Student Disability Support Services
DSS
SCC is committed to serving its diverse campus community by ensuring equal access
to our facilities, technology, and services.
Disability Support Services (DSS) is dedicated to empowering students with disabilities to reach their educational goals. We work collaboratively with faculty and staff to coordinate support for SCC students, and we advocate for a fully accessible, inclusive learning environment that supports their independence.
Contact Information
Disability Support Services
Student Center (2-SC) 133D
636-922-8627
dss@stchas.edu
Office Hours
Mon.-Wed. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Thurs. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Fri. 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Evening appointments available by request
Types of Accommodations and Services Provided
How to Apply for Student Disability Services
Students should notify the DSS office if they have a disability and wish to request accommodations at SCC. Disability status and accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis, and DSS does not provide diagnostic testing. If you have difficulties with any accommodation, service, or class because of your disability, alert the DSS office and/or your instructor immediately.
Request New Services
If you have not received disability services before or you are requesting a change to your existing services, please call or visit to schedule an appointment with DSS.
Request Continuing Services
Students requesting a continuation of existing services should simply submit an Accommodation Request Form to DSS.
Additional Information
For access to forms and guidelines, visit the DCC portal on mySCC.
DSS requires documentation of your disability from a qualified professional, stating a clear diagnosis and describing any functional limitations. You must also provide an oral description of your needs to the DSS office. We will use this information to understand how your disability will affect you at SCC.
You must submit at least one form of documentation from the list below:
- Formal psychological or medical evaluation reports
- Records of past accommodations and services from another college or high school, such as a Summary of Performance, IEP report, or 504 plan
- Notify the DSS office as early as possible that you have a disability and are seeking accommodations at SCC
- Provide appropriate documentation of your disabilities to DSS office and clearly articulate how this may impact your course or program of study
- Apply for services each semester that you are registered at SCC
- Advocate for your needs with faculty and arrange accommodations as approved by the DSS Manager
- Follow all DSS policies and procedures
- Notify DSS if your approved accommodations are not working or are no longer needed
- Meet the college/program academic standards expected of all students
- Comply with all behavioral requirements as addressed in the college conduct policy outlined in the Student Handbook
- Read the Accommodation Plan notification emails and provide accommodations as listed
- Ensure course materials are accessible—including texts and online materials
- Maintain academic standards without compromising the content, quality, or level of instruction
- Identify and establish essential requirements, abilities, skills, knowledge, and standards for courses or programs and evaluate students on this basis
- Maintain student confidentiality
- Use a syllabus statement and class announcements to invite students to disclose their needs and accessibility concerns
- Refer students to DSS and other campus resources as needed.
- Contact DSS if there are any questions or concerns about an approved accommodation or how to best work with a student
A note on accommodations:
Faculty are encouraged to work with their students and DSS in devising appropriate
accommodations that provide equal access without compromising course/program integrity.
If an instructor has a concern with an approved accommodation—particularly if making
the accommodation could fundamentally alter a course or program—they should immediately
contact DSS. The DSS Manager will initiate a dialogue between the instructor, department
chair and/or dean, and the student to identify reach a resolution. Until the dispute is resolved, the instructor should permit the accommodations. Students should never feel that they need to “negotiate their accommodations” with
a faculty member without the support of DSS.
- We encourage instructors to give us feedback on the accommodation language so that we can continue to build an understanding and consensus on accommodation implementation.
- Faculty will be notified by email of any students’ accommodations. These notifications can arise at any point during the semester. Students may choose which accommodations they wish to use in your class, and they will be encouraged to meet with you during office hours to discuss their needs. This will be an opportunity for you to discuss the student’s academic strengths and weaknesses, his or her learning styles, and how this may relate to your teaching style.
- For more information about current DSS policies and procedures please visit the DSS
Portal page and the DSS Faculty Manual.
- Create a welcoming and inclusive environment for students with a disability.
- Develop procedures for documentation of disability and arrangement of accommodations.
- Identify appropriate accommodations and work with faculty and staff to ensure delivery of accommodations.
- Protect student’s right to confidentiality.
- Protect the rights of all students not to be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
- Assist students in development of self-advocacy and independence skills.
- Proctor exams as directed in a secure environment.
- Provide course materials in an accessible format upon request.
- Evaluate requests for disability services according to guidelinesprovided by the Association of Higher Education and Disability.
The role of advocate shifts from parent to student in higher education. Your child
will be responsible for independently expressing their needs to the DSS Office and
their instructors.
We know this may be new terrain, and we are here to help students develop this important
skill. If your child expresses anxiety about discussing their disability and needs
for accommodations with us, it can be beneficial for you to practice these conversations
with them. Ask your child to describe their disabilities to you and explain how they
affect them in the classroom.
Please allow your child to schedule their own meetings with DSS. The student should
be the active participant while discussing their needs and accommodations with DSS
and SCC faculty members.
If a student would like a family member to have access to educational records and/or
communicate with the DSS office on their behalf, they must complete the FERPA - Consent to Release form and submit it to enrollment@stchas.edu for processing.
Students are encouraged to discuss any disability related concerns with the Disability
Support Services (DSS) manager first to seek an informal resolution to their concern.
The DSS manager will attempt to resolve issues by assisting the student in communication
with the faculty member, department, or program and participating in discussions between
the relevant parties in an effort to clarify and resolve issues. Most situations are
positively resolved through this process.
DSS supports you in your right to file a grievance when you believe you have been
denied equal access in the form of appropriate accommodations, auxiliary aids or effective
communication or suffered discriminatory harassment as described in Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments
Act (ADAAA) of 2008.
The general grievance procedures outlined in the Student Handbook are also available
to students with disabilities. The grievance procedures listed below are additional
procedures that apply to students with disabilities who feel their rights have been
violated under 504 and ADA. If it is determined that another college procedure governs
the situation (grade appeal, sexual misconduct, etc.), the student will be referred
to the appropriate administrator.
An advisor of the student's choosing may be present during any investigative meetings.
The role of the advisor is solely to support the student. The advisor is not permitted
to ask or answer questions, serve as a witness, or make a statement on behalf of the
student. The College is not responsible for providing students with an advisor.
STEPS FOR A FORMAL RESOLUTION OF YOUR DISABILITY COMPLAINT:
1. Submit a written statement to the Vice President of Student Affairs or their designee
within 15 working days* of the date of the occurrence. The complaint should contain
the following:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone Number
- Email address of the person filing it
- Description of the alleged violation with as much detail as possible, including the date of the occurrence, the person(s) and the department involved
- Include the accommodation or resolution to the complaint that you are seeking.
2. The complaint will then be forwarded to the appropriate department, for adjudication
and resolution efforts with the complainant, using normal administrative channels
(department chair, academic dean, vice president for academic affairs or administrative
director/ dean). Resolution efforts shall not exceed 30 working days* after the filing
of the complaint.
3. A written copy of the decision will be forwarded to the complainant by the Vice President
of Student Affairs.
If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision and wishes to file an appeal, the complainant shall notify the Vice President of Academic Affairs within 15 working days* of the date of the decision. The appeal must cite at least one of the following criteria as the reason for appeal and provide supporting arguments:
1. A procedural irregularity that affected the outcome of the matter
2. Newly discovered evidence that was not reasonably available when the resolution decision was made that could affect the outcome of the matter
3. Vice President of Student Affairs or other investigating officer had a general or
specific conflict of interest or bias against the complainant that affected the outcome
of the matter
The VP of Academic Affairs will conduct an investigation which will afford all interested
persons an opportunity to submit additional evidence relevant to the complaint. The
VP of Academic Affairs will forward a written response within 20 business days* of
receipt of the written complaint. The VP of Academic Affair's decision is final and
not subject to further appeal.
*Dates may be extended with the permission of all parties concerned.
SCC is committed to making its programs and activities accessible and providing reasonable accommodations for persons defined as disabled under the Americans With Disabilities Act as amended in 2008 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. These acts protect qualified students with disabilities from discrimination.