved for alternative text receive the accommodation at no cost. Students must, however, show proof that they have purchased or rented the book before they can receive the alternative text due to copyright laws. Alternative text is provided for a student's personal use only and is not to be shared with other individuals.
In order to receive a textbook or course material in an alternate format, the students must:
- Officially register with Disability Services and have a documented disability that requires alternate formats as a reasonable academic adjustment supported by the documentation.
- Enroll in courses at Penn State New Kensington for the semester that the alternate format for texts or course materials is requested.
- Meet with their Disability Specialist from Disability Services and have approval for alternate formats for texts or course materials as an academic adjustment.
- Review the Chaffee Amendment.
- Sign the Student Acknowledge Form.
- Purchase a copy of any textbook or course packet for which an alternate format is requested (this is a copyright requirement), and retain sales receipt to provide to Disability Services as proof of purchase.
- Complete the Alternative Text request form
To learn more about Disability Services at Penn State, visit the following sites:
Student Disability Resources - University Park
Students with disabilities should contact one of our Disability Services Specialists to discuss the University's process for receiving reasonable accommodations.
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