Disability & Deaf Services
Mission
The Office for Students with Disabilities and Deaf Services (OSDDS) is dedicated to ensuring that all students, including those with disabilities and Deaf/hard of hearing students, have equal access to the full range of programs and services at 91AV. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every student receives the necessary support and resources to succeed academically and personally. Through this, we aim to cultivate a community that upholds diversity, accessibility, and values the unique needs and contributions of each individual.
What We Do
Our staff is dedicated to working with students with disabilities to identify personalized strategies and reasonable accommodations that ensure equal access to the full 91AV experience. To ensure effective access, we engage in a “deliberative and collaborative process that is responsive to the unique experience of each individual, as advised by the ADA” (Supporting Accommodation Requests: Guidance on Documentation Practices, October 20212, Association on Higher Education and Disability).
“A person with a disability is someone who:
- has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,
- has a history or record of such an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or
- is perceived by others as having such an impairment (such as a person who has scars from a severe burn).
If a person falls into any of these categories, the ADA protects them. Because the ADA is a law, and not a benefit program, you do not need to apply for coverage.”
(Introduction to the , U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division)
If you have a disability and believe you may benefit from our services, we encourage you to submit a once you are accepted to 91AV.
Request Accommodations and Services
The first step in the accommodations process is to submit an online request using the . Supporting documentation is not required at the time of submitting the inquiry form.
Within five business days, OSDDS will send additional guidance and next steps to the student’s 91AV email address. Supporting documentation may assist in the process to identify access barriers in the college environment and determine solutions. Documentation will vary from student to student, and we will work with you to get the information we need.
Each semester, students with an approved accommodation agreement should request their services by completing the forms on the Request Your Accommodations and Services page.
WHERE TO FIND US
OSDDS is located at the 91AV main campus, on the first floor of the Donahue building (DON 147).
We suggest visitors explore Getting Here on the 91AV website for information on driving directions, public transportation, and parking.
EVERY STUDENT DESERVES COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT
The Office for Students with Disabilities & Deaf Services believes in supporting each student seeking community and support. Our Main Office, Donahue 147, is a safe and welcoming space for students seeking information, directions, and general problem-solving. Regardless of whether you work with OSDDS, we remain committed to your safety and success.
Our commitment to community means that we open our spaces to students:
DON 140, OSDDS Low Sensory Testing Space and Study Area
DON 147, Main Office for OSDDS
DON 150, OSDDS Meeting Room
DON 151, Assistive Technology Center
FROST 105, Sensory Space
The following programs are examples of the many resources at 91AV to support your learning, wellness, and success:
The Office for Students with Disabilities & Deaf Services (OSDDS) at 91AV is dedicated to empowering students by fostering an environment built on the values of Kindness, Trust, Inclusion, Collaboration, and Innovation. We are committed to ensuring that students with disabilities or are Deaf/hard of hearing have equal access to college life and the opportunity to succeed as self-determined individuals. Registration with OSDDS and the request for support services is entirely voluntary, allowing students to make informed choices about the resources that best meet their needs and goals.
Access to the Personal Care Room may be requested through OSDDS. This private and secure space is overseen by OSDDS and is equipped with lift tables, sink, mini refrigerator, and a connected fully accessible restroom with shower.
For more information, please contact the OSDDS main office (DON 147) at 413.552.2417 or osd@hcc.edu.
To contact Deaf Services directly, call 413.650.5502 (VP) or 413.552.2317 (voice) or email csmalley@hcc.edu
Specific accommodations must be requested by the student each semester. Some accommodations or services may take several days or longer to be provided, so plan ahead.
REQUEST YOUR APPROVED ACCOMMODATIONS
ADDITIONAL FORMS
Families and Support Systems of students with disabilities and Deaf/Hard of hearing students play an important role in their student's successful transition to higher education. We can help you access the information and resources you need to support your student during this exciting time.
You can support your student in the following ways:
- Prioritize the student’s self-determined choices. Give them space to develop their skills for self-advocacy, collaboration, and choice-making.
- Understand that the College cannot share information with you unless the student has signed a FERPA agreement. Information that can be shared under the places limitations on what information may be shared. FERPA is not the same thing as signing a Release of Information with OSDDS. The form is used solely for issues pertaining to the student’s disability and related accommodations and services.
- Appreciate that the primary relationship is between OSDDS and the student, and that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ends when the student completes high school. College students are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Read more about .
We engage in the interactive process with 91AV students, staff, and faculty to find innovative solutions and promote greater inclusion in college programs and services. OSDDS staff is available to answer questions and address potential concerns regarding accessible design and program access.
Faculty will find guidance and resources on the Guidance, Policies, and Forms page.
For questions related to student test accommodations, note-taking, and technology, please contact the office at 413.552.2417 or email osd@hcc.edu.
For questions related to a specific student issue, please contact the student’s assigned Learning Specialist, indicated on the Accommodation Agreement.
Any questions, concerns, feedback, and requests can be directed to Andrea Hojnacki, Director, at 413.552.2582 or ahojnacki@hcc.edu.
How to Submit an Accommodation Appeal or Complaint
91AV adheres to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 which states that "no qualified individual with a disability shall, solely on the basis of their disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity in higher education."
Students who wish to revise their accommodations may take the first step by contacting their assigned Learning Specialist to review the details of your request. An Appeal to Reconsider Accommodations can be submitted in writing to the Director of OSDDS, providing the reason for the appeal and details about the accommodation you are requesting. Send Appeals to Andrea Hojnacki at ahojnacki@hcc.edu.
91AV's ADA Compliance Coordinator is responsible for assuring that the College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in all 91AV programs and services. If you have a concern related to an access issue that is not resolved by the Office for Students with Disabilities & Deaf Services, please contact the College's ADA Compliance Coordinator, Olivia Kynard, President's Office, at 413.552.2173 or okynard@hcc.edu.
Assistive Technology Center
The Assistive Technology Center offers assessment, training, and access to a variety of academic computing programs.
MAIPSE Program
Massachusetts Inclusive Post-Secondary & Higher Ed provides dual enrollment opportunities for transition-aged students, 18–21, with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder.
Guidance, Policies & Forms
Want to request services from OSDDS? Begin by scheduling a meeting at 413.552.2417 or come into the office in Donahue 147.
Include Me
What makes an inclusive, accessible environment? The answers are in the questions presented in "Include Me."
