Disability Access Center

Staff

Karen Barnett-Lee
Disability Access Center Advisor
Office: Room 1301
Office Phone: (773) 838-7578
E-mail: kbarnett@ccc.edu

Kimberly Thorpe
Disability Access Center Assistant
Office: Room 1301
Office Phone: (773) 838-7578
E-mail: kthorpe@ccc.edu

This office provides the academic accommodations determined necessary by the Disability Access Center (DAC). It also serves as an invitation for instructors to contact the DAC if you have any questions about assisting students. City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) has established policies and procedures to implement reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities in order to provide equal access, avoid discrimination and maintain consistency among all the colleges. A student registers with DAC by presenting specific documentation to this office that not only verifies the disability but provides evidence of the functional limitations experienced by the student academically.

The American with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires City Colleges of Chicago to make every effort to integrate students with disabilities into all courses and programs. CCC is not required to alter fundamental academic requirements. However, CCC is required to make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Specifically, CCC "shall make such modifications to its academic requirements as are necessary to ensure that such requirements do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating, on the basis of a disability, against a qualified student with a disability..."(34.C.F.R. Section 104.44-Section 504). The Disability Access Center goes above and beyond to ensure that all students reach their maximum potential.

Services Offered

The Disability Access Center provides the following accommodations:

• Classroom accommodations
• Note-takers Test accommodations
• Voice Recorders
• Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic
• Large Print Dictionaries & Thesaurus
• Scanners
• Talking Calculators & Dictionaries
• Braille Equipment
• JAWS (Talking Software for the Blind)
• Readers
• Enhanced Magnifiers
• Referrals for one on one tutoring
• Books on CD-ROM
• Registration assistance
• Sign language interpreters
• Adaptive equipment and referrals to community based organizations such as, MOPD (Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities), Department of Human Services and a wide array of other government based agencies.

Club SuccessAbility
This office has its very own club. Students do not necessarily have to be diagnosed with a disability to join. These club members raise money for breast cancer, host an annual Disability Awareness Day, hold a movie day, and have other fundraisers. This club won club of the year due to its outstanding performance and achievements. Disability Awareness Day is held annually. It provides information to community based organizations, literature on illnesses, a wheel chair obstacle course, and raises awareness to students and instructors with pertinent information. In partnership with the Department of Human Services held a job fair for people with disabilities.

We Would Like to Hear From You!

Accommodations

What are the steps?
Schedule an appointment with the Disability Access Center Director/Designee. Provide appropriate documentation of your disability.

What documentation is needed?
Diagnosis must be determined by a licensed physician or primary heath care provider, psychologist, audiologist, speech therapist, learning disability specialist, or other appropriate professional.

Documentation must include an evaluation of the impact on the individual of both the diagnosed condition and any prescribed medications. This evaluation must include an explanation of the functional limitations of the disability and how the impairment substantially limits one or more of the individual's major life activities.

All documentation must be submitted on original letterhead of the appropriate professional diagnosing disability. Fax copies are not acceptable. Documentation must indicate whether the condition is short-term (less than 90 days) or long-term (more than 90 days). Documentation must be current based on the date of diagnosis or assessment not the date of submission to the Disability Access Center.

Eligibility

Who is eligible?
In accordance with City Colleges of Chicago policy, the steps for requesting accommodations must be done to determine your eligibility for service accommodations and auxiliary aids. Please Schedule an appointment with the Disability Access Center Director/Designee and provide them with the appropriate documentation of your disability.