Office of Accommodative Services 
and Instructional Support (OASIS)

The Office of Accommodative Services and Instructional Support (OASIS) strives to create an accessible environment by providing reasonable and appropriate services and accommodations for students with documented disabilities. The college is committed to providing quality educational support for the diverse needs of its students.

Support services and accommodations include:

• Computer Assistive Technology
• Alternative testing arrangements
• Advocacy training
• Identification of strengths and weaknesses
• Instruction in learning strategies
• Note taking
• Readers
• Text on tape
• Scribes
• Smart Start - preparation-for-college seminar
• Sign language interpreting services

OASIS is available to the PPCC community – students, faculty, and staff – for consultation and collaboration on disability issues.

It is the responsibility of students requesting an accommodation due to a qualifying disability to self-identify by registering with OASIS, to apply for supportive services, and to furnish documentation about the nature and extent of their disability. This information is kept confidential and will be used to plan for appropriate services and accommodations. Students must meet with their disability specialist at the beginning of each semester to discuss arrangements for needed accommodations.

Please note: An Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Summary of Performance (SOP), 504 Plan, or General Education Initiative from a secondary school may NOT provide thorough information for the documentation of disability and needed accommodations. Please refer to the documentation guidelines, available in OASIS, for the required information.

Informing other staff or faculty does not constitute registering with OASIS. Accommodation requests are evaluated individually to make a determination regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations based on a review and analysis of documentation and circumstances.

Determination of accommodations can be an involved and lengthy process; therefore, students are encouraged to begin the registration process and submit required documentation as soon as possible. For incoming students, this should be done 6-8 weeks prior to arriving on campus. For current students, this should be done at least 4 weeks prior to each semester to allow time to provide supported accommodations in a timely manner.

It is OASIS’ practice to NOT support accommodations on a provisional basis. However, OASIS may, at its discretion, support accommodations on a provisional basis (one semester only) in the absence of adequate required documentation but in the presence of circumstances that indicate an obvious qualifying disability (i.e. Blind/Low Vision or Deaf). However, students who receive provisional accommodations must provide the required documentation in order to continue receiving accommodations beyond the one semester of provisional accommodations. This is the case even if an undocumented qualifying disability is present.

Please note that accommodations will not be provided even on a provisional basis if there is no indication of a qualifying disability as determined by an OASIS Accommodation Request Determination review. Also, required course Standard Competencies or required essential job duties of an internship or practicum may not permit the implementation of any supported accommodation(s).

All students, with or without a documented disability, must adhere to the Student Code of Conduct.

Computer Access Center

Established to assure equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities, the CAC offers courses and training in computer assistive technology and use of the assistive technology with application software.

Courses emphasize acquiring computer skills needed to help students complete academic and occupational goals.

The lab is available for students who want to use the assistive technology to complete course work. Staff is available for assistance.

 
Services provided by the CAC:

• Voice recognition software
• Word prediction and abbreviation software
• Keyboard modification 
• Screen reading software
• Screen modifications
• Learning method alternatives
• Speech synthesizers
• Large print keyboards
• Braille/enlarged print printing
• Screen text enlargement Large screen monitors 

See the CAC Coordinator to register for computer Assistive Technology courses.

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT

Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder

Although attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (AD/HD) are not learning disabilities, they may interfere with learning. ADD and AD/HD are disorders of the central nervous system that create problems with attention, maintaining or shifting focus, impulsiveness, and in the case of AD/HD, hyperactivity.

OASIS offers services and accommodations to students with documented learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders.

Start Smart

New students with learning disabilities or attention deficit disorders can prepare for college by attending a Smart Start seminar. Additionally, students with LD, ADD, or AD/HD may request sessions in learning strategies. For more information contact the OASIS.

Testing Accommodations

Students with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations for test taking including, but not limited to, having extended time to complete an exam or having a test read aloud.

Students must take responsibility for discussing accommodation needs with their instructors, then advising the OASIS office if a test reader or other aide is necessary, and scheduling a time for the test.

Each instructor should indicate on the test accommodation form what, if any, equipment (calculator, notes, etc.) a student may use during a test and how the test is to be returned to the instructor. Instructors are responsible for sending the test with the test accommodation form to the OASIS office.

OASIS staff will arrange for any requested aides, monitor the test taking, and return the test according to the instructor’s directions.

All tests are administered under the ADA guidelines and the specific instructions given by the instructors to ensure the integrity of the test and institution.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Disability Law Confidentiality

Any individual with a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities, is considered disabled. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), PPCC is prohibited from discriminating in recruiting, admitting or educating educational otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities.

Students with documented disabilities are entitled to receive approved academic accommodations that will enable them to participate in and have the opportunity to benefit from educational programs and activities of the College.

All documents relating to a student’s disability are maintained with strict confidentiality by OASIS. Personal documents will not be released without written permission unless permitted under certain circumstances as per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Student’s Responsibilities

To request disability-related services from OASIS, students must provide appropriate documentation including diagnosis and description of the functional limitations that may affect academic performance.

Consult with an OASIS Disability Specialist each semester to determine which specific accommodations will be needed.

Students must meet with their instructors at the beginning of each semester to discuss arrangements for needed accommodations. Becoming knowledgeable about your disability and comfortable with describing its impact on learning will help faculty understand and support you.

You must take the same responsibility for your education as a non-disabled student. This includes meeting the same academic levels and essential requirements, maintaining appropriate behavior, and giving timely notification of special needs.

If you are having difficulty or are feeling overwhelmed, you should talk with your instructor or your OASIS Disability Specialist immediately. It is critical to link up with campus support services before falling behind in course work.

We want to answer your questions. For more information about any of the services OASIS provides, contact us at:

Pikes Peak Community College
5675 South Academy Boulevard
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 502-3333 V/TTY · (800) 456-6847

Page last updated on Thursday July 23, 2009