Establishing the Need for Disability Support Services
Policies and Procedures - No. 2
Establishing the Need for Disability Support Services
Specific policies have been established to enable students with documented disabilities who are otherwise qualified, to request modifications or accommodations which would allow them equal access to the college under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students who are planning to attend the Houston Community College System (HCCS) and wish to declare a disability are encouraged to adhere to the following:
PROCEDURES
To access services in a timely manner, students need to adhere to the following:
- Contact the appropriate counselor for students with disabilities, preferably two months or more prior to enrolling. More time may be required if special services, such as adaptive equipment, interpreters, captionist, or assistance from outside agencies are needed.
- Bring documentation of a qualifying disability to the first appointment. Acceptable documentation includes diagnostic testing, reports from physicians, psychologists, school districts and agencies such as TRC. Check with the DSSO to determine what documentation will be accepted.
- Have the counselor review the documentation and recommendations. Discuss the modifications and/or reasonable accommodations needed for appropriate placement testing and in the instructional environment.
- Complete admissions and testing procedures with the assistance of your DSSO counselor.
- Make a second appointment with the assigned counselor, after completion of placement testing, for class selection and scheduling.
- Discuss reasonable accommodations for classes with your assigned counselor. The counselor will prepare a letter of accommodations for the student to take to each instructor. Students are encouraged to self-advocate for accommodations requested in their accommodation letter. If the instructor asks questions about the disability, we recommend referring the instructor to the DSSO Counselor.
- Students are encouraged to visit their counselor during the semester for tips on study skills, to discuss educational goals or for academic or personal counseling.
- It is the students’ responsibility to contact their assigned DSSO counselor for course selection, scheduling, and letters of accommodations. We encourage all students to advance toward their educational and career goals.
- Declare the disability with the Disability Support Service Office (DSSO) at the primary college of planned attendance within HCCS at least sixty days (60) prior to the enrollment period. HCCS cannot guarantee the availability of appropriate accommodations without ample lead-time to make preparations and access resources.
- Accommodations in the instructional environment begin when the student provides instructors with a current accommodation letter approved by the DSSO. However, students must allow sufficient time for instructors to arrange requested accommodations.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Adhering to timelines and procedural requirements enables the DSSO to provide accommodations in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Students who adhere to the following procedures help to expedite the receipt of appropriate accommodations as early as possible:
- Request accommodations with the DSSO as early as possible.
- Inform instructors at the beginning of the term as to his/her disability, how that disability affects his/her performance, and present the letter of reasonable accommodations(s) provided by the DSSO.
- Meet the timelines and procedural requirements for self-identifying, providing documentation and informing instructors about the disability.
- Self-advocate for services or refer faculty to the DSSO if there are questions.
