ACCESS (Disability Services)

Students

OCC buildings are closed to students and visitors. Contact your campus ACCESS Office via telephone (see phone numbers at the bottom of the page) or email the Auburn Hills Access office, Highland Lakes Access Office, Orchard Ridge Access Office, Royal Oak Access Office or the Southfield Access Office for disability services or questions related to disability accommodations or supports. Students interested in exploring text-to-speech for online class materials may want to try Natural Reader and those who are blind or low-vision interested in exploring screen-reading software may want to try NVDA.

The Accessibility Compliance Center & Education Support Services (ACCESS) program is designed to provide accommodations and services to students with a documented disability diagnosed by a qualified, licensed professional as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL 93-112).

Students with disabilities are supported through ACCESS with accommodations and services including, but not limited to: sign language interpreters, alternative testing arrangements, specialized equipment and tutoring.

To arrange for an accommodations review, a student must make an appointment with the ACCESS office for an intake interview. Documentation regarding the student's disability should be presented at that time.

ACCESS offices are located on every campus. For more information:

PLEASE NOTE:

Accommodations are assigned on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodations are not retroactive, so qualified students who wait to schedule their semester-specific accommodations review with the ACCESS Office are choosing to go without accommodations until they initiate that process.

While we strategize with students for academic success and provide internal and external referrals as appropriate, Limited English Proficiency does not constitute a disability.

OCC does not provide personal assistants.

The Americans with Disabilities Act supports that all students meet the technical standards, or functional requirements, of their academic program. Therefore, lab parameters that constitute essential components of the program of study, and lab parameters concerning safety, will be upheld.

Related Board Policies:

Disability Accommodations

Accessibility of Materials

Recording of Class Sessions

Hearing Impaired

For the hearing impaired, please use Michigan Relay at (800) 649-3777.

Online Courses

Students enrolled in online courses who are unable to come to campus may confidentially exchange information with the ACCESS Office through an OCC email account or by phone.

Students who enroll in online courses are responsible for obtaining technology that will allow them to access the online learning management system and resources.

D2L, the online learning management system used by OCC, has a number of built-in accommodations for timed tests, assignments, and online forums.

Contact the ACCESS office for information about electronic and audio versions of textbooks and supplementary materials.

Students with disabilities enrolled in online courses interested in online ACCESS tutoring should contact the ACCESS Office.