A student is eligible for accommodations if they self-identify to the institution through the Office of Counseling & Accessibility Services and have presented the required appropriate documentation regarding the disability to the institution.
Approved accommodations are based on the diagnosis and documentation received by the Office of Counseling & Accessibility Services. Students who need classroom accommodations must register with CAS and request continued accommodations each semester. Semester accommodation letters, which describe the student’s needed classroom accommodations, will be developed with the student. The letters will be emailed to the student, and it is their responsibility to deliver the letters to their instructors. All accommodations should be discussed with each instructor.
Please note that accommodations are not retroactive.
Accommodations/Auxiliary Aids and Services
In post-secondary education, classroom accommodations are referred to as academic accommodations. The accommodations available to students are on a case-by-case basis. Some common accommodations are:
- Extended Time on In-class Assignments and Timed Examinations (This does not include extending due dates for assignments)
- Consideration for Absences
- Tape Recorded Lectures
- Reader
- Scribe
- No Scantron
- Distraction Reduced Environment
- Note Taker
- Communication Facilitators
- Captionist
- Sign Language Interpreters
Temporary Accommodations
The Counseling & Accessibility Services office provides limited services for students with temporary disabilities (i.e., inability to write because of a broken bone or inability to sit comfortably in class because of recent surgery). The application process is the same. Students can submit disability documentation online by completing an application for accessibility services.
The college has the right to request documentation of the temporary disability from the student's private physician prior to the provision of the service. Documentation forms may be obtained from the Accessibility Services office or the “Documentation & Forms” tab to the left.
Steps to Receiving Accommodations
- Complete the Application for Accessibility Services
- Upload/submit documentation (Documentation must be no more than three years old)
- CAS will contact you to schedule an intake appointment
- Meet with a counselor to discuss approved accommodations
- Students will receive accommodation letters after an intake interview. Letters will be emailed to the student’s email address on the accessibility services application. Students are responsible for distributing their accommodation letters to their instructors. The Office of Counseling & Accessibility Services will not email letters to instructors.
- Semester Accommodation Request Forms are due every semester thereafter that you wish to receive accommodations. Use the following link to submit your SARF.
Accommodated Testing
If you are a BRCC student registered with Accessibility Services:
- Each semester, please make sure the Testing Center has received a copy of your Accommodation Letter from the Office of Counseling & Accessibility Services. You can do this by bringing it by the Testing Center, or emailing a copy of it to testingcenter@mybrcc.edu.
- Please Schedule Your Test for an Accommodated Testing appointment. You will select Testing with Accommodation as your exam type.
- Complete the required information in each blank and select Add to Cart. After that, you will select the COMPLETE REGISTRATION button to schedule your appointment.
- Forward your confirmation email to your instructor as soon as you receive it! This will notify them of your appointment date and time.
Please schedule your tests at least 3 business days in advance.
Instructors
The Testing Center will not administer an accommodated test without a fully completed Instructor's Accommodations Form. Please submit this form with every accommodated test we will be administering. It is a web-based form that can be completed on a computer, phone, or similar device. This form provides all of the information our staff must have in order to administer your tests. Once submitted, this form will be automatically emailed to both you and the Testing Center. The Testing Center will have you sign this form when you retrieve completed tests. You will still need to email or deliver your tests to testingcenter@mybrcc.edu.
Students' Rights & Responsibilities
It is important for you to know that you have responsibilities and rights in the process of requesting accommodations for a disability.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities This publication was prepared by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. It was written for high school students with disabilities who are planning on attending postsecondary schools of any type. It explains their rights and responsibilities as well as the obligations of the postsecondary institution to provide academic adjustments and ensure that there will not be discrimination on the basis of disability.