Student Accessibility Services

Your Rights & Responsibilities

Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities for qualified students with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.. 

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) works collaboratively with students through an individualized, interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations that provide equal access to courses, programs, services, and campus life while maintaining the essential requirements of each course or program. 

Your Rights    

As a student registered with Student Accessibility Services, you have the right to: 

• Request reasonable accommodations that provide equal access to MWCC’s courses, programs, services, and activities.  

• Participate in an individualized, interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations.  

• Have your disability-related information treated confidentially in accordance with applicable laws and college policies.  

• Be treated with dignity, respect, and without discrimination based on disability.  

Your Responsibilities 

As a student requesting or receiving accommodations, you are responsible for: 

• Self-disclosing to Student Accessibility Services and requesting accommodations.  

• Providing documentation that supports your request for accommodations.  

• Actively participating in the interactive process with SAS.  

• Requesting accommodation letters each semester if you wish to use your approved accommodations.  

• Communicating with SAS if your accommodation needs change or if you experience barriers accessing your accommodations.  

• Advocating for yourself by communicating your needs and working collaboratively with SAS throughout your time at MWCC. 

Documentation Guidelines

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (ADA AA, 1990, 2008) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973), students have the right to self-disclose a disability and receive accommodations through Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC).

Note: for some visible disabilities, documentation may not be required. SAS makes these determinations on a case-by-case basis. Most students should expect to submit documentation. 

For a student to be eligible for accommodations through SAS, they must provide documentation that meets the following standards, at minimum:

Documentation should:

• Be no more than 3-5 years old.
• Come from a licensed professional, relevant to the student’s particular disability diagnosis. A licensed professional is a trained, certified, or licensed physician, psychologist, or other professional involved in assessment.
• Be typed with the provider’s official letterhead, contact information, date, and signature.
• Clearly state a disability diagnosis and the current status of the disability, including expected progression or stability of the disability.
• Discuss how the diagnosis substantially limits one or more major life activities and how it impacts learning, academic performance, or campus experience.
• Recommend college-appropriate, reasonable accommodation(s).

Note: a recommendation of a specific accommodation from a healthcare professional does not guarantee approval for those accommodations. Accommodations are assigned on a case-by-case basis to provide equal access without making fundamental alterations to course expectations or requirements.

Examples of documentation may include:

• Psychological/Psychiatric Evaluation
• Neurological Evaluation
• Audiogram/Audiology Report
• Certificate of Blindness
• Documentation can include Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and/or 504 Plans. However, there are cases where IEP/504 plans are not sufficient and additional documentation may be requested by DSS.

Submitting Documentation

Recommended method:
Documentation can be uploaded by the student via the secure, online Application for Student Accessibility Services.

Types of documentation we cannot accept:

• Screenshots or screen captures of medical applications (such as MyChart), emails, etc.
• Complete medical histories or immunization records.
• Files shared via OneDrive or Google Drive.
• If documentation is password protected, Student Accessibility Services staff will request the password and/or an unprotected version of the documentation.

Other methods:
Email: studentaccommodations@mwcc.mass.edu
Fax: 978-630-9540
Hand-deliver to Student Services: Room H128, Gardner Campus

Next Steps

If additional documentation is required, SAS will reach out to the student to request additional documentation. Documentation must be received before an Intake Appointment can be scheduled.

After sufficient documentation is submitted and reviewed, SAS will reach out to the student to schedule an Intake Appointment. In this appointment, the student and SAS team member will create an accommodation plan for their time at MWCC.

Student Grievance Procedures

Students who believe they have been denied reasonable accommodations, experienced disability discrimination, or encountered accessibility barriers are encouraged to first contact Disability Support Services to discuss their concerns.

If the issue is not resolved, students may file a formal complaint through the College’s grievance process. Information about filing a grievance can be found on the College Catalog.