Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at Georgia Piedmont Technical College supports access for students with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. SAS coordinates reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and accessibility services to ensure students have equal access to academic programs, services, and campus activities.

Through an interactive process, SAS works collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff to identify and reduce barriers while promoting inclusive practices across the College. Our work is grounded in federal disability law and focused on supporting student success, independence, and full participation in the GPTC learning environment.

Confidentiality

Enrolled students are considered adults; therefore, all information provided becomes confidential. A signed Confidential Disclosure statement must be provided before information is released to parents or other interested parties. Accommodations will be provided for each semester in which the student requests such arrangements and provides a current class schedule to the Office of Disability Services.

Documentation

To determine appropriate accessibility measures (accommodations), Student Accessibility Services (SAS) requires documentation from the licensed medical professional who is treating you. This documentation is reviewed in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and helps us understand how your condition may impact you in a post-secondary academic environment.

The purpose of requesting documentation is not to prevent students from receiving services. Rather, documentation helps SAS identify reasonable and effective accessibility measures based on functional limitations related to a qualifying medical condition.

Please note that a clinical diagnosis alone does not automatically establish eligibility for accommodations. Documentation must demonstrate that the condition substantially limits one or more major life activities and explain how those limitations affect you academically.

Documentation Requirements:

• Be completed by a licensed professional (who is not related to you) and whose credentials are directly related to your qualifying medical condition under the ADA
• Be provided on official letterhead or the appropriate SAS form
• Include the provider’s printed name, professional title, license number, contact information, and signature
• Clearly identify the qualifying medical condition and describe the method of diagnosis
• Describe current functional limitations and their impact in an academic setting
• Support your request for specific, reasonable accessibility measures
• Include provider-recommended accommodations tied to identified functional limitations

What Does Not Count as Documentation:

• Handwritten letters from licensed professionals
• Handwritten patient records or chart notes
• Documentation provided by a family member
• Diagnoses written on prescription pads
• Self-evaluations
• Research articles
• Medication containers or photographs of medication bottles

Rights and Responsibilities

GPTC has the right to identify and establish essential functions, abilities, skills, knowledge, standards and criteria for courses, programs and/or jobs. The college has the right to deny a request for accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services that are inappropriate, ineffective, unreasonable or may pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others, impose a substantial change to an essential element of the curriculum or pose an undue financial or administrative burden on the program, activities, faculty or staff of the college. All students are evaluated based on their performance.

Support Services

These additional services may vary based on individual needs. Standard support services include:

• Career guidance
• Academic assessment/placement
• Special classroom aids
• Interpreters for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Adapted equipment
• Referral to community service agencies

Special Populations
Students who belong to specific sub-populations may benefit from additional, tailored support. Learn more about Special Populations.

Facilities