DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES CENTER FACT SHEET
THE ROLE OF DSSC
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To determine eligibility for reasonable accommodations, and develop plans for the provision of
such accommodations at Baltimore City Community College.
To provide students and faculty with assistance and information for meeting the requirements
of the law and integrating students with disabilities into Baltimore City Community College.
To stress the development of self-advocacy and self-determination skills.
To serve as an advocate for students with disabilities, ensuring that they have the physical and
programmatic access to all college programs that will affect their acclimation into the campus
community.
To maintain and protect the confidentially of student records as required by law.
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
The DSSC serves students with learning, hearing, visual, mobility, and psychiatric disabilities. If students
have disabilities, a DSSC staff member can provide assistance with developing individualized plans to
make the most of college (career/ experiences). Students should visit or call the DSSC to inquire about
the variety of services provided. Some of the most commonly recommended services are:
Program
Classroom
Early registration
Reduced course load
Course substitution
Academic Advising
Note-Taking/ Scribe
Interpreters
Assistive Technology
Tape-record lectures
Preferential seating
Extended time for
class assignments
Outside Classroom
Testing
Audiobooks or mp3
Individual Tutoring
Adaptive Equipment
Career Counseling
Soundproof headphone
Earplugs
Extended time on test
Low distraction area
Reader/ Scribe
REGISTERING WITH DSSC
The Disability Support Services Center only provides support services for students who are registered
with the center as having documented disabilities. While students with disabilities are not required to
register with DSSC, it is highly recommended.
To register with the DSSC, students should follow the steps listed below:
 Visit the DSSC and obtain the Disability Verification Form.
 Have the Disability Verification Form completed by a qualified professional.
 Submit the completed Disability Verification Form to the DSSC and make an appointment to
meet with the Counselor.
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Once you have completed the above steps, the DSSC Counselor reviews the Disability Verification Form
and supporting documents to certify eligibility for services. The DSSC Counselor meets with students for
the intake process and will determine academic adjustments and/or accommodations.
Why is it important to provide accommodations?
Providing accommodations to students with disabilities is the law. Americans with Disabilities Act
Amendments Act (ADA) of 2008, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Section 504, state that all students
with disabilities are guaranteed equal access to an education and proof of mastery of the subject.
Consequences of not providing Accommodations
Discrimination on the basis of disabilities is the result of not providing accommodations. This
discrimination can be a legal issue with significant consequences. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is the
receiving agency for complaints and lawsuits on discrimination. BCCC strives to avoid any potential
complaints or lawsuits that might lead to investigations, allegations, potential fines, and/or costly
lawsuits.
In order to receive accommodations, students must have documented disabilities. A documented
disability is defined as a current diagnosis by a licensed practitioner stating the results and scores
indicating limitations of one or more major life activities.
Documentation is required because disabilities are not always obvious. Many times physical
impairments are readily noticeable, but learning disabilities are not. Although there are legal reasons to
provide accommodations, accommodations level the playing field for the students with disabilities.
Accommodations such as scribes, interpreters, and extended time don’t provide advantages for
students with disabilities, but allows for equal access.
What not to do
Here is some information for you to consider for preventing complaints of discrimination in your
classrooms at BCCC.
 Faculty may not ask students if they have disabilities or try to suggest that students have
disabilities.
 Faculty may not ask students any specific information regarding the nature or diagnosis of their
disabilities.
 Faculty should never provide accommodations unless disabilities or accommodation requests
have been verified with DSSC.
 Accommodations are not retroactive
Faculty Rights
Although students with disabilities have the rights to equal access and proof of mastery, faculty
members also have rights.
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BCCC does not provide accommodations that would fundamentally alter the integrity of any
course.
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BCCC does not compromise on requirements that are essential to the course or program.
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BCCC does not provide an accommodation that creates an undue financial or administrative
burden for the college.
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Syllabus Accommodation Statement:
It is the policy of Baltimore City Community College to include the following statement in every syllabus
for every course offered by the institution:
Baltimore City Community College is committed to providing students with a documented disability an
equal opportunity to pursue a college education. Efforts will be made to meet requests for reasonable
accommodations for those eligible under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADA) of
2008, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Section 504. Students with disabilities are encouraged to
contact the Disability Support Services Center (DSSC) (410-462-8585 or DSSC@bccc.edu) to discuss
accommodations. Once reasonable accommodations are determined, it is the student’s responsibility to
present the accommodation form from DSSC to their professors.
Disability Support Services Center Staff
Stefan Charles-Pierre, DSSC Coordinator, 410462-8589, email: scharles-pierre@bccc.edu
Tracey Wilson, Counselor, 410-462-8587, email: twilson@bccc.edu
Leslie Allen-Spencer, Diagnostician, 410-462-8583, email: lallen@bccc.edu
Carlita Godsey, Interpreter/Coordinator of Note-taking, 410-462-8586, email: cgodsey@bccc.edu
A. Gina Gregory, Administrative Assistant II, 410-462-8585, email: rgregory@bccc.edu
The following Link provides information for students, faculty, and staff.
http://www.bccc.edu/Page/754
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