Accessibility Services Mission

The primary function is to provide assistance to students with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Accessibility Coordinator works with faculty, staff, and students to assure equal access and opportunity to all programs. Academic accommodations and adjustments are provided to students whose documentation provides evidence of a “substantially limiting” disability as defined by federal legislation. In accordance with these laws, our office is required to have appropriate documentation on file in order to provide the requested academic accommodations or adjustments.

  • Specific Learning Disabilities
  • Mobility Impairment
  • Chronic Illness (to include AIDS, cancer, diabetes)
  • Epilepsy or Seizure Disorders
  • Speech Disorder
  • Psychological Disabilities

Students New to Disability Services

1. Schedule an Appointment

Intake appointments are required to approve disability accommodations.

Book an Appointment

2. Complete this Form

Once you have required documentation based on your disability, provide documentation in the Student Intake Form and your disability counselor will review.

STUDENT INTAKE FORM

If you are not sure of the documentation needed, please review the guidelines for documentation listed below.

Allow 3 business days for accommodation evaluation.

Request for Accommodations (Current Students Only)

Current students must request accommodations every semester. Once you have registered for classes, complete the form below. 

Request for Accommodations

Guidelines for Documentation

Guidelines for Documentation

In order to seek academic accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, students with disabilities should register with the office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Academic accommodations and adjustments are provided to students whose documentation provides evidence of a “substantially limiting” disability as defined by federal legislation. In accordance with these laws, our office is required to have appropriate documentation on file in order to provide the requested academic accommodations or adjustments.

In order for College of the Mainland to provide the appropriate accommodations for a student with a disability, we rely on appropriately trained evaluators to provide documentation as to the presence and severity of the disability itself. We find that these guidelines provide the detailed information necessary to assess the appropriateness of the student’s request for academic accommodations. Given that the manifestations of a disability may change over time, the evaluation must reflect the student’s current status.

The documentation must reflect the following:

  • A specific diagnosis (including level of severity).
  • The specific findings in support of this diagnosis including relevant history, observations of the individual, test administered, test results, and the interpretation of those results.
  • A description of the student’s functional limitations as they are directly related to the stated disability.
  • Specific recommendations for academic accommodations, including an explanation of why these specific
    accommodations are needed.
  • The evaluators name address, telephone number, and professional credential relevant to the diagnosis.
  • The documentation must be on letterhead, typed, dated and signed by a medical doctor or otherwise qualified person to make the diagnosis.

The following are general guidelines for documentation:

  • Individuals with psychological disabilities may present a typed letter on official letterhead from a licensed
    psychologist or psychiatrist with an explanation of the disorder and educational recommendations.
  • Individuals with sensory, physical, or other health impairments are required to provide written documentation in the form of medical reports or a typed letter on official letterhead from a medical doctor detailing the disability as well functional limitations. Medical documentation must be within 3 years.
  • Individuals with Attention Deficit Disorder may present a typed letter on official letterhead from a licensed
    psychologist, psychiatrist or medical doctor.
  • Individuals with learning disabilities may present a typed letter on official letterhead or report from a licensed psychologist, diagnostician, or other professional knowledgeable in learning disabilities. This document must clearly state the presence of a learning disability and provide objective evidence of a substantial limitation to learning. A copy of a Comprehensive Individual Assessment from their high school diagnostician is also acceptable.

All documentation is reviewed on an individual basis and the student and service provider jointly agree upon
accommodations for Students with Disabilities. Please allow 48 hours (2 business days) to process requests for
accommodations.