Services for Students with Disabilities

HCC is committed to providing an accessible education and supportive learning environment for all students. A noncredit student with disabilities who requires special accommodations must notify the division of continuing education and workforce development, in writing, two weeks before the first class begins so that suitable assistance may be provided in a timely fashion. A student with disabilities who is enrolled in credit classes should schedule an appointment with a counselor in the disability support services (DSS) office. The student must provide appropriate documentation of the disability to this office. The counselor will create an accommodations contract and the student and the counselor will agree upon appropriate academic accommodations and both will sign this form. As a result of this, accommodation memos will be produced for each of the student's instructors. The student will pick up these memos on the first day of class and will deliver these to the instructors. No accommodations will be granted unless the student delivers these memos to the instructors. All information provided will be kept confidential and will be used to determine appropriate and reasonable academic accommodations. To schedule a sign language interpreter, a credit student must notify the DSS office of the semester schedule at least two weeks prior to the start of classes. Because of a region-wide shortage of sign language interpreters, it is highly recommended that students needing interpreters work closely with the interpreter coordinator and complete early registration to give the college greater time to find an appropriate sign language interpreter. Interpreters are also available for college activities.

Services provided to students with documented disabilities include: advocacy, tutoring, interpreters, notetakers, test-taking accommodations, counseling, and academic advising, and assistive technology. For further information regarding scheduling services, assistive technology, course waivers and substitutions, personal care attendants, service animals, the grievance process, or other concerns related to students with disabilities, please contact the DSS office at 443-518-1300 or 443-518-4606 TDD, at disabilitysupport@howardcc.edu, or in person in room RCF-302.