Policies and Procedures

Metropolitan Community College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibit discrimination in admission or access to programs based on disability. Each MCC campus has a Disability Support Services (DSS) office that works with students with disabilities to arrange accommodations. Students who are requesting accommodations should contact the campus DSS Coordinator. The DSS Coordinator will consider all of the information you provide -- including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Your description of your needs
  • Records of past accommodations and services from another college; state or national standardized tests (e.g., ACT); and/or high school (e.g., IEP or 504 plan) formal psychological or medical evaluation reports
  • Formal psychological or medical evaluation reports

We need enough information to confirm that you have a disability that substantially limits a significant life activity and understand how your disability will affect you at MCC. The extent of documentation required is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary depending on the disability and requested accommodations. It is your responsibility to identify the accommodations you are requesting. You may want to consider and tell the DSS Coordinator how your disability affects the following:

  • communication
  • classroom, laboratory and online learning
  • reading and writing
  • the use of technology
  • the physical environment
  • group projects, formal and informal social interactions, etc.

Information about past accommodations that were useful can be helpful. Also, if the impact of your disability changes over time or has known triggers, please let us know.

While disability documentation does not typically need to be submitted each semester, there may be occasions when the DSS Coordinator asks for more or updated documentation. For example, more documentation may be needed if you request additional accommodations that are not supported by the current documentation or your condition changes.

These general guidelines were developed to assist you with thinking about your needs and preparing information to evaluate your requests and make recommendations about your requested accommodations. If you have questions, please contact us.

Getting started

  1. Student chooses to self-identify at a campus DSS office.
  2. Student schedules an appointment with the campus DSS office.
  3. Student should read and review the documentation guidelines provided on this site.
  4. During the DSS appointment, a discussion and interview will determine eligibility.
  5. During the appointment, the discussion includes documentation and a record of a disability.
  6. Student is determined to be eligible or not eligible at that time.
  7. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Additional Information

  • Students can identify themselves to DSS as a student with a disability and request accommodations anytime during their education. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive.
  • Students should make accommodation requests to the DSS office rather than directly to faculty members who teach their classes. Faculty members will refer such requests to the DSS office.
  • Early notification and self-identification to DSS can allow more time to make arrangements for accommodations. DSS wants to be sure to provide accommodations in a timely manner.
  • Free tutoring is available to anyone enrolled at MCC. Please visit your campus Learning Center for more details. The DSS office does not provide tutoring.

Accommodation procedures

Provisional accommodations

There are some instances in which provisional accommodations may be provided for students for a maximum of one semester, pending the official and complete documentation of a student's disability. This type of assistance is determined on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Disability Support Services Coordinator.

Temporary accommodations

The Disability Support Services office can sometimes provide time-limited assistance for students in need of temporary services (such as complications due to pregnancy or a broken bone that affects the ability to write). This type of assistance is determined on a case-by-case basis and may depend on documentation. The student should contact the DSS office as soon as possible to make the request. The DSS Coordinator has the right to request documentation of the need for temporary assistance from the student's physician prior to providing services. Updated documentation may also be requested to determine the duration of services.

Event accommodations

If you have a disability that may impact your ability to access a campus event, please contact the campus Disability Support Services Coordinator. Early notification is helpful as some accommodations may take some time to implement.

Student complaint procedure

Students are encouraged to discuss disability-related concerns with DSS staff. The DSS office will attempt to resolve issues by assisting the student in discussing matters with the faculty member, department or program; participating in such discussions; or calling the faculty member and/or head of the department to clarify and resolve issues. Most situations are positively resolved through this process.

You have the right to file a grievance if you believe there has been discrimination based on disability. You may file a grievance internally with MCC's Office of Civil Rights or externally with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.