ACC Office of Disabilities

Link to ACC's Office of Students with Disabilities

How to Obtain Services

New students In order to be processed by the first day of classes, new students should request services prior to the final day of regular registration.  First you must be admitted to Austin Community College.  Click here for online ACC admission procedures. Obtain an Application for Services and an Information Release form here or from OSD at any ACC campus.  Complete and return the forms to the nearest OSD. Bring relevant diagnostic reports signed by a professional authorized to diagnose and/or treat your disability.  The report should be on the professional’s letterhead and recent enough to be reflective of your current status and situation. Tuition Exemptions for Students who are deaf or blind:  If you are a student who is deaf or blind, you will need to bring proof of your disability, letter of intent and letter of recommendation before ACC can process a tuition exemption for you. Make an appointment for the ACC Assessment test.  Discuss with OSD any test accommodations that you need.  The test selected depends on your choice of major and if you plan to pursue a degree or a certificate. Attend an ACC Orientation required for new students. Meet with the OSD Coordinator or Supervisor at the campus that you plan to take the majority of your classes.  Bring your scores from the ACC Assessment test.  This will help to place you in the right classes. After you have registered, pay for your classes by the designated deadline or contact your sponsoring agency with your tuition information.

Examples of Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations in a college or university setting are defined as: adjustments made in programs or services that give qualified individuals with a disability equal and effective access needed to participate. Educational accommodations may vary and depend on approved diagnostic evaluations and the nature of the courses you plan to take. Services and the types of accommodations approved differ greatly between college and high school; click here to learn more. Examples of some reasonable accommodations, by disability Learning disabilities Accommodations may include: Use of computer with spell check/grammar check during essay exams Duplication of overhead transparencies Early registration Note sharing Tape recorder in the classroom Testing in a distraction reduced environment Use of textbooks on audiotape for students with reading disabilities Use of a calculator during testing of students with math calculation or math reasoning disabilities Extended testing time that is proctored in most appropriate setting -- classroom, OSD, or Testing Center Extended time for in-class assignments to correct spelling, punctuation, grammar No penalty or spelling on assignments written in-class without dictionary/spell check Reader for tests for students with reading disability Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Accommodations may include: Providing the student with a copy of overhead transparencies Early registration Note sharing Use of a tape recorder to facilitate note taking Priority seating in the classroom Proctored testing in a distraction-reduced environment Textbooks on tape Alternative testing format (i.e., extended time for tests in most appropriate setting – classroom, OSD, or Testing Center) Supervised breaks during exams Visual impairment Accommodations may include: Use of low vision aids such as a magnifying glass, monocular, or CCTV Use of computer with programs like JAWS or ZoomText Duplication of overhead transparencies Early registration Enlarged print for testing Note sharing Priority seating in the classroom Readers for tests Scribe for exams Tape recorder in the classroom Textbooks on tape Written materials provided in an alternative format Learning assistant Alternative testing format (i.e., tests in Braille, extended testing time in OSD) Types of alternate format of printed material for student with blindness/visual impairments include: Audio tape: Most textbooks can be ordered on tape from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (1-800-221-4792) Large print: Standard sized materials can be enlarged on a copier using 11" x 17" paper Computer disk: Convert the text of materials to ASCII format Braille: Adaptive equipment will be necessary to provide alternate format in Braille.  Braille is probably the least requested alternate format for students with blindness. Hearing impairment Accommodations may include: Providing a sign language interpreter Ensuring that an interpreter is located where the student can see both the interpreter and the   lecturer Early registration Note sharing Priority seating in the classroom Use of captioned videos, when available Extended time on oral tests that require an interpreter in most appropriate setting – classroom or OSD Mobility Impairment Accommodations may include: Special seating in classroom (i.e., chair, larger desk, wheelchair accessible desk) Duplication of overhead transparencies (i.e., for students with fine-motor disabilities) Early registration  Learning assistant Note sharing Scribe for exams Tape recorder in classroom Extended testing time in most appropriate setting – classroom, OSD, or Testing Center

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