Accommodation Complaint Resolution Procedure
Fullerton College is committed to providing services to all students equitably and fairly. In regard to accommodating students with disabilities, Fullerton College complies with all state and federal laws and regulations including Title 5 of the California Education Code, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a student believes that there has been a violation of these regulations, the student is encouraged to discuss the matter with the Disability Support Services (DSS) staff.
Rights of Students
A student with a disability who is 18 years of age or older is considered to be an adult under federal law and DSPS regulations. As an adult, s/he is expected to decide on their own about attending Fullerton College and selecting classes. Information about a disabled student will not be released to parents or family members unless such family members are legal conservators or the student gives DSS staff written permission to release information to specific individuals.
Accommodations
Fullerton College strives to accommodate the special needs of all qualified students with disabilities. “Qualified” students include those students with verified disabilities and demonstrated need for accommodations. The list of qualifying disabilities includes, but is not limited to, learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries, developmental delays, hearing impairments, visual impairments, communication impairments, psychological disabilities, mobility impairments, and other health impairments. A qualified student with a disability should contact the DSS office to request services. Among the most commonly provided accommodations are sign language interpreters, note-taking assistance, test accommodations, alternate media (e.g. Braille, e-text, large print, etc.), adaptive computers, and other assistive technology. Personal assistance services are not provided in postsecondary educational settings (beyond high school). A student needing assistance with activities of daily living (toileting, feeding, ambulating, etc.) must provide their own personal care attendants. A student with cognitive impairments may be eligible to receive learning disability testing through DSS. The results of such testing will be used to determine reasonable educational accommodations.
Complaint Resolution Procedure
Disability Support Services (DSS) prides itself on providing appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. However, there are rare instances in which a student feels that s/he has been treated unfairly. There are two processes: (1) an informal resolution process involving the DSS staff and student services administration; and (2) a formal complaint process through the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) Equity & Diversity Office.
Informal Resolution Process
If a student has a complaint about services or accommodations, s/he should contact the Disability Support Services (DSS) staff member responsible for that specific service. If preferred, a student may submit a letter of complaint or complete a Complaint Resolution Form.
Step 1: The DSS staff member responsible for the service will investigate the complaint and make every effort to issue a written response within a reasonable time (not to exceed two weeks) following the initial contact with the student.
Step 2: If the student is dissatisfied with the written response from the DSS staff member, s/he may appeal in writing* or meet with the DSS Director: Dr. Edward Roth | Room 842 | (714)992-7100 | eroth@fullcoll.edu
The Director will also investigate the complaint and issue a written decision in a timely manner (not to exceed two weeks) following receipt of the appeal.
Step 3: If the student is dissatisfied with the Director’s decision, s/he may file a written appeal or meet with the Interim Dean of Student Support Services: Dr. Naomi Q. Abesamis | Room 223 | (714)992-7088 | nabesamis@fullcoll.edu
Step 4: If the student is still dissatisfied, s/he may contact the Vice President of Student Services: Dr. Gilbert Contreras | Room 111-01 | (714)992-7073 | gcontreras@fullcoll.edu
The Vice President will investigate and render a decision.
Timelines shown for submitting and ruling on a complaint may be extended at the discretion of the DSS Director or the administrator investigating the complaint. In situations when the administrator is unavailable to review a complaint (e.g. s/he is ill, on vacation, and/or away on business), an alternate administrator will be designated to carry out the procedure. Questions about the Accommodation Complaint Resolution Procedure should be directed to the DSS Director.
*A student who has difficulty with writing or reading may request accommodations from the DSS office to assist in completing the complaint/appeal form.
Formal Complaint Process
The formal process is available to the student during or after any step in the informal process. For a detailed explanation of the formal complaint process, visit the NOCCCD Equity and Diversity webpage.