Disability Services

     1) Complete Collin College admission application.
     2) Obtain College Wide ID (CWID) and Collin email before applying for ACCESS services.
     3) Plan early. Complete an ACCESS Application as soon as possible as the process can take up to two weeks. 

 

*Classroom accommodations can differ from TSI accommodations, please email kylerichardson@collin.edu for assistance. 

 

If you do not know which documentation to provide, please visit the Disability Verification Forms page.

After you submit your application you may receive messages from you assigned advisor asking for specific documentation. Most commonly, we find that a Full Individual Evaluation (FIE) from high school, a 504 Plan, or a report from a licensed practitioner provide us with the most useful information. If you do not have documentation that provides test scores, specific functional limitations and the need for specific accommodations, you can have your licensed practitioner fill out one of our Disability Verification Forms.

 

Once all appropriate documents have been obtained, your ACCESS advisor will contact you (using your @collin.edu email) to schedule an intake meeting. During the intake meeting, you and your ACCESS advisor will discuss what brings you to our office and listen to your concerns. The ACCESS advisor will ask questions about your disability and learning style. The two of you can identify what barriers you face and what accommodation options can help minimize those barriers to ensure equal opportunity at Collin College.

 

Accommodations at the college level may differ from the accommodations you received in high school. Learn more about the differences between high school and college accommodations.

• Tips for talking with your professor about your accommodations

• How to schedule a test

• Accommodation Appeal Procedure

Dual Credit students may be eligible to receive services similar to those given in high school. They should follow the same process to request services as all other Collin College students. For more information see the Dual Credit FAQ 

• Testing Accommodations

        -When extended time is warranted, the minimum and most common extension granted at Collin College is time-and-a-half.  Decisions concerning the appropriate time extension will be made on a case-by-case basis, keeping in mind such factors as the specific disability involved, other accommodations being provided, the type of test being administered, and the appropriateness of the accommodation to Collin College's academic environment.

 

          Note: Collin College will not extend unlimited time to a student nor will it otherwise modify its examination policies in a manner which fundamentally or substantially lowers the essential academic standards of the institution, its departments, or any course it offers.

 

Beginning Spring 2024, students who can have their testing accommodations met in the Testing Center, will be directed to schedule their exams in the general Testing Center on their respective campus. If a student feels they have extenuating circumstances that would make them eligible to test in the ACCESS Office, they will need to speak to their ACCESS Advisor for assistance. 

 

• Note Taking Support

 

• Academic Advising

 

• Specific accommodations for math, reading and writing

 

• Assistive Technology
         - The ACCESS Office allows qualified students to check-out assistive technology (devices and services that help individuals with disabilities) on a semester-by-semester basis. We also provide a list of assistive technology resources available to all students upon request. Learn more about our Assistive Technology options.

 

• Interpreting Services
         - The ACCESS Office provides qualified students with interpreting services for all classes and Collin related events both in person and online. All of our interpreters are state or nationally certified. You can request an interpreter by filling out the form in our office or through your ACCESS AIM Portal.
 
• Captioning Services
         - The ACCESS Office provides qualified students with captioning services for all classes and Collin related events both in person and online. You can request a captionist by filling out the form in our office or through your ACCESS AIM Portal.

 

• Blind and Low Vision
         - The ACCESS Office provides qualified students with a variety of services and devices. Learn more about the Assistive Technology we offer.

The Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSI) is a program designed to determine if a student is ready for college-level course work in the general areas of English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and Math. This program will also help determine what type of course or intervention will best meet the student's needs and to assist in becoming better prepared for college-level course work.

Visit the TSI page to learn more or sign up.

 

If you think you may need accommodations to complete this assessment, please contact kylerichardson@collin.edu.

Have a special request or attending a Collin College event as a non-student and need services? Please contact us at access@collin.edu or 972.881.5898.

Collin College and the ACCESS Office have a wealth of valuable resources that are available to you for FREE. Learn more about these valuable resources.

The ACCESS Office strives to partner with faculty to provide support, tools, trainings, and techniques that they can apply in their classrooms when working with ALL of their students.

 

ACCESS Faculty Resources

Accommodations related to testing should be included in all online classes and for any online timed assessments. However, the type of accommodations needed may differ from what is required in a traditional testing setting. Some testing accommodations are not always needed in Canvas or online testing platforms, while other accommodations remain necessary. We encourage students and instructors to have a conversation to discuss how the accommodations may be implemented in an online setting. Please reach out to the ACCESS Office for any assistance.

 

Visit the Online/Remote Testing Accomodations page to learn further information about:

• Extended Time
• Frequent Breaks
• Exam Calculator
• Online Exam Reader Accommodations
• Online Scribe Accommodations
• Online testing using Interpreter and CART/Captioning Accommodations.

ACCESS collects required paperwork for deaf/blind tuition exemptions.  
The exemption is not an accommodation, and it does not apply to all courses. 
Learn more about the deaf/blind tuition exemption.

The transition to college shifts responsibility for success to the student, making it challenging for both students and parents. FERPA and ACCESS consent forms permit parents to inquire basic information about policies and procedures for requesting accommodations. However, they cannot request accommodations or services on behalf of the student, as the disability office works directly with students.

 

Students are expected to initiate and be active participants in the accommodation process, maintaining direct interaction with the ACCESS office. These policies apply to all Collin College students, including dual credit and early college high school students enrolled in college-level courses.

For additional Office of Civil Rights (OCR) guidance, please visit the following link: 
Transition of Students With Disabilities To Postsecondary Education: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transitionguide.html