The Office of Accessibility Services strives to provide access to educational opportunities for students with disabilities. We also collaborate with students, faculty, and staff of the college community to create accessible and inclusive learning environments. Our goal is to increase awareness and acceptance of individuals with disabilities in support of CBC's mission of providing "educational and life-enriching opportunities" for all students.
Accommodations Request Process
Disability is defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.” Major life activities include, but are not limited to “functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working.”
Step 1: Complete the Online Request Form and Upload Documentation
Students requesting accommodations should submit documentation that establishes a disability, details the disability’s current functional impact, confirms the need for each requested accommodation, and establishes a direct link between the underlying disability and the requested accommodation. Although documentation should be from the last three to five years, OAS will accept older documentation for permanent or stable conditions based on professional judgment and discretion.
Documentation should be prepared by a licensed or credentialed professional with expertise in the condition being evaluated. The provider must have relevant training and experience and have no relation to the student. On letterhead, documentation must be typed, dated, and signed. Additionally, documentation must include a diagnostic statement identifying the disability, a description of the diagnostic methodology, and a description of current functional limitations associated with the condition (for example, severity, frequency, and pervasiveness).
Request Student Accommodation Form
Guidelines and Tips for Submitting Documentation for Eligibility
Once your accommodations request has been approved, you and your instructors will receive an email during the first week of class with a letter detailing your approved accommodations attached. No disability information is shared with instructors.
You must log in with your CBC Office365 account to access your approved accommodation notice. If you need assistance, please contact the IT Department at 361-354-2522.
Each semester, OAS communicates approved accommodations to students and instructors for each course. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss accommodations with instructors. Students are encouraged to notify instructors within the first week of the semester. Students are never required to disclose a diagnosis to anyone other than OAS.
Determining reasonable and appropriate accommodations is based on submitted documentation and any discussion with the student. The student and the Director of Accessibility Services will determine appropriate accommodations for courses. Documentation becomes part of a student’s educational records and is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Accommodations Renewal Process
The renewal form is required so OAS staff can review accommodations and determine whether revisions are needed. Students must complete and submit the renewal form each semester to receive accommodations. We care about your success and want to ensure we have the most up-to-date information to support you.
OAS Resources
Below are websites and tools that may assist individuals with disabilities. CBC does not endorse specific products; these resources are provided for informational purposes. Please research options based on your needs and recommended accommodations.
Accessible Books
Text-to-Speech
Note Taking Assistance
Screen Readers for Blind or Low Vision
Additional Resources
- Autism Speaks – Postsecondary Education
- National Center for Learning Disabilities
- National Deaf Center
- Going to College with Diabetes
- Texas Workforce Commission – Vocational Rehabilitation for Youth and Students
Complaints of Discrimination
If you feel that you have been discriminated against based on your race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, gender, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or age by an employee of Coastal Bend College, you are to file a complaint using the online Title IX form. You can also contact the Title IX Coordinator, Dixie Lytle, at dalytle@coastalbend.edu or 361-354-2218.