Disability Support Services (DSS) is the BHCC office responsible for determining and coordinating reasonable academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities. DSS works collaboratively with students and faculty to ensure equal access to courses and programs.
The interactive process is a collaborative conversation between the student and DSS to determine reasonable accommodations based on documented disability-related access needs. Faculty play a key role in the interactive process by participating in the implementation phase after DSS has approved accommodations and issued a Student Accommodation Letter. Faculty are welcome to reach out to DSS regarding any questions or concerns about a student’s accommodations.
If a student discloses a disability or asks about accommodations, please refer them to DSS. Faculty should not determine accommodations independently. DSS staff will guide the student through the registration and interactive process.
Including a statement in your syllabus that addresses students with disabilities is an important step to creating an inclusive and welcoming classroom. Below are two examples. Please include one of these statements, or something similar, in your course syllabi.
Sample Syllabus Statement 1
BHCC welcomes students with disabilities into all of the College’s educational programs. If you are a student with a documented disability to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, please contact the disability services office (DSS), complete the First-time Request for Accommodations Form, and submit documentation according to the BHCC Disability Documentation Guidelines, and participate in an access interview. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, the DSS office will provide you and your instructor with a Letter of Accommodations (LOA). Please discuss these accommodations with your instructors as early in the semester as possible.
Sample Syllabus Statement 2
BHCC is committed to the creation of an inclusive learning environment for all students and welcomes students with disabilities into the College’s educational community. BHCC Disability Support Services is responsible for the determination of appropriate accommodations for students who encounter barriers due to disability. Once a student has completed the DSS’ interactive process (First-time Student Request for Academic Accommodations, submit documentation according to Disability Documentation Guidelines and participate in an access interview) and reasonable accommodations are determined to be necessary, the DSS will send a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) to the student and instructor. Students should request accommodations as early in the semester as possible as they are not retroactive, and a discussion should occur about how the accommodations will be implemented. For more information, visit the DSS office in E-222, email disabilitysupport@bhcc.edu or call 617-228-2327.
Students are encouraged to request accommodations before or near the beginning of the semester, but they may initiate the process at any time during the semester. Accommodations are not retroactive and begin once approved and communicated.
Faculty receive an official accommodation memo identifying students approved for accommodations. Students are also encouraged to meet privately with faculty to discuss how their accommodations will be implemented in the course.
Yes. Students must renew their accommodation requests each semester to ensure their accommodation letters reflect their current access needs.
Faculty are responsible for implementing the accommodations as outlined in the letter. If you have questions, concerns, or believe an accommodation may fundamentally alter a course requirement, contact DSS to discuss next steps. To ensure confidentiality surrounding a student’s disability status, please direct any questions or concerns directly to DSS and not to the student.
Some students are approved for note taking or recording accommodations based on documented disability-related needs. DSS may authorize the use of assistive technology such as GLEAN note taking software which has a build in audio recording device.
Students approved for recording accommodations must sign a Student Recording Agreement Form with DSS and recordings are for personal academic use only. Only the approved student may use the technology. If you have concerns, please contact DSS.
DSS recommends including a brief syllabus statement noting that some students may be approved for recording accommodations. This supports transparency while protecting student confidentiality.
If a student has testing accommodations (such as extended time), they may schedule timed exams and/or quizzes with DSS proctoring in E-222. Faculty will receive an email from DSS testing staff requesting:
- A copy of the exam (Word format preferred)
- Detailed exam instructions
- Submission at least 48 hours in advance to ensure time to facilitate and prep materials in a timely manner for student access needs.
- Extended time applies to all timed assessments, including quizzes.
Extended time accommodations apply to the total exam duration. If scheduling conflicts arise, contact DSS to discuss alternative arrangements that maintain the approved accommodation.
Yes. Faculty are responsible for ensuring course materials posted in the LMS are accessible and not image-based. Scanned PDFs and images are not accessible to screen readers.
Best practice: Post materials in accessible Word or properly formatted PDF formats.
For more information about to make course content accessible, please see BHCC Digital Accessibility
No. Faculty should not deny or unilaterally modify approved accommodations. If you have concerns about feasibility or academic integrity, contact DSS to engage in further discussion.
Faculty are encouraged to contact DSS at any time with questions about accommodations, implementation, or the interactive process.
Disability Support Services (DSS)
E-222 | 617-228-2327
disabilitysupport@bhcc.edu
Thank you for partnering with Disability Support Services to support student access and inclusion at Bunker Hill Community College.