At Highline College, we are all responsible for campus accessibility to all students. Access Services works in collaboration with different departments on campus to provide reasonable classroom accommodations for qualified students. Accommodations make it possible for a student with a disability to learn the material presented and for an instructor to fairly evaluate the student’s understanding of the material without interference because of their disability.

The process of requesting and receiving accommodations is interactive; all people involved — student, the instructor and Access Services — have a responsibility to make sure the process works. The selected academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and services for each student is communicated through the Letter of Accommodation (LOA). The student is responsible for delivering the letters on a quarterly basis to their instructors and discussing accommodations based on the contents of the letter.

If you have questions about if a student is qualified or need help connecting students to our office, please contact us.

Learn about Access Services

• For information regarding accommodated testing, visit the Placement and Testing Center in Building 1.
• For captioning needs and Canvas Accessibility, visit the Educational Technology website.
• View a list of Assistive Technology on campus.
• View frequently asked questions about Access Services

If you are a Highline College employee requesting accommodations, contact Human Resources.

Accessible Technology Open Zoom Lobby

Do you have questions about making sure the material you produce for the college (classes, announcements, marketing materials, and so on) are fully accessible to everyone? Have you heard about things like “alt text” and “screen readers” and other technologies but don’t really know what they are or how they can be helpful? Do you need a little assistance making sure your students, coworkers, or other target audiences are able to work with what you create? Do you need to point students to where they can learn about the technologies that Highline has available to assist them?

The Accessible Technology Zoom Lobby is available on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:15 p.m., and Thursdays from 3-3:45 p.m. Feel free to drop in with questions, to get an idea of how we can help, or just to say hello and chat for a few minutes!

Staff and Faculty FAQs

How do I know I have a student with accommodations?

After a student has formally requested accommodations with Access Services, the Faculty Notification letter is sent to faculty through email. This is the legal notification that the student has requested accommodations in your course.

What is a Letter of Accommodation?

A letter of accommodation (LOA) is a plan for academic accommodations. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 protect students from discrimination based on disability and assure students the right to reasonable accommodations. Once the student has formally requested accommodations specific to their needs and provided Access Services with information about the disability, the letter of accommodation is written. Access Services activates the student profile via the MyAccess portal and notifies the student of their rights and responsibilities for accommodation services. Students must request accommodations each quarter and for each class via the MyAccess portal.

What am I required to do when I am notified I have a student with accommodations?

You should read through the Letter of Accommodation and take a few moments to have a private conversation with the student about the accommodations listed on the LOA and specifically how they will be used or implemented in your course. This will help to clarify expectations and responsibilities. The conversation can happen over the phone, via email, or in person. If questions come up that can’t be answered within the conversation, feel free to contact Access Services directly.

What if I receive the Faculty Notification Letter late in the quarter?

By law, students are allowed to apply for accommodations at any time during a term. They are also able to request their letter of accommodation at any time during the quarter. However, it’s important to note that accommodations are not retroactive and we acknowledge a reasonable amount of time is needed to implement accommodations upon receipt of a Faculty Notification of a Letter of Accommodation.

What should I do if I have questions or concerns about the Letter of Accommodation?

If at any point you have concerns about the student and/or the accommodations specified on the Letter of Accommodation (LOA), please contact Access Services directly.