Mobility Devices, Personal Care Attendant & Tape Recording Policies
Mobility Devices
- Access to Public Areas:
- ADA allows people with disabilities to use wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, crutches, or canes in public places.
- Facilities must allow these devices unless safety rules prevent it. If safety is a concern, alternative solutions should be explored.
- DSS Office and Mobility Devices:
- DSS may ask for proof of disability for mobility device use, but they do not provide devices; it is the student's responsibility.
- More details can be found in "Wheelchairs, Mobility Aids, and Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices."
Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Policy:
- Registration and Approval:
- Students needing a PCA must register with DSS and provide medical documentation.
- Before a PCA can be on campus, students must provide all necessary information to DSS for approval and PCA is required to obtain a background check at the expense of the student.
- Both student and PCA must sign the PCA Policy & Agreement Form before final approval.
- PCA Recommendations:
- It's recommended that students hire an impartial PCA who is not a family member or close friend.
- The student is responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and paying the PCA directly.
- Roles and Responsibilities:
- PCAs is required to provide a background check to DSS and Residence Hall (if applicable) each academic year.
- PCAs are only allowed on campus when the student is present, not during holidays or when the college is closed.
- PCAs should focus on PCA duties and may not participate in academic or student activities.
- PCAs are required to follow all college rules and regulations.
Consequences for Non-Compliance:
Failure to adhere to these policies may result in PCA removal from the residence hall or campus, loss of privileges, or other appropriate actions.
For questions, contact the DSS office at 254-526-1195.
Audio Recording Lectures Policy:
The accommodation of use of an audio recording device to record class lectures allows students with disabilities to have an equal chance to receive and process information presented in class by supporting their notetaking needs. This accommodation is approved on an individual basis based on the student’s disability. Methods for making an audio recording in the classroom may include the following: an audio recording device such as a tape recorder or the use of recording software on a laptop or a cellular phone. Use of this accommodation is subject to the following policies:
- Recordings of any/all class lectures are only for the student’s personal use in study and preparation related to the class.
- This accommodation is not an approval to recording personal conversations with instructors, students or other staff members outside of normal classroom lectures or beyond note taking purposes for class lectures.
- Students may not share any of these recordings with any other individuals, including individuals in their classes.
- Students approved for this accommodation acknowledges that the recordings are deemed sources, the use of which in any academic work is governed by rules of academic conduct at Central Texas College and applicable federal copyright laws. All class lectures as presented are the intellectual property of the class instructors, and comments made by classmates are their own intellectual property.
- Students agree and are required to destroy any/all recordings that were made with this accommodation when they are no longer needed for their academic work.
Students who have been approved to record audio class lectures as an accommodation are required to abide by each of these policies. Failure to comply with these policies may result in the loss of this accommodation and appropriate disciplinary action by the college. Audio recording outside of the typical classroom experience (including fieldwork, internships, clinicals, and etc.) will need to be discussed on a case-by-case basis in collaboration with DSS, class instructors, programs, and site location as appropriate.
Instructors may require students to sign an agreement between the instructor and student that details the specific use of class lecture recordings and disposal of recordings when the purpose of the recordings have been fulfilled. DSS can assist instructors with such an agreement if needed. If recording class lectures involving a sensitive subject, such as self-disclosure, personal reflection, or confidential discussions from students or presenters that are not appropriate subject matter for any student to be taking notes, then it would be appropriate to make a general announcement to the class and ask all students to stop note-taking in addition to turning off any recording devices. Instructors that have questions or concerns regarding the recording of their class discussions, or the nature of the information presented and discussed, please contact the DSS office.