HOME PAGE Student Support Services Disability Services FAQ Contact Us Forms When Professors are TOO Accomodating			Frequently Asked Questions   What is Student Support Services? A federally funded program designed to:  -Increase college retention and graduation rates for eligible students  -Foster an institutional climate supportive of the success of low-income and       first generation college students with disabilities  -Increase the transfer rate of eligible students from two-year to four-year       institutions   What are the qualifications for becoming a participant of Student Support Services? First generation college student, income eligible according to US Department of Education, United States Citizens, Documented disability, Enrolled at GSW   What services are offered? Tutoring, Cultural trips, Academic workshops, Academic and Career Guidance   Is Student Support Services tutoring free to any GSW students? No, you must be a participant of Student Support Services   Who qualifies for Student Support Services Supplemental Funds? Active participants of SSS who are also Pell recipients   Can Student Support Services purchase textbooks? No, the purchase of books is considered to be a stipend which is an unallowable cost per Department of Education   Can any student access the SSS computer lab or checkout laptop computers? No, you must be an active participant of SSS to use the computer lab or checkout laptops.   Can anyone attend Student Support Services cultural trips? No, you must be a participant of Student Support Services   When should I submit documentation verifying a disability to Disability Services? Documentation should not be submitted before receiving a letter of acceptance from Georgia Southwestern's Office of Admissions.   Where should I send documentation verifying my disability? Documentation can be brought to the Student Support Services department, which is located on the first floor of Sanford Hall or mailed to: Student Support Services Georgia Southwestern State University 800 Wheatley Street Americus, GA 31709 Is my Individual Education Plan (IEP) appropriate documentation? No. A complete psychological or educational evaluation must be submitted to obtain accommodations. How do I receive accommodations/services? To receive accommodations, a student must complete an application to participate in the Student Support Services program and submit documentation verifying a disability to the Disability Coordinator. The documentation must be on letter head and signed by a licensed professional. What is considered current documentation? Since reasonable accommodations are based upon the current impact of the disability, the documentation must address the current level of functioning and the need for accommodations. For a graduating high school senior, testing should have been conducted within the past three years. For all other students, testing should have been conducted within the past five years. For students with psychological disorders, testing should have been conducted with the past year.   Who should I contact if I need accommodation on a standardized test (PRAXIS, COMPASS, GRE, Regents, etc...)? Contact the Disability Coordinator at (229) 931-2294 or visit the Student Support Services department. What should I do if I believe that I have a disability? Students who believe they have a disability should stop by the Student Support Services department and speak with the Disability Coordinator. If testing is necessary, the Disability Coordinator will provide the student with a packet to complete for testing at Georgia State University's Regents Center for Learning Disabilities or refer the student to a local diagnostician. Testing at the RCLD will only be conducted with a letter of referral from the Disability Coordinator. How much does it cost to have an evaluation completed? An evaluation can cost as must as $2000. Evaluation completed at the Regents Center for Learning Disabilities cost only $500. Cost depends on whose conducting the evaluation. Are temporary accommodation provided? Temporary accommodations are provided with appropriate documentation. What accommodations are provided to students with disabilities? Accommodations are determined by the documentation received and the diagnosis. The most commonly used accommodations are extended time on test, testing in a distraction reduced environment, note-taker, reader, scribe, use of tape recorder during lecture and preferential seating. Where can get more information relating to disabilities? Disability Information for Students and Professionals www.abilityinfo.com ADHD Owner's Manual www.edutechsbs.com/adhd/ Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder www.chadd.org Learning Disabilities www.ldonline.org The CFIDS Association of America (Chronic Fatigue & Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) www.cfids.org AHEAD www.ahead.org Learning Disabilities Association www.ldanatl.org National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc www.ncld.org American Council of the Blind  www.acb.org American Speech-Language-Hearing Association  www.asha.org Health Topics A-Z www.cdc.gov/health/diseases.htm Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards www.access-board.gov/ufas/ufas-html/ufas.htm Psychiatric Times www.mhsource.com
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