American's with Disabilities Act Guidelines

ADA guidelines regarding Talent Search Participants

Appropriate Accommodations for Talent Search students (participants) with special needs

1.   Eligible participants will not be denied access to a Talent
Search approved activity due to a disability or other special
need, conditional upon prior presentation and approval of
appropriate documentation from a certified professional stating the
nature of the disability and suggested accommodations.   It is
expected that documentation will accompany the application
for participation.

2.  Reasonable accommodations are those that do not fundamentally alter
the nature of the program/activity, that can be provided without
undue financial or administrative burden, and that can be provided
without lowering the essential performance standards and objectives of
the grant.

3.   Educational Advisors should notify the Project Director and Secretary
at the beginning of an academic year of any new or returning
participants  who may require special accommodations while
participating in a Talent Search sponsored trip.

4.   Participants should declare at the beginning of an academic year of
any special accommodations they may require during a Talent Search 
trip.  Special accommodations should be declared on the
participant’s application or update form.  Any verbal or written
notice regarding accommodations should be confidential and
involve parents input.  Parents will be notified of the level of
assistance available from the Talent Search staff regarding
special medical conditions or the dispensing of medications.

5.   Participants with special accommodation requests should not expect
that a cultural trip schedule or the event activities be modified solely
to meet their situation.  Talent Search sponsored trips usually involve
30 or more students and chaperones.  The Project Director and
program staff plan trips that can include every participant without
major modifications for one or two individuals.  The program will
make reasonable accommodation efforts when requested. 

6.   Parents of participants with special needs are encouraged to discuss
their child’s accommodations with the Project Director.  The Director
will make a reasonable attempt to accommodate.  Compromises may
be necessary to ensure that a scheduled cultural trip is a
meaningful experience for everyone.

7.   Parents of participants, who require regularly scheduled
medications, medically approved diets, or have medical conditions
that require close supervision can request to travel with their child
on a scheduled program trip.  If space is available, the Project Director
will make a reasonable effort to accommodate.

8.   Expenses for transportation, meals, and room (if overnight) of parents
who are approved to travel with their participant children due to
special medical conditions may be paid by the Talent Search
Grant.  Inquiry should be made upon notification of the activity.

9.   The Project Director, after consultation with the Vice-President of
Student Services and the institutions ADA compliance officer, reserves
the right to modify a cultural trip or other Talent Search sponsored event
for one or more of its participants with special accommodation
needs.  Accommodations may be considered and modified depending
on each particular situation and request.

10. Parents or guardians with questions or concerns regarding accommodations LCC Talent Search provides may contact the Project Director or Vice-President of Student Services.