How to request services
Students with disabilities who enroll at Otero College are encouraged to meet with the Accessibility Services Coordinator (ASC) to discuss their needs, the barriers they experience, reasonable accommodations to address the barriers, and next steps. The process to register for services is simple:
1. Submit the appropriate Application for Accommodations
Choose from the applications listed below. The application gathers initial information to establish your need for support.
Academic accommodations can range from assistive technology in class to testing accommodations. Find the a full list of academic accommodations offered at Otero here. Non-academic accommodations can include service animals, emotional support animals, dietary restrictions and on-campus housing accommodations. As a student, you will be required to submit documentation of your disability. See our “Documentation Guidelines & Requirements” section to better understand why we ask for documentation.
2. Meet with Accessibility Services
Continuing Services
To continue services between semesters, students with disabilities must submit the appropriate Continuing Services form listed below. Students must then meet with Accessibility Services. The coordinator will contact you by phone or email within 1 to 3 business days of receiving the application to schedule an intake appointment. You can also schedule an appointment through Navigate, or by contacting the Accessibility Services Coordinator.
Testing Accommodations
Accessibility Services (AS) helps to provide reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities. Providing testing accommodations ensure exam grades most fairly represent the student’s understanding of the course material with minimal interference from his/her disability. Testing accommodations may not fundamentally alter the integrity of the exam or lower the program standards of the college. Common testing accommodations at Otero include, but are not limited to:
Extended Time: Students may have additional time to complete exams or quizzes. Students must coordinate schedules with the testing center a week in advance.
Low distraction Testing Environment: Students may take their exam in a distraction reduced environment. Students must complete and submit the Accommodated Testing Form a week or 7 business days in advance.
Alternative Test Format: Students may request a test in alternative format. For example, a student given a test on paper may request to take it online. Students must coordinate with the Testing Center a week in advance to ensure they have access to the correct format.
Breaks as Needed: Students may take breaks during the exam. Breaks should count against total test time. For online tests, students may have an additional 25% extra time in lieu of breaks.
Reader/Scribe: Students may coordinate with the Accessibility Services Coordinator to have their test read outload or have a scribe for audio portions. Appropriate technology such as a text-to-speech program may be used in some cases.
Stress Reducing Device: Students may use a stress reducing device, such as a white-noise machine or headphones during the exam.
Assistive Technology: Assistive technology may include use of a white-noise machine, headphones or music, use of a computer or laptop to type answers, spell checking technology, Screen readers, and other types of accessibility devices.
Classroom Accommodations
Accessibility Services (AS) helps to provide reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities. Providing classroom accommodations ensures students can engage and benefit from classroom spaces with minimal interference from their disability. Classroom accommodations may not fundamentally alter or lower the program standard of the college. Common classroom accommodations may include, but are not limited to:
Books in Alternative Format: If your course gives you a PDF and you want a hard copy, or you want a text converted to a PDF compatible with a screen reader, AS will make sure you have the format that you prefer.
Captioned Videos: All videos that contain course contentment must be captioned: Zoom calls may have auto-captioning enabled.
Lecture Materials: Students will receive copies of Power Points Slides or instructor’s notes.
Audio/Video Recording: Students may record lectures to obtain all information from class sessions. Students should contact AS to learn about available tools.
Additional Time on Assignments: Students receive reasonable, flexible extension on assignments.
Breaks as Needed: Students may leave class to take a break.
Assistive Technology: Assistive Technology may include Use of headphones, use of a computer or laptop to type answers, spell checking technology and other various accessibility devices.
Other Accommodations
The Accessibility Services Office can help with other accommodations related to:
- Service Animals
- Emotional Support Animals
- Dietary Restrictions
- Housing Needs
- Temporary Accessibility Accommodations
Students who request accommodations will be required to provide documentation of their disability(s) beginning Summer 2024.
Why Do We Ask for Documentation?
- To determine if a disability exists (e.g., Learning, ADHD, Mental Health/Psychological, Medical, Physical, Neurological, etc.).
- To identify reasonable accommodations that will reduce barriers without creating an undue hardship.
- To verify that the documentation supports the requested accommodation(s).
The conversation with the Accessibility Services Coordinator during the intake meeting, in addition to the documentation students submit, helps us to identify academic barriers and the accommodations that are needed.
- Documentation must be from a professional, unrelated to the student, who is trained and qualified (i.e., certified and/or licensed), to evaluate/diagnose/assess a particular disability. These professionals include, but are not limited to, medical doctors, psychologists, audiologists, ophthalmologists, and educational diagnosticians.
- Documentation must include the letterhead of the professional providing the evaluation/diagnosis/assessment and include the name, address, and qualifications of the professional. In addition, it is helpful when documentation includes the following information:
- The specific diagnosis (e.g., DSM)
- The functional limitations caused by the diagnosis.
- Medication the student is taking which causes side effects (impacts student in the educational environment).
- Recommended accommodations.
- Individual Education Plans (IEPs), Summary of Performance (SOP) and/or Section 504 Plans from K-12 institutions may be submitted, including information to verify a disability, statements regarding current academic barriers, accommodations used in the past, and how a disability impacted a student academically.
Please be aware that documentation requirements may differ from one college to another.
Accessibility Services Contact
Frida Beyerl
Accessibility Services Coordinator
(719) 384-6963
frida.beyerl@otero.edu
Learning Commons 118
Semester Hours:
M - Th: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
F - 9:00 am - 4:00 pm