Disability Services

Disability Services is the office designated by the college to support students and community members with disabilities under Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Disability Services arranges accommodations for eligible students and community members, and assists college administration, faculty, and staff to provide required accommodations.

Mission Statement

Disability Services values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to a climate of mutual respect and full participation by providing an accessible experience for all students, staff, faculty, and community members.


Eligibility for Disability Services

To be eligible for accommodations, students must register with Disability Services and provide documentation of disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Disability is defined as:

  1. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as walking, standing, seeing, speaking, hearing, sitting, breathing, reading, learning, thinking, performing manual tasks, or taking care of oneself.
  2. Has a record of such impairment or is perceived as having such impairment.

Registering With Disability Services

If you have a disability and feel that you would qualify for accommodations to assist you while attending Joliet Junior College, you will need to follow some steps to be eligible for Disability Services:

  1. Apply to the college.

  2. Take the college Placement Tests. It is recommended that you review for the Placement Tests before completing the tests.

  3. Submit disability documentation for approval (see our Documentation requirements below).

  4. Complete the Request to Review Documentation form (see below). Please use Internet Explorer as your web browser.

  5. Once documentation is approved, Disability Services will contact you to schedule an Intake appointment.

Additional Information

Grievance Procedures

Disability Services is the office designated by the college to support students with disabilities under Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Joliet Junior College and Disability Services support students in the right to file a grievance when the student believes that they have been discriminated against on the basis of a disability and/or have been denied equal access in the form of appropriate accommodations, auxiliary aids or effective communication or suffered discriminatory harassment.  The general grievance procedure, which applies to all students, are available to students with disabilities.  The grievance procedures listed below are additional procedures that apply to students with disabilities who feel their rights have been violated under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Students should first express their concerns with the Coordinator of Disability Services, A-1125 or call 815-280-2230.  The Coordinator will attempt to resolve the issue by assisting the student in discussing issues with the faculty member, or department or program, depending on the issue/circumstances.  Most issues can be positively resolved with the Coordinator's assistance and mediation.

If the student feels that a satisfactory resolution has not been reached, students may put the complaint in writing along with their name and address and a detailed description of the situation. The complaint can be submitted to the Dean of Student Success, A-1147, 815-280-2885.  An investigation will follow and a written determination of the resolution will be issued to the complainant no later than 30 days after filing.

If the complaint cannot be resolved at the college level, the student may choose to file a complaint with the Federal Office of Civil Rights.  The JJC Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, A-1100 or 815-280-2761, can provide assistance in filing a formal complaint.

Chicago Office
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
Citigroup Center
500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475
Chicago, IL 60661-4544
Telephone: 312-730-1560
FAX: 312-730-1576; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov
 
All parties involved in the complaint procedure shall maintain strict confidentiality of the information presented. Retaliation against persons who file complaints is strictly prohibited.

Chicago Office

Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
Citigroup Center
500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475
Chicago, IL 60661-4544

Telephone: 312-730-1560
FAX: 312-730-1576; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov

All parties involved in the complaint procedure shall maintain strict confidentiality of the information presented. Retaliation against persons who file complaints is strictly prohibited.

Placement Test Accommodations

The three parts of the Placement Test do not have to be taken at one time. Each of the three parts may be taken at different times/days to best meet the student's needs.

Since the Placement Tests are all untimed, the accommodation of having extended test time for the Placement Tests is not necessary.

If you feel you may need additional accommodations on the Placement Test, please contact the office of Disability Services at 815 280-2613, to discuss what accommodations you may need for the test. You do not need to be registered with Disability Services for Placement Test accommodations.

Documentation Requirements

Disability Services at Joliet Junior College is committed to empowering students with disabilities to enable equal access to an education at JJC. Disability Services engages in an interactive process with each student on an individual, case-by-case basis to determine reasonable accommodations. The documentation provided must demonstrate a disability as it relates to Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.

Documentation Requirement Options

Option 1

The following forms can be printed and completed by a healthcare professional to support the disability. This will be used to determine eligibility for appropriate accommodation.

Blind/Low Vision Form

ADD/ADHD, Psychological and Traumatic Brain Injury Form

Mobility, Systemic/Chronic Health and Other Functional Impairments Form

Option 2

Disability documentation can be completed by a qualified treating or diagnosing healthcare professional (psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, licensed certified social worker, medical doctor, optometrists, etc.) who is not a family member of the student.

Documentation can be completed on the healthcare professional's official letterhead and signed by the credentialed professional or the forms in Option 1 can be completed by a qualifying professional. Information should contain:

  • A diagnostic statement identifying the disability with the date of diagnosis.
  • The impact of the disability.
  • An assessment of major life activities that are affected by the impairment (memory, concentration, social interactions, learning, thinking, walking standing, sitting, etc.).
  • Include test scores/diagnostics when applicable.
  • Must include name and title of professional, license number, address, phone and signature of professional.

Option 3

An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is only accepted for students with Learning Disabilities, Cognitive/Intellectual Disabilities or students diagnosed on the Autism/Asperger's Spectrum. However, the last IEP (Transition) is not accepted. Disability Services requests the three year re-evaluation and/or psychological report with eligibility. This is usually done during the student's sophomore or junior year of high school. The student must request these documents from his/her high school. These records do not automatically transfer with the students transcripts.

Option 4

Deaf/hard of hearing students must provide diagnostic results from a full hearing test performed by a qualified professional. Documentation must also address the following:

  • Relevant medical history, including date of hearing loss.
     
  • Specific diagnosis and recent audiogram.
     
  • Description of functional limitation (with and without any hearing aids or other assistive devices or treatments).
  • Additional information that can be helpful would be an IEP or 504 Plan (this information alone will notbe sufficient to support the diagnosis).

Option 5

Students who are diagnosed as blind/low vision must provide a copy of the complete ocular examination from an optometrist or ophthalmologist that includes:

  • Diagnosis and original diagnosis date.
  • Etiology/cause
  • Impact or limitation (including acuity scores).
  • Visual acuity with and without correction.
  • Status of corrective lenses (glasses and/or contact lenses and any other devices).
  • Additional information that can be helpful would be an IEP or 504 Plan (this information alone will notbe sufficient to support the diagnosis).
  • Can use the Blind-Low Vision Documentation Form.pdf to obtain the above information.
     

Submitting Documentation

Documentation can be mailed, faxed, emailed or dropped off.

Mail:
Joliet Junior College
Disability Services (A-1125 at Campus Center)
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431-8938

Fax: 815-280-2820
Email: star@jjc.edu
Drop off at Main Campus Room; A-1125

Request to Review Documentation

Documentation Submission

Students may submit disability documentation for approval (see our Documentation requirements) either before or after completing the Request to Review Documentation. Documentation can be mailed, faxed, emailed or dropped off.

Mail: Joliet Junior College
Disability Services (A-1125 at Campus Center)
1215 Houbolt Road
Joliet, IL 60431-8938

Fax: 815-280-2820
Email: disabilityservices@jjc.edu
Drop off at Main Campus Room A-1125