Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as amended in 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Occidental College’s Disability Services and Student Support Office (DSSS) provides reasonable academic accommodations to qualified admitted students.
Students may request accommodations at any time, but we recommend submitting requests 3-4 weeks before the semester begins to allow time for review.
Steps to Apply for Accommodations
1. Complete and Submit
2. Submit Supporting Documentation
- Documentation Guidelines
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📌 Note: Incomplete or insufficient documentation may delay the review process, and intake meetings may be rescheduled if submitted materials do not meet established guidelines.
3. Application & Documetation Review
- Once received, Disability Services will review the request and follow up with next steps, which typically include scheduling an intake meeting.
Renewing Accommodations
📌 Note: Students are responsible for renewing their academic accommodations each semester through the Accommodate system. Accommodations do not automatically renew and must be requested on a semester-by-semester basis. Accommodation letters will be emailed directly to both students and their faculty once the request has been submitted.
📌 Note: An accommodation is a legally required adjustment or service that provides students with disabilities equal access to the educational experience and ensures they have the same opportunity to succeed as their peers.
Common Academic Accommodations
Testing:
- Extended time on tests, typically 1.5x (50% extra)
- Distraction-limited testing environment
Classroom Accommodations:
- Note-taking support
- Audiobooks/E-text - Printed material in alternate format
- Recording Lectures (Audio)
Other Accommodations
- Housing
- Short-term accommodations
- Foreign language course substitution
- Reduced course load
Assistive Technology Support
Speech-to-text software:
- Converts spoken words into written text in real time. It helps students who prefer speaking over typing or have disabilities that make writing difficult.
- Apple Dictation: Free dictation on Apple devices.
- Google Docs voice typing: Students use speech to dictate in Google docs.
Text-to-speech software:
- These tools help convert written text into spoken words, supporting students with disabilities, reading difficulties, or different learning preferences.
- Access Text: Inaccessible textbooks made available into a PDF. Students can then use text-to-speech software to listen to books in PDF format. Can be granted through our office.
- Bookshare: Textbooks made as MP3 files, enabling students with learning or print (visual/physical disability that inhibits effective access to printed information) disabilities to access the required reading material. Can be granted through our office.
- Natural Reader: A free text-to-speech software available at www.naturalreaders.com. You can access many different voices in a variety of different languages.
Additional Resources
For questions, contact accessibility@oxy.edu.