Student Accessibility Services (SAS)

Student Accessibility Services at Alvin College

Alvin College is committed to helping students with disabilities to get the support they need. If you are eligible, we can provide academic accommodations and auxiliary aids or services to give you equal access to our programs and activities.

Contact us at sas@alvincollege.edu or visit the Welcome Center during business hours if you need assistance with this process.

You can submit requests and disability-related documentation at any time during the year. However, please allow 2–3 weeks for review. During busy times like registration, it may take 3–4 weeks.

For services such as:

  • Electronic textbooks
  • Special seating or furniture
  • Assistive equipment or software
  • Captioning or interpreters

Please request these when registering for classes or at least 3–4 weeks before they’re needed.

If you use a service animal or need mobility assistance, you are encouraged to notify Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at registration or 2–3 weeks before the semester begins.

If you have a question about accessibility, a suggestion, or need to report a concern (such as an automatic door not working). Contact us at sas@alvincollege.edu.

Our Accessibility Services team uses a three-step process to help decide what support is right for you:

  1. Complete the SAS Intake Form
    This helps us understand your disability and how it affects you in an educational setting. It also lets you tell us about any challenges or barriers you face and the help you think would be useful. Use your Alvin College email address to verify your signature on the SAS Intake Form.
  2. Share Documentation of Your Disability
    You will need to give us documents from a qualified professional that explains your disability and why you may need accommodations. You may already have documentation that you can use (see the Documentation Guidelines tab), or you may be able to use a Disability Verification Form or other effective documentation from a qualified and licensed professional. If you would like SAS to request records from your high school, complete the Student Records Request Form. If we need more information, our staff will contact you. Submit your documentation to sas@alvincollege.edu or in person at the Welcome Center in the A building.
  3. Attend an Intake Meeting
    After we review your documents, a staff member will contact you to set up a meeting. During the meeting, we will talk about how your condition affects you now and what accommodations might work best based on your classes or program. We may also talk with Alvin College instructors or other staff to better understand the program requirements and how accommodations will best support access.

Temporary Accommodations

If you experience a temporary injury or medical condition that affects daily activities (and is expected to last less than 6 months), you may be eligible for short-term accommodations through SAS. This support is available for up to one semester at a time. To start, complete the intake process to request services. Contact SAS if you have any questions.

Providing strong documentation helps us understand how your disability affects your learning. It also helps us decide what accommodations are reasonable.

What to Submit

Submit documents from a qualified professional (like a doctor, psychologist, or licensed school specialist). The documents should describe your disability, how it affects you, and what types of support are recommended. It is helpful if the documents include testing, diagnostic data, or evaluations. For example, a recent reevaluation from 504 or Special Education would include relevant data and information regarding your disability in an educational setting.

You may also submit*:

  • Past accommodations from high school or other colleges
  • 504 plans or IEPs
  • Results from standardized exams with accommodations

*Note: These records may help but might not be enough on their own. We will let you know if we need additional documentation.

If you have been in school or received an evaluation, diagnosis, or support for your disability from a qualified professional in the past, you may already have documentation that will support your request. We encourage you to submit what you have, and we will contact you if we need more or updated information.

If you are wondering which of your documents would be best to submit, review the Effective Documentation Guidelines below.

If you do not have current or effective documentation, a Disability Verification Form that is completed by a qualified and/or licensed professional may be applicable. Contact SAS at sas@alvincollege.edu for more information on the Disability Verification Form.

Effective Documentation Guidelines

If you are requesting new or updated documentation from a qualified professional, share these guidelines or request that they complete our Disability Verification Form. Documentation from a family member or friend is not acceptable.

  • The professional’s name, contact info, license number, and credentials on letterhead or professional form.
  • Date and signature of the professional
  • Your name and date of birth
  • The name of your disability (with diagnosis codes if available)
  • A description of how your disability affects your learning or daily life
  • Information on how serious the condition is, or how it may change over time
  • Any medications you take and their side effects (if relevant)
  • Suggested accommodations that may help you

How We Decide on Accommodations

Having a disability does not automatically mean every request will be approved. To be eligible to participate in the Alvin College education program or activity, you must meet the essential academic and technical requirements. This means you need to be “otherwise qualified” to take part. We look at your full situation—including your documentation, past experiences, the intake meeting, and program or course needs—to decide what accommodations are reasonable.

We ask the following:

  • Will the accommodation give you access equal to your peers without disabilities?
  • Is it clearly connected to your disability and the barriers or functional limitations you face?
  • Is it designed to remove the barrier?
  • Will it work in your specific course or program?

We also make sure that the accommodation:

  • Does not lower essential/technical standards.
  • Does not fundamentally alter the course or program, or activity.
  • Does not create an undue financial or administrative burden.

If you're approved for accommodations, you'll need to submit a Semester Accommodation Request Form each semester/quarter you're enrolled in classes. If you would like to schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss your accommodations, contact us at sas@alvincollege.edu. Contact SAS at least two weeks before the semester/quarter starts to get your updated accommodation letter. If you need adaptive equipment or interpreter services, please reach out at least 4 weeks in advance. If you request later, there may be a delay in the services.