Accessibility Services

Serving all Cecil College campuses, Accessibility Services is located on the North East Campus in the Community Cultural Center (Bldg. A), Room A104, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

• Phone: (443) 674-1993
• Fax: (410) 287-1039
• Email: accessibilityservices@nullcecil.edu
• Mailing Address:
  Cecil College — Accessibility Services
  One Seahawk Drive, Building A, Suite A104
  North East, MD 21901

The ADA, Section 504, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protect every student with a disability who is participating in higher education.

The ADA states no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by such entity.

Section 504 states, No otherwise qualified person with a disability … shall, solely on the basis of disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

FERPA is a federal law that provides all students with certain rights concerning their student education records and protects the privacy of such records.

Please refer to the document ADA/Section 504 Student & Visitor Grievance Procedures for more detailed information.

An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical, medical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as vision, hearing, movement, thinking, remembering, learning, communication, mental health, and social relationships. This includes Individuals who have a record of having such an impairment, and individuals who are regarded as having such an impairment.

If you are a student with a physical, medical or mental health diagnosis (Psychological, ADHD, Autism Spectrum, etc.), or learning disability that could impact your education, we want you to connect with Accessibility Services. We will help determine if your diagnosis qualifies for academic accommodations allowable under the Americans with Disabilities Act As Amended (ADAAA).

If you had an IEP or 504 plan in high school, we encourage you to reach out! You will need to initiate contact with Accessibility Services to arrange accommodations at Cecil College. We are available to answer any questions you may have about this process.

Temporary Accommodations

If you experience a temporary condition, such as a broken limb or hand, surgery, or other temporary medical condition that is impacting your education, you may qualify for temporary accommodations until your condition resolves. To register for temporary accommodations, follow the steps in the section titled How to Obtain Accommodations.

Step 1: Complete An Accommodations Request Form and Submit Documentation

Once you have applied to Cecil College, you must complete the Disability Accommodations Request Form on Cecil Accommodate. This includes providing disability documentation.

You will be able to upload disability documentation as part of the Disability Accommodations Request Form if you have it available. We understand gathering this documentation can take a while, so you can also submit it at a later time. After you submit your request, you will receive emailed instructions regarding documentation.

Please review the Disability Documentation Guidelines to request the required information from your provider.

If you need an alternative process, please reach out to Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@nullcecil.edu.

Step 2: Enroll For Classes and Schedule Intake Appointment

Once your request form and documentation are reviewed, you will receive an email through your Cecil College email account with a link to schedule a required intake meeting. During the intake meeting we will co-determine an accommodation plan, and discuss procedures for securing accommodations each semester. Please note that you will need to be enrolled for classes for the current or upcoming term before the intake appointment.

Step 3: Complete Registration

After the intake meeting, you will receive a letter through your Cecil College email account detailing required next steps to secure accommodations for the semester through Cecil Accommodate.

If you are a nursing student with a disability, please connect with Accessibility Services as early as possible to discuss reasonable accommodations that may support your success in the classroom, lab, and clinical settings. Students planning to take the NCLEX-RN® (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) after graduation should be aware that accommodations for this licensing exam are not automatic and must be applied for separately through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and the state board of nursing where you plan to seek licensure. For information about other state requirements for the nursing program, please visit the ncsbn.org.

Are you in the Early College Academy Program, a Dual Enrollment student, or a student transitioning to Cecil College from high school?

If you have or had accommodations (i.e., an IEP or 504 plan) in high school, we encourage you to reach out! You or your parents will need to initiate contact with Accessibility Services to arrange accommodations at Cecil College. We are available to answer any questions you may have about this process.

Accommodations at Cecil College Versus K-12

Learn more below about the similarities and differences:

• K-12 Accommodations

  • In K-12, Accommodations are most often received through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan.
  • The laws that govern K-12 are The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Subpart D), which include not only accommodations, but services and modifications that are focused on ensuring successful graduation.
  • The accommodations listed in the IEP or 504 plan can be helpful as historical information, but they will not automatically apply at Cecil College or any other higher education institution.

• Higher Education Accommodations

  • The laws that govern Higher Education are different from K-12. Higher Education Settings are governed under The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Subpart E), which requires institutions of higher education to provide reasonable accommodations focused on ensuring equal access to all educational opportunities and services as compared to their nondisabled peers, rather than ensuring academic success or degree attainment. The responsibility for learning and fulfilling academic requirements belongs to the student, whether they receive accommodations or not.

Reasonable accommodations can be requested for English and/or Math skills assessments. If you require accommodations, please wait to take the assessment(s) until after you have registered with Accessibility Services for accommodations. To register for accommodations, follow the steps in the section titled "How to Obtain Accommodations" above. Once your accommodations are determined and approved, Accessibility Services will notify the appropriate party to implement accommodations—you will be copied on the email.

• Testing Accommodations (extended time, low distraction environment)
• Notetaking Assistance
• Access to PowerPoint Slides
• Audio Record Lecture
• Preferential Seating
• Alternative Textbook Format
• Scribe/Reader
• Sign Language Interpreter
• Captioning/Transcription
• Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology is commonly used as an academic accommodation. Below are some of the technologies that Accessibility Services provides:

• All student computer stations on campus have built in accessibility tools such as narrator, dictation, magnifier and zoom in, make everything bigger, dark mode, high contrast and color filters, closed captions, immersive reader, and focus sessions. To open Accessibility Settings, go to the Windows Icon (Start Menu), then to Settings, and select Ease of Access.
• Genio – A notetaking assistance program that is used to record and transcribe audio from lectures (both in person and online), and allow the user to take notes, upload powerpoint slides or images, and then upon playback everything is synced up in real time with the audio recording, allowing for easy identification of key material and completion of notes when reviewing.
• Livescribe Smartpens – A notetaking assistance tool that records lectures and allows written notes to be synced up with the audio during playback so you can find and review what you need to focus on most.
• JAWS – Screen reading software.
• Dragon® NaturallySpeaking – Speech recognition software. Control PC using voice commands or dictate documents for word processing.
• Large Print Keyboard
• FM System – Helps the user hear more clearly by eliminating background noise.
• Adjustable Computer Workstation – Can be raised or lowered to accommodate a student's needs.

Accessibility Services now uses a web-based management system called Cecil Accommodate to manage your accommodations. You will use Accommodate to view your accommodations, request accommodation letters each semester (semester requests), submit requests for additional accommodations if needed, and schedule appointments as needed with Accessibility Services.

To access Cecil Accommodate, use your Cecil College username and password to login. Bes sure to bookmark it in your browser for easy access!

You are responsible for renewing your accommodations every semester. Each semester you are taking classes, including summer, you will now need to log into Accommodate to submit a semester request.

Frequently Asked Questions About Semester Requests

What is a semester request?

A semester request will allow you to specify which accommodations you need or don't need for each class. Completing a semester request is required to renew your accommodations each semester.

When do I need to submit a semester request?

Every semester (that you are using your accommodations); accommodations are not retroactive, so it is in your best interest to submit your request as early as possible, preferably before classes begin each semester.

What if I add a class after I submit my semester request?

If you add a new class after submitting a semester request, you will need to log into Accommodate to submit a new semester request for that class in order for letters to be sent to your new professor.

What if I am approved for a new accommodation after I submit a semester request?

If you are approved for a new accommodation, you will need to log into Accommodate to submit a new semester request so that the new accommodation can be sent to your professors as you indicate.

Watch our video tutorial on how to submit a semester request.

To submit a semester request, follow these steps:

1. Log into Cecil Accommodate with your Cecil College credentials.
2. From the left side navigation, select Accommodation, then Semester Request.
3. Click the Add New button.
4. Select the semester from the Semester dropdown list.
5. Click the Class Adjustments buttong to select which courses you want to utilize specific accommodations.

Please thoughtfully consider which accommodations you will need for each class. Clicking the Class Adjustments button will allow you customize your accommodation plan for each class; under each accommodation, you will be able to note which classes you need the accommodation for. If an accommodation does not apply (e.g., calculator for math would not apply to English), do not select the class. And if the accommodation is not needed for any of the classes, select Remove Accommodation; the accommodation will not be removed from your plan, it just won't be included on your letter for this semester.

If you need assistance with completing a semester request, please email accessibilityservices@nullcecil.edu or call (443) 674-1993.

At the post-secondary level, student's must, once approved, request accommodations in each instance that they are needed. Colleges are not responsible for knowing a students schedule and arranging accommodations without some form of initiation from the student. For most accommodations, students are required to participate in the arrangements for accommodations.

If you are approved for any of the accommodations listed below, and you will be using the accommodation for the upcoming semester, you must make arrangements ahead of time as specified.

Arrange Testing Accommodations

The student must schedule an exam ahead of time with the Testing Center. For assistance with scheduling, contact Barb Morton, Testing Center Coordinator, by email at mort4924@nullcecil.edu or by calling (410) 287-1015.

Arrange Alternative Textbook Format

Before completing your semester request, check to see what books you need for your classes and determine format options with the bookstore to see if they have the format you need. Also check on Amazon or elsewhere online to see if they have the format you need. If the format you need is not available anywhere, then this accommodation is needed and you will need to include it on your semester request for that particular class. Then, to secure the book in the format you need, you must complete the Alternative Textbook Format Request Form as early as possible, and will need to provide proof of purchase of the text before an alternative format can be requested/secured.

Arrange Interpreting & Transcription/Captioning

Please email accessibilityservices@nullcecil.edu to request an appointment to set up these services each semester. On your semester request each semester you must indicate which services you need for each class: interpreting and/or transcription/captioning. If you will not need an interpreter for a particular class (i.e., asynchronous), or will not need transcription/captioning, be sure to remove it as an accommodation for that class.

Generally, taking a quiz or exam with an interpreter will require you to take exams in the Testing Center's Quiet Study Room; you will need to request the Quiet Study Room when scheduling your quiz/exam with the Testing Center.

If you submit a semester request indicating a need for these services prior to meeting with us, Accessibility Services will contact you via your student email to schedule an appointment with you. Please note that if any of these services are need for appointments outside of class (i.e., office hours, advising appointments, event attendance, etc.), they must be requested with at least 5 business days notice.

Arrange a Scribe or Reader

If you plan to need a scribe or reader for a particular class, you must indicate which classes you will need this accommodation for on your semester request. If a scribe or reader will not be needed for a particular class, be sure to remove the scribe or reader accommodation for that class. Upon receipt of the semester request indicating a need for these services, Accessibility Services will contact you via your student email to schedule the services for your classes. In general, you should email accessibilityservices@nullcecil.edu to request a scribe or reader; be sure to allow at least 3 business days prior to your scheduled exam to make your request.

Follow these steps to request supplemental accommodations:

1. Log into Cecil Accommodate with your Cecil College credentials. Email accessibilityservices@nullcecil.edu if you are unable to log in.
2. From the left side navigation, select Accommodation, then Supplemental.
3. Click the Add New button.
4. Complete the form in as much detail as possible. If you know your request will require updated documentation, you may attach it as part of this form.
5. Click the Submit button.

Once the form has been submitted, an email will be sent to your Cecil College email account confirming your request along with information about next steps.

To determine an accessible route on our North East Campus, please use our Interactive Campus Map and select Accessibility from the map legend on the right. Here you will find accessible pathways throughout campus as well as specific locations for accessible parking.

Accessible parking is available in all lots on each campus. Accessible parking permits may be obtained through the Public Safety Office, located on the North East Campus in the Technology Center (Building D), Room 103B. Please call (410) 287-1605 for more information.

The Academic Success Center (ASC) offers students free tutoring as well as testing services.

Free Tutoring

All students are encouraged to take advantage of tutoring. Be proactive and use it before you think you need it. If you earn a C or lower on any assignment, consider seeking tutoring on a weekly basis.

Testing Services – Scheduling Exams

Testing Services in the ASC are used by prospective and current students for skills assessments, program admissions testing, academic testing and proctoring, testing with accommodations, and is also a Pearson VUE Test Center for certification testing. Appointments are not required but are recommended. If you have been approved for a reader, scribe, use of assistive technology, or use of private testing room, you will need to make an appointment for the uiet study room and indicate your accommodation in the notes.

The Zen Den

Located in the Student Life suite, Building D (Technology Center), room 114, the Zen Den offers the following services to students:

• Sensory Retreat – A place to escape over stimulation and anxiety, featuring low lighting options, a weighted blanket, fidget toys, coloring supplies, and a white noise/nature sound machine. Door can be closed with a sign posted for additional privacy (time limit may apply).
• Relaxation – The space can be used for meditation, prayer, relaxing respite, etc.
• The Zen Den also houses a food pantry and can also serve as a private lactation room.

The Zen Den is open Monday–Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm when the campus is open. For more information on any services, please email studentlife@nullcecil.edu.

The Wellness Room

In addition to our Zen Den, we have created The Wellness Room. This room is a calm, welcoming space designed to help students reduce sensory overload, self-regulate, and refocus so they can return to learning more effectively. This space may be especially helpful for students who experience anxiety, sensory processing differences, or other needs related to focus and regulation.

The Wellness Room is located in the Technology Center (Bldg. D), Room D103B, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm when the campus is open. For more information on any services, please email wellbeing@nullcecil.edu.

The Prayer, Reflection, and Meditation Room

Located in the Technology Center (Bldg. D), this is a private space for all students to engage in prayer, peaceful contemplation, meditation, or general wellness. Open to any and all religious or non-religious viewpoints.

Study Pods in the Library

Located in the library, students can request to use a study pod for low distraction studying.