ADA Academic Services Available

Testing accommodations are designed to accurately measure your academic knowledge without barriers. Depending on your approved accommodations, testing modifications may include:

• Extended testing time
• Oral testing or reading support
• Testing in a separate, low-distraction room
• Marking directly on the exam instead of utilizing a scantron sheet
• Utilizing a professional scribe for the exam

Testing Responsibilities:

• Reservations: You are responsible for reserving your specific testing day and time directly with the campus Testing Center.
• Specialized Staffing: If your accommodations include a live reader or scribe, you must notify the Accessibility Services office at least 2 business days in advance to guarantee the arrangement of the service.

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Personal note-taking support services are available as an approved academic accommodation for students whose documented disabilities physically or structurally impact their ability to take comprehensive in-class lecture notes. Students must submit adequate medical or psychological documentation explicitly supporting the functional need for note-taking modifications.

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College of the Mainland provides professional sign language interpreters for students who are deaf or hard of hearing to ensure complete classroom access.

Important Guidelines for Interpreter Services:

• Advance Notice Required: You must contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator prior to the start of the semester to initiate your file and request interpreters for your upcoming course schedule.
• Campus Visits: Prospective students requiring an interpreter for tours, enrollment, or campus visits must contact our office ahead of time to coordinate staffing.
• Peer Boundaries: To maintain institutional and professional standards, family members or close friends of the student are not permitted to act as interpreters in the educational setting.
• Attendance No-Show Policy: Interpreting resources are highly specialized. Students using sign language interpreters are required to report any course absences prior to the class meeting time. If you miss 3 classes without contacting the Accessibility Services office, your interpreter services will be automatically suspended. You will remain responsible for your class attendance and must meet directly with the Coordinator to have your services officially reinstated.

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Our office maintains a suite of specialized software and hardware tools to promote academic independence. Equipment is loaned on a first-come, first-served basis and must be formally checked out through the Accessibility Services office.

Software Solutions:

• JAWS: Read-aloud screen reader software supporting individuals with visual impairments or severe learning disabilities.
• ZoomText: Low-vision software that magnifies the screen and enhances contrast across Windows applications.
• Dragon Naturally Speaking: Advanced speech-to-text voice recognition software.

Hardware and Devices Available for Loan:

• Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV): Adjustable desktop magnification devices to increase the size of printed textbooks and physical media.
• FM Loop Systems & UBI-DUO Communicators: Wireless communication devices and frequency transmitters supporting students with hearing impairments.
• Learning Tools: Smart pens, AlphaSmart keyboards, portable lecture voice recorders, and reading pens for immediate word support.
• Classroom Aids: Talking calculators, reading overlays, large computer monitors, and background noise-blocking headphones.

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For students with severe learning disabilities or visual impairments, COM assists in obtaining electronic or alternate-format versions of required textbooks. Because formatting requests rely on publishers and national clearings, advance planning is crucial.

To request an alternate format textbook, you must submit the following details to our office as early as possible:

1. Official receipt proving purchase of a physical hard copy of the textbook.
2. The textbook ISBN, Title, Author, Publisher, and specific Edition number.

Tip: Eligible students are also encouraged to secure a membership with Learning Ally, a national nonprofit organization that provides extensive accessible audiobook libraries for individuals with reading difficulties.

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Designated accessible parking spaces are located near the primary entrances of every building on campus. College of the Mainland honors all official, valid accessible parking permits and placards issued by the State of Texas.

For additional questions regarding campus vehicle parking or physical accessibility entryways, contact the Campus Security Office at 409-933-8403.

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Service dogs

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is any breed of dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Service animals are allowed on campus and registration of your service animal with the Accessibility Services office is not required, however it is encouraged for the owner to contact Accessibility Services so that the disability office can assist the student and the animal and suggest additional services that might be available.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals can be asked to be removed from the campus for the following reasons:

• if the animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it
• the animal is not house trained
• the animal is posing a direct threat

Miniature Horses

It is highly recommended that a student contacts the Accessibility Services office if the student is planning on bringing a miniature horse service animal on campus. According to Americans with Disabilities Act, miniature horses are only allowed if the facility can accommodate the type, size and weight and safety of the animal.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a miniature horse can be removed if the following guidelines are not met:

• If the handler does not sufficient control of the miniature horse
• If the animal is not house broken
• If the animal’s presence in a specific building compromises legitimate safety requirements that are necessary for safe operations

Comfort Animals/ Emotional Support Animals

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a comfort animal does not qualify as a service animal since these animals have not been trained to perform a specific job or task.

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