The ODS facilitates an interactive process to understand your request(s) and determine effective accommodations.  We talk with you to understand the barrier(s) you are encountering or anticipating.  Your description of your disability and any academic or campus barriers is a very important part of this process. We may also consult with faculty or other campus partners to understand the context for the request.

While documentation may be sufficient to establish that you have a disability, documentation alone does not inform whether we put accommodations in place or the specifics of those accommodations.

Every request for accommodations is unique and is explored on an individual, case-by-case basis. At GCC, we prioritize equity and do our best to put accommodations in place that provide you the most equitable experience on campus, without fundamentally altering an essential outcome or aspect of a course or campus experience.

The ODS’s determination process considers the following to discover if accommodations are appropriate and how to ensure access:

• How the requested accommodation is necessary to ensure that academic requirements or technical standards do not discriminate against you on the basis of disability.
• That the requested accommodation would be necessary to provide you with meaningful access or an equal opportunity to gain the same benefits as your non-disabled peers.

• That the requested accommodation is logically connected to the impacts of your disability and any barriers to access you experience in the academic and/or campus environment.
• Whether the requested accommodation is logically designed to address and remove the identified barrier to access.
• If implemented, the requested accommodation would be effective in removing the identified barrier to access
• The requested accommodation does not:
  • Lower an essential program standard
  • Fundamentally alter an essential program element or requirement
  • Pose an undue administrative or financial burden

Role of Faculty and Instructors

Although the ODS determines reasonable accommodations, faculty may serve as subject matter experts to ensure an accommodation does not fundamentally alter or compromise the learning objectives in the context of their particular class.   Consequently, accommodations may apply differently in different classes.  The ODS is always available for consultation with faculty and students to determine what accommodations are reasonable in any specific class or situation.