Disability Services

Our Mission Statement

Delaware County Community College is committed to providing students with disabilities equal access to all educational programs, services, activities, and opportunities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Disability Services – Delaware County Community College.

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) advances access, inclusion, and opportunity for students with disabilities through individualized accommodations, resources, and student-centered support. By partnering with students, faculty, and staff, ODS works to remove barriers, promote self-advocacy, and empower students to fully engage in the college experience and achieve their educational goals.

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Disability Services FAQs

FAQs for Students FAQs for Parents and Caregivers

Placement Test Accommodations

Personal Care Attendant Information

Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals

High School (IDEA) vs. College (Section 504/ADA)

An Open Letter to Parents of Students with Disabilities About to Enter College

Marple Campus 

Marple Campus Office Location: Academic Building

Room 1335 (Across from Career & Counseling)

Hours of Operation

Regular Hours of Operation

Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Summer Hours of Operation

Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Friday: Closed

Branch Location Offices

Downingtown: Room 220

Southeast Center:
Room 228
Matthew DeEmilio

Matthew DeEmilio, Director of Disability Services, Office of Student Affairs

610-359-4134

accommodations@dccc.edu

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Maria Lopez, Assistant Director of Disability Services

610-359-4134

accommodations@dccc.edu

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New Students: Getting Started

All New Students

All prospective students, including visiting students from other institutions and dual enrollment students, should complete the College’s Admissions Steps. Students with disabilities participate in the same degree and certificate programs as all DCCC students and are not subject to any additional admission requirements.

Once you have been accepted to the College and have access to your student account (including your Student ID number and DCCC email address), you may begin the accommodations process outlined below. You do not need to be enrolled in classes to meet with our office or complete your intake appointment. We encourage students to start the process as early as possible to ensure accommodations are in place before the semester begins.

Visiting Students

If you previously received accommodations at another institution, please submit a copy of your accommodation letter as part of your documentation. This information helps us better understand your prior accommodations and support needs.

If you have already submitted an accommodation request, you can check the status of your application through Accommodate. Please contact our office or your primary ODS Contact.

Transitioning to College 

The transition to college is an exciting time that comes with many changes! The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, Amended 2008) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which apply to postsecondary education, are very different from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which covers grades K-12. This means that some adjustment of the perspectives of students, parents, and instructors is necessary when transitioning from high school to college. The Office of Disability Services staff are here to provide guidance and support to students as they navigate these changes and become self-advocates.

Accommodation Process

Accessibility and Support Services

Students

Accommodations are managed through the platform Accommodate. If you have submitted an Accommodations Request Form, you can log in to Accommodate as a student. There, you can: review your request, upload documentation, make a semester request for your letters, make a supplemental request for additional accommodations, download a copy of your accommodations letter, download a form from our document library. Tutorials for Accommodate are available as videos to help you navigate the platform.

Faculty

Faculty can log on to Accommodate as faculty to review the accommodations letters for students in their classes. An overview video is available to review the platform from a faculty perspective.

If you utilize assistive technology, this should be discussed when you meet with the Office of Disability Services staff member to approve accommodations. They can work with you to determine how the technology may be utilized in your classes, and explain any pertinent coordination.

All buildings and classrooms are physically accessible. Students who require accessible furniture in classrooms should contact the Office of Disability Services. If you experience an accessibility concern on one of DCCC’s campuses, please contact us at accommodations@dccc.edu or 610-359-4134.

Fill out this form to request services

Accessible Course Materials (Bookshare)
The Office of Disability Services assists eligible students in obtaining accessible versions of textbooks and course materials through Bookshare and other alternative format resources. To ensure timely access to materials at the start of the semester, we strongly recommend submitting requests at least 4 weeks in advance. Requests received outside of the recommended timeline may experience delays based on publisher availability and processing requirements.

If you have a temporary injury or illness that makes it difficult to walk a long distance from parking lots, the Wellness Center and Campus Safety offices can provide you with a temporary Medical Parking Permit.

These permits are available for eight-week periods with the possibility of an extension, if needed.

To be eligible, you must complete an application, provide a copy of your Driver’s License and a note from your doctor indicating your injury/illness. If you have questions, please contact the Director of Student Conduct, Charles Schnur, by email, phone, 610-359-7385, or in person at Marple Campus, Room 3250.

Application for Medical Parking Permit

The Office of Disability Services will assist with the scheduling of qualified ASL Interpreters and/or Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services for DCCC-sponsored events. We strongly recommend submitting at least 4 weeks in advance. Requests received outside of the recommended timeline may be difficult to accommodate with preferred services and providers.

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