Accessibility & Digital Access Commitment

Board Policy

Policy Type: Board
Policy Title: Disability Accommodation
Related Policy: Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment

Policy Statement:
A. Students | The College shall accommodate the disabilities of students so as to enable them to participate in educational programs and activities as required by law. The scope and nature of accommodations are to be address through policies and guidelines of the ACCESS Department.

B. Employees | Under applicable law, the College must accommodate employees and job applicants with disabilities provided the accommodation is reasonable and does not cause the College an undue hardship. Employees and applicants seeking an accommodation should contact the EOC Officer as soon as the need for the accommodation becomes known. Under Michigan law, if a request for an accommodation is not made within 182 days of the need being known, the obligation to grant an accommodation under state law may be waived.

Administrative Policy

Policy Type: Learning Resources 
Policy Title: Accessibility of Materials
Related Laws: ADA (Sections 504 and 508)

Policy Statement:
The College promotes collaboration between departments and disciplines to provide appropriate and reasonable accessibility to instructional material, information, and activities.

Administrative Policy

Policy Type: Student Services
Policy Title: Recording of Class Sessions and Distribution of Course Materials
Related Policy: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99);

Policy Statement:
This Policy provides basic guidance and directives regarding how to protect privacy and data while utilizing approved remote software tools for face to face or virtual modalities. This Policy describes the approval processes for and allowable uses of recorded class sessions, as well as the distribution of course materials. OCC is committed to protecting the privacy of faculty, students, and employees while working or participating in educational programs in all modes of instruction. 

Administrative Procedure

Procedure Type: Risk Management
Procedure Title: Service Animals Procedure
Related Policy: Service Animals Safety in Laboratories Guidance for Students, Faculty & Staff

Related Laws: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended in 2010; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as applicable; U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division’s 2015 “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals”; Michigan PA 144 of 2015; Michigan PA 75 of 2022.

Purpose:
Oakland Community College recognizes the importance of service animals to individuals with disabilities and has established the following guidelines for service animals to assist people with disabilities. These guidelines adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) of 1990 as amended in 2010, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as applicable, the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division’s 2015 “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals”, and Michigan PA 144 of 2015. These guidelines ensure that people with disabilities who require the use of service animals receive the benefit of the work or tasks performed by such animals.

Administrative Policy

Policy Type: Environmental Health and Safety/Risk Management/Risk Management and ACCESS 
Policy Title: Service Animals Safety in Laboratories Guidance for Students, Faculty & Staff
Office Responsible: Environmental Health and Safety/Risk Management/Risk Management and ACCESS
Related Procedure: Service Animals Procedure
Related Laws: Americans with Disabilities Act as amended in 2010; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973; Michigan PA 144 of 2015 

This guidance is to be used in conjunction with the College’s current Service Animals Procedure which also provides the definitions of Service Animals. The College strives to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for all of its students, faculty, and staff. These guidelines adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended in 2010, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as applicable, and the Michigan PA 144 of 2015. The College is committed to allowing persons with disabilities the use of a Service Animal on campus to facilitate their full participation and equal access to the College’s programs and activities. 

Administrative Procedure

Procedure Type: Information Technologies
Procedure Title: Information Technologies Accessibility Grievance Procedure
Office Responsible: Information Technologies
Related Policies: Information Technologies Accessibility Policy
Related Laws: Section 504 & 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

Grievance Procedure:
Oakland Community College (OCC) is committed to removing barriers to education that may be experienced by students with disabilities by providing appropriate academic support and reasonable accommodations. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504 & 508) and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulate the provision of services and reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities in higher education. The Accessibility Compliance Center and Educational Support Services (ACCESS) offices are responsible for providing OCC students with accommodations.

OCC supports students in their right to file a grievance when a student believes they have been denied equal access in the form of eligibility, appropriate and reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aids, or believe they have experienced discriminatory harassment as defined in the OCC Board of Trustees nondiscrimination policy (Board Policy 2.6.1; 2.6.3).

OCC encourages students, prospective students, employees, guests and visitors to follow the steps outlined in this document, should they believe it is necessary to file a complaint. Students are encouraged to review the OCC Student Handbook policies for academic and non-academic grievance procedures.

How disability services are determined
Oakland Community College (OCC) is committed to removing barriers to education that may be experienced by students with disabilities by providing appropriate academic support and accommodations. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulate the provision of services and accommodations for students with disabilities in higher education. The purpose of accommodations is to provide equal access to learning.

Students with disabilities must be "otherwise qualified"
Although these federal laws protect qualified students with disabilities from being denied the opportunity of participating at the college level, no law requires colleges or universities to accept or accommodate everyone who has a disability. The ADA indicates that applicants with disabilities must:

• Be able to satisfy the standards required by the university or college for all students. For example, if all students must have a certain high school GPA to be admitted, then the student with a disability must also have that GPA.
• Be able to perform the "essential academic and technical standards of the program with (or without) reasonable accommodations." For example, if the students at OCC are required to take certain courses in order to meet the graduation requirements, then the student with a disability should be able to also meet those requirements, either without support, or with the appropriate educational supports and accommodations.
• When provided with reasonable accommodations, students with disabilities must be able to maintain college level qualifications as referenced in the OCC College Catalog.

Reasonable accommodations provide access to the college educational programs and services
Under the ADA, students do not have to disclose a disability. However, disclosure is required at OCC for students to receive accommodations. Signed comprehensive medical documentation or test evaluations that indicate the nature of the disability and functional limitations of the individual are required. Guidelines for the documentation can be obtained from the Accessibility Compliance Center and Educational Support Services (ACCESS) offices. The ACCESS Coordinators will review the documentation, determine eligibility for services, and then coordinate the accommodations, auxiliary aids, academic support, and/or referrals as deemed appropriate, necessary, and within the current resources of the College.

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines what accommodation requests are "not reasonable"
Accommodations are not required or given if they would cause the college to compromise the essential elements of the curriculum, or if they weaken the academic standards. Accommodations are also not reasonable if the accommodations create a safety hazard for the requesting student and/or other students in the class. Post-secondary education does not offer Special Education or curriculum modification.

The Americans with Disabilities Act also states that colleges need not provide accommodations if it would create an "undue burden"
OCC is committed to providing whatever accommodations are necessary and possible, given the resources of the College. However, sometimes the funds or resources might not be available if the accommodation is extremely expensive, or if the accommodation would change the fundamental nature of the program or create a problem that is considered an "undue burden."

Oakland Community College students who experience disabilities have rights
Students with disabilities have the right to equal access in all courses, programs, services, jobs, activities and facilities, and to be treated with due respect in the college environment.

Medical and counseling information is kept confidential
The student receiving services or accommodations decides what information is to be kept confidential and what is to be released to specific individuals. A federal law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), regulates release of student information. Consent forms are available for students who would like to disclose specific information about their disability or needs to professors, administrators, or parents/spouse. FERPA allows the ACCESS Coordinators to communicate basic information with other college personnel on an as-needed basis. Accommodation information is provided to instructors of each class for which an accommodation is needed.

Oakland Community College students who experience disabilities also have responsibilities
Students who receive support from the ACCESS Offices have the responsibility to:

• Meet the qualifications to be admitted to the College and follow the Student Code of Conduct.
• Be proactive and self-directed when needing an accommodation.
• Demonstrate and/or document (from an appropriate professional) how the disability limits participation in courses, programs, services, jobs, activities, or facilities.
• Complete all forms that are required for services.
• Maintain communication with the ACCESS Office, tutors, and other relevant OCC personnel as indicated in the student's individualized accommodation plan.
• Keep all appointments with faculty, counselors, tutors, and the ACCESS Office.

Resolving disagreements
Any disagreement concerning eligibility for services or specific accommodations should first be addressed with the ACCESS manager. In the event that a resolution cannot be attained, the student may request a review of the disagreement by submitting a formal appeal in writing to the Dean of Learning Resources.   

Oakland Community College is committed to equal opportunity for all students and employees.

Oakland Community College does not discriminate, and will not tolerate discrimination, on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability as those terms are defined under applicable law, in the administration of any of its education programs, activities, or with respect to admissions and employment.