Parents may only request basic office information about the policies and procedures regarding the process of how students may request accommodations for their college courses. Parents may NOT request accommodations and/or services on behalf of their child. The student must submit the appropriate documentation of disability and request accommodations (Brown Mackie College, and Texas Southern University No. 06-02-2078 OCR
12/06/2002). FERPA (Family and Education Rights Privacy Act) FERPA regulations (34 CFR 99.3) define disclosure as meaning “to permit access or release, transfer, or other communication of personally identifiable information contained in the education records by any means, including oral, written or electronic means, to any party except the party identified as the party that provided or created the record”. Before a college may disclose any information, it must first have written consent by the student authorizing types of disclosure. (34 CFR 99.30(b).
Under FERPA regulations, a written consent only permits a college to provide some information, it does not require action on the part of the DSS office or college (Brown Mackie College, OCR ruling). These written consents do not entitle parents to actively participate in the DSS office process on behalf of their child. DSS does not work with parents or other individuals in
place of the student. Central Texas College is NOT obligated to write accommodations when the student has not requested accommodations from the DSS office.
OCR (Office of Civil Rights) has concluded that “it stands to reason that if the student objects to, refuses offers of accommodations, or denies the need for accommodations, the institution is not obligated to act on parent’s assertions of student’s needs (Northwestern Michigan College No. 15-02-2047 OCR 02/10/2003). *OCR has ruled that students should initiate the process, be active participants in the accommodation process and have direct interaction/contact with the DSS Coordinator.