Disability & Deaf Services
Mission
The Office for Students with Disabilities and Deaf Services (OSDDS) is dedicated to ensuring that all students, including those with disabilities and Deaf/hard of hearing students, have equal access to the full range of programs and services at HCC. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every student receives the necessary support and resources to succeed academically and personally. Through this, we aim to cultivate a community that upholds diversity, accessibility, and values the unique needs and contributions of each individual.
What We Do
Our staff is dedicated to working with students with disabilities to identify personalized strategies and reasonable accommodations that ensure equal access to the full HCC experience. To ensure effective access, we engage in a “deliberative and collaborative process that is responsive to the unique experience of each individual, as advised by the ADA” (Supporting Accommodation Requests: Guidance on Documentation Practices, October 20212, Association on Higher Education and Disability).
If you believe you may benefit from our services, we encourage you to submit a Student Inquiry Form once you are accepted to HCC.
Request Accommodations and Services
The first step in the accommodations process is to submit an online request using the Student Inquiry Form. Supporting documentation is not required at the time of submitting the inquiry form.
Within three business days, OSDDS will send additional guidance and next steps to the student’s HCC email address.
Supporting documentation may assist in the process to identify access barriers in the college environment and determine access solutions. Documentation will vary from student to student, and we will work with you to get the information we need.
Students with an approved accommodation agreement should request their services by completing the forms in the Current Students section of this page.
WHERE TO FIND US
OSDDS is located at the HCC main campus, on the first floor of the Donahue building (DON 147).
We suggest visitors explore Getting Here on the HCC website for information on driving directions, public transportation, and parking.
Documentation of Disability
Students seeking academic accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities and Deaf Services (OSDDS) are asked to submit documentation to predict access barriers in the college environment and determine access solutions.
Documentation will vary from student to student, and we will work with you to get the information we need.
The Office for Students with Disabilities & Deaf Services (OSDDS) at HCC is dedicated to empowering students by fostering an environment built on the values of Kindness, Trust, Inclusion, Collaboration, and Innovation. We are committed to ensuring that students with disabilities or are Deaf/hard of hearing have equal access to college life and the opportunity to succeed as self-determined individuals. Registration with OSDDS and the request for support services is entirely voluntary, allowing students to make informed choices about the resources that best meet their needs and goals.
We invite prospective students to explore the services, spaces, and opportunities available at HCC.
For more information, please contact the OSDDS main office (DON 147) at 413.552.2417.
To contact Deaf Services directly, call 413.650.5502 (VP) or 413.552.2317 (voice).
Request your approved accommodations. *URL’s Included Below
Schedule an Exam with Accommodations
Request Accessible Classroom Furniture
Request Your Assistive Technology
Additional Forms
Families and Support Systems of students with disabilities and Deaf/Hard of Hearing students play an important role in their student's successful transition to higher education. We can help you access the information and resources you need to support your student during this exciting time.
You can support your student in the following ways:
- Prioritize the student’s self-determined choices. Give them space to develop their skills for self-advocacy, collaboration, and choice-making.
- Understand that the College cannot share information with you unless the student has signed a FERPA agreement. Information that can be shared under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) places limitations on what information may be shared. FERPA is not the same thing as signing a Release of Information with OSDDS.
- Appreciate that the primary relationship is between OSDDS and the student, and that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ends when the student completes high school. College students are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Read more about Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education.
We engage in the interactive process with HCC students, staff, and faculty to find innovative solutions and promote greater inclusion in college programs and services. OSDDS staff is available to answer questions and address potential concerns regarding accessible design and program access.
How to Submit an Accommodation Appeal or Complaint
Holyoke Community College adheres to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 which states that "no qualified individual with a disability shall, solely on the basis of their disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity in higher education."
Students who wish to revise their accommodations may take the first step by contacting their assigned Learning Specialist to review the details of your request. An Appeal to Reconsider Accommodations can be submitted in writing to the Director of OSDDS, providing the reason for the appeal and details about the accommodation you are requesting. Send Appeals to Andrea Hojnacki at ahojnacki@hcc.edu.
HCC's ADA Compliance Coordinator is responsible for assuring that the College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in all HCC programs and services. If you have a concern related to an access issue that is not resolved by the Office for Students with Disabilities & Deaf Services, please contact the College's ADA Compliance Coordinator, Olivia Kynard, President's Office, at 413.552.2173 or okynard@hcc.edu.
Assistive Technology Center
The Assistive Technology Center offers assessment, training, and access to a variety of academic computing programs.
MAIHE Program
Massachusetts Inclusive Higher Ed provides dual enrollment opportunities for transition-aged students, 18–21, with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder.
Guidance, Policies & Forms
Want to request services from OSDDS? Begin by scheduling a meeting at 413.552.2417 or come into the office in Donahue 147.
Include Me
What makes an inclusive, accessible environment? The answers are in the questions presented in "Include Me."
