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Marple Campus
Marple Campus Office Location: Academic Building
Room 1335 (Across from Career & Counseling)
Branch Location Offices
Downingtown: Room 220
610-359-4134
Delaware County Community College ensures students with disabilities have equal access to all of its educational programs and services in compliance with Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act, 2008.
The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is committed to providing students with disabilities reasonable accommodations and the necessary supports to reach their educational goals. The Office works closely with students and faculty to foster success.
New Students: Getting Started
All New Students
All prospective students, including visiting students from other institutions and dual enrollment students, should follow the Admissions Steps for DCCC. Students with disabilities participate in the same degree and certificate programs with all our students, with no special entrance requirements.
Once accepted to the College and enrolled in classes, you should proceed with the Accommodations Process, outlined below.
If you have previously submitted an accommodations request, you can review your request via Accommodate. You should contact our office or your assigned case manager with any questions.
Visiting Students
If you have accommodations approved at your home or prior institution, please submit their letter of accommodation as part of your documentation.
Dual Enrollment
IEPs and 504 agreements are not transferable. However, they can be submitted with an accommodations request as documentation.
Placement Test Accommodations
Placement testing accommodations will follow the same accommodations process outlined below. Please include the words “placement test accommodations” in your accommodations request form.
Please note:
- The placement test is untimed. Students can take as long as needed without any accommodations approved.
- The placement test can be split up into three separate tests if desired (reading, writing, and math), without accommodation. You simply need to let the Testing Center know when scheduling the test.
- The placement test can be taken remotely without accommodation.
You can find more information on scheduling on the Testing Center web page or visit College Board Accuplacer website to learn more about what to expect from the placement test.
Frequently Asked Questions for Parents & Caregivers
The student is the primary communicator with the Office of Disability Services. This supports their development of self‑advocacy, independence, and confidence in navigating higher education. Our goal is to ensure students with disabilities receive equal access and opportunities while building the skills needed for long‑term success.
Students are encouraged to communicate openly with their parents/caregivers. However, even with a FERPA release, the student must be actively involved in all communication with Disability Services and other college departments.
Students are responsible for:
- Requesting accommodations
- Submitting documentation
- Reporting concerns
You can explore this more with FERPA and student responsibility.
Students may choose to share information with parents, but they should not share usernames or passwords. Students are responsible for maintaining the privacy and security of their college accounts.
No. Students must self‑identify to Disability Services by completing the Student Request Form and submitting documentation through Accommodate. If already registered, students must submit a semester request each term. Parents may encourage their student, but the decision to request accommodations belongs to the student.
Please encourage your student to communicate directly with their instructors. If they struggle with self‑advocacy related to accommodations, they should contact Disability Services. For academic concerns unrelated to disability, refer them to the appropriate academic department or Academic Affairs.
K–12 models such as IEP teams do not carry over to college. There are no IEP meetings, case management meetings, or multidisciplinary team conferences at the college level. Students may choose to share information with outside supports, but Disability Services works directly with the student to ensure equal access.
Yes — if the student requests it.
Students have the right to privacy under federal law and may choose who attends disability‑related meetings with them.
Encourage your student to contact Disability Services directly. We will work with them to address concerns and ensure they receive appropriate support.
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
Your instructors will receive an accommodation letter from Disability Services that states the accommodations you are approved for through our office. Accommodations are determined through our intake process.
Once you have registered for your semester course(s), fill out a semester request through Accommodate. We cannot send a letter until we receive this request from the student. The student will not have accommodations in a course unless an instructor receives the letter from our office.
The student is responsible for requesting their accommodation letter every semester they are registered. We will not accept requests from other parties as it is the student’s choice if they would like to request and use their accommodations.
The Office of Disability Services will send your letter of accommodation electronically to your instructor(s) when we receive the request from the student.
If you are registered with our office, you can request your letter after you have finalized your schedule for the semester. The Office of Disability Services begins sending requested letters prior to the start of the semester. You do not need to complete a formal meeting to renew your letter of accommodation unless there have been changes to your accommodations.
Students can request a follow up meeting with our Office of Disability Services staff to discuss additional accommodations. If the requests are for a new condition, changes to your disability, or for a disability not previously disclosed to our office, you may need to provide additional documentation.
Yes! Accommodations can be requested during any time during the semester by completing a semester request in accommodate. However, accommodations are not retroactive. Your accommodations will be ‘effective’ once the letter is received by your instructors from our office.
Instructors do not accept past semester accommodation letters. Letters are addressed specifically to the instructors and must come from our office.
Guest students should follow the steps on the Disability Services page. Guest students will meet with their assigned case manager to discuss their accommodations.
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 DSS staff are here to provide guidance and support to students as they navigate these changes and become self-advocates.
High school (IDEA) versus College (Section 504/ADA)
| High School (IDEA) | College (Section 504/ADA) |
| Every child is entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the “least restrictive environment” possible. | Students compete for admission and must be “otherwise qualified” to enter college, without consideration of disability. Students participate in the general curriculum of the college. No continuum of placement exists. |
| Child Find requires all school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities. | The student is responsible for self-identifying as having a disability and advocating for their needs. |
| Focused on creation of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan that will help the student participate in the general curriculum as much as possible. | Few colleges have “plans” for students with disabilities. Most outline accommodations without regard to goals or progress. |
| Requires yearly meeting of general education teachers, special education teachers, and auxiliary service personnel to discuss progress and set goals. | The student is responsible for meeting with disability services and with instructors to discuss needs and concerns. |
| Often involves significant modification of the curriculum and of assessments. | Instructors are not required nor encouraged to fundamentally alter the course content or goals, though they may be required to make changes that do not affect essential course objectives. |
| Classroom teachers receive a copy of the IEP and should have a thorough understanding of the disability and the plan. | Instructors receive a list of student accommodations. They are not given information about disabilities or diagnoses unless provided by the student. |
| Law of Entitlement Guarantees SUCCESS | Civil Rights Law Guarantees ACCESS |
Accommodation Process
Start Here: How to Request Accommodations
Students requesting accommodations must complete the steps below. This process ensures you receive the support you need as efficiently as possible.
1. Submit Your Accommodation Request
Complete the Student Accommodations Request Form.
You may upload your disability documentation directly through the secure Accommodate portal. If you are unsure what documentation is required, review the Documentation Guidelines.
2. Submit Your Disability Documentation
The Office of Disability Services reviews documentation as promptly as possible and in the order it is received.
Important notes:
- An IEP or 504 Plan alone is not sufficient for college accommodations.
- These documents may be included as part of a more comprehensive evaluation (e.g., Re‑Evaluation Report, Psychological Evaluation).
- All documentation must be uploaded directly to Accommodate.
3. Meet With Disability Services
After your request and documentation have been reviewed, Disability Services will contact you through your DCCC student email with instructions to schedule your appointment. Please check your student email regularly, as this is our primary method of communication.
Your meeting may be held in person or via Zoom and will include:
- A discussion of your disability or condition
- Your lived experience
- Barriers you encounter
- Accommodations that may support your access
4. Implementing Your Accommodations
Accommodation letters are not sent automatically. After your accommodations have been approved, you must submit a Semester Request in Accommodate for each term you are enrolled. Once your request is submitted, Disability Services will send your accommodation letters to your instructors through Accommodate. Disability Services will not send any letters without the student’s consent.
Students are expected to communicate with their instructors about how they plan to use their accommodations. Maintaining ongoing communication throughout the term helps ensure your accommodations are effective. If you experience difficulty discussing your accommodations with an instructor, please contact our office for support.
Accommodation Process
Please complete the Student Accommodations Request Form. You can upload your documentation directly through that form, or forward it to our office via fax or email. Further detail is in the section below.
The Office of Disability Services will review your documentation within 3-4 business days.
A school plan such as an individualized education program (IEP) is insufficient documentation but can be included as part of a more comprehensive assessment battery, such as a Re-Evaluation Report or Psychological Evaluation. To ensure that this documentation is complete and the necessary accommodations are implemented, please refer to the documentation guidelines.
You may email your digital copies of documentation to accommodations@dccc.edu.
Please mail or fax your documents to:
Office of Disability Services
Delaware County Community College
901 S. Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063-1094
Fax: 610-723-2002
High school (IDEA) versus College (Section 504/ADA)
Disability Services will contact you directly via your DCCC student email account to schedule an appointment once your request and documentation have been reviewed. Please be sure to monitor your email as this is our primary mode of communication. Should you require an alternative method of contact, please email accommodations@dccc.edu.
This meeting allows for a more in-depth discussion and self-report about your condition/s and what accommodations may be needed. These meetings can be held in person, via phone, or by Zoom.
Once the accommodations process has been completed and you have met with Disability Services, we will send your letters to your instructors via Accommodate. All students are required to request their letters to be sent out each term they are enrolled in courses. Disability Services will not send any accommodations letters without the consent of the student. These semester requests can be submitted through Accommodate. More information can be found below.
Students are expected to communicate their accommodations use and needs to their instructors. It is important that students maintain ongoing communication throughout the academic term with their instructors. Should you experience difficulties with speaking with your instructor regarding your accommodations, please contact our office.
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.
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.