Accessible furniture (a free standing desk or table and chair) are located in most all of the classrooms on campus. Science labs feature accessible stations which are accessible for wheel chairs and have adjustable or accessible-height work surfaces. However, there are some buildings featuring classrooms which do not have free standing table/desks or chairs. Further, you may have a furniture need or request that is more specific. In either of the cases, please follow the steps below.

ONE MONTH BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN: Once a student who anticipates they may need specific furniture enrolls in courses for the upcoming semester, s/he should physically check out each classroom where the class is scheduled to meet. If doing this proves difficult for the student due to mobility or pain issues on his/her own, then the student should email or call the DRC office to request that the DRC Office meet the student on campus to assess the classrooms for his/her furniture access needs together.

Students requesting furniture accommodations must be registered with the DRC office and provide appropriate documentation from their treating physician verifying they are unable to use existing furniture. Documentation should specify the medical condition and disability resulting in a need for accessible furniture and discuss the way in which the furniture accommodates their need(s).

TWO WEEKS BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN: Students should make an appointment, or attend a drop in if an existing student, with a DRC Counselor to request the accessible or specialized furniture accommodation.

• During this appointment/drop-in, the student will need to have room numbers where the accessible or specialized furniture will be utilized. The DRC Office needs at least two weeks’ advance notice to ensure that the accessible furniture is in place for the first day of class. The DRC will make every effort to accommodate late requests but cannot guarantee that the furniture will be in place for the first day of class.
• If it is necessary to purchase furniture for the student, there will be an additional delay (approximately one month). Due to Palomar College purchasing procedures, furniture is ordered through specific vendors; DRC will work diligently to help ensure prompt fulfillment of the request. For these reasons, it is extremely important that students who believe they will need accessible furniture make their requests and provide documentation as soon as possible. Delay in making the request may result in delay in provision of service.
• DRC will inform faculty regarding the placement of the specific furniture in the classroom and priority use by the student with a disability during class/lab hours.
• Students should bring their own cushions or orthopedic support as needed to use in the classroom. The College is not responsible for personal items left in the classroom.
• Accessible or specialized furniture provided by DRC is not prescriptive in nature and should be considered only as a means to improve classroom access.

If there are any problems with the furniture (the furniture is missing from the room, it is constantly being moved, etc.), then it is the student’s responsibility to notify the DRC office immediately at 760-744-1150, Ext. 2375 to rectify the problem.

***adapted from http://www.clayton.edu/disability/Assistive-Technology/Accessible-Furniture-Policy