The Office of AccessABILITY Services (OAS) works collaboratively with the college community to facilitate equal access for students with disabilities to educational programs, services and facilities. OAS is a resource for the entire campus community for education, consultation and guidance regarding disability issues.
This mission goes well beyond the legal requirements, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the University’s commitment to creating an accessible and welcoming environment for all students. Our goal is to provide reasonable accommodations and a supportive, well-resourced environment for students with disabilities to promote student success in a college environment.
We ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to all college programs, services and activities and are provided with an impactful learning experience. We challenge every individual to be independent, responsible, problem-solvers and self-advocates in charge of their own lives.
Contact Us
Accessible Materials: Faculty and students, if you require assistance with any technical issues as it pertains to accessible materials, please contact Crystal Vazquez, Director of AccessABILITY Services, and the Office of AccessABILITY at AccessABILITYServices@guttman.cuny.edu.
To request accessible materials:
Guttman students: Go to My.Guttman and scroll down to “Requesting Accessible Format”
Faculty and staff: Forms.Guttman > Student Affairs tab > “Accessible Materials Request
Defining a disability
Students requesting accommodations should ask their doctor or diagnostic center to provide the school with documentation of their disability and specific recommendations for accommodations. They should also submit all student assessment forms. The documentation must be current, follow documentation guidelines, and should be sent four weeks in advance of the term to allow sufficient time to prepare. Documentation will be held in confidence. Once this documentation is received, the Office of AccessABILITY Services will determine the reasonable accommodations to be provided, issue an accommodation card to the student, and arrange for these accommodations to be made within the context of the student’s academic journey at Guttman.
Documentation Guidelines
Unlike high school, where students are automatically provided with testing and accommodations services, on the college campus it is the student’s responsibility to self-disclose to the office of disability services and to provide documentation to receive accommodations. The laws that govern the K-12 environment are not the same as those that govern the college environment.
In general, documentation must be provided by a physician or other appropriate licensed professional. This documentation must consist of a current report or evaluation prepared by the appropriate professional, along with a completed intake form.
The documentation must:
- Specify the diagnosis, including when the diagnosis was made and the likely duration of the condition if not ongoing.
- describe in detail the student’s functional limitations created by the diagnosis; and
- Indicate accommodations that are recommended for the student, along with explanations as to why these accommodations would be useful.
- Individual Education Programs (IEPs) can be provided with an appropriate psychological/educational report or medical documentation. However, IEPs are not sufficient documentation of disability.
- Students who are diagnosed with a disability and interested in registering for accommodations and services from the Office of AccessABILITY Services are encouraged to provide medical documentation of their disability to determine the best and most appropriate accommodations.
To receive academic adjustments, students are required to submit documentation and schedule an assessment/intake session with a representative from AccessABILITY Services. During the session, a unit staff member will review documents and discuss academic adjustments.
Students who register with the Office of AccessABILITY are given accommodation cards to present to faculty regarding the accommodations they should receive in class and for testing. Students must present their cards to their instructors to receive the accommodations to which they are entitled.
Please be advised it is at the students’ discretion and responsibility to discuss their accommodations with their academic advisor and instructional team.
My favorite thing about Guttman is definitely the accessibility.
– Edward R. Castro
Requesting Accommodations
The purpose of academic accommodations is to ensure that there is equal access to and the opportunity to benefit from all educational programs within Stella and Charles Guttman Community College. Guttman Community College acts in accordance with two relevant laws: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
It is the student’s responsibility to identify himself/herself to the Office of AccessABILITY Services and to provide documentation of a disability. Strict documentation guidelines exist for different types of disabilities and require a current diagnosis, prognosis, and explanation of how the disability may impact the student’s academic performance. Accommodations are based on a case-by-case basis.
Once appropriate documentation has been submitted, the student then meets with an AccessABILITY Liaison, who determines appropriate and reasonable accommodations after reviewing documentation prepared by a licensed professional and meeting with the student to discuss the impact their disability is having on their academics. There must be a direct connection between the functional impact of their disability and the accommodation that is approved.
Student Responsibilities
- Provide the Office of AccessABILITY Services with appropriate documentation.
- Request accommodations within established time frames
- Provide faculty with your Academic Accommodations Card
- Discuss accommodation needs with faculty and suited parties who provide support services.
- Inform your AccessABILITY Liaison of concerns or questions related to accommodations or disability-related issues.
- Meet all essential qualifications and standards for courses and programs.
Students who register with the Office of AccessABILITY are given access cards to present to faculty regarding their approved accommodations. Students who require testing accommodations are required to submit their requests via Starfish 5 business days (Not Including Saturday or Sunday) prior to the exam date. For more information, please contact the Office of AccessABILITY Services at accessabilityservices@guttman.cuny.edu.
Voter Registration
Office of AccessABILITY Services (OAS) is an agency-based voter registration site. Students will be offered the opportunity to register to vote. There is no obligation to register to vote and the student’s decision will have no effect on accommodations offered by the Office of AccessABILITY Services. For additional information, please submit your responses to the Voter Registration Interest Form.
If you need assistance, schedule an appointment via Starfish or email us directly.
Find more information from the State Board of Election (SBOE).
Scholarships for Students with Disability Services
Scholarships provide funds to qualified students who require additional financial support. Students who are awarded scholarships are often based on academic merit. Some scholarships are designed to assist students in their academic journey, others are awarded as they progress within the student’s area of study. Click the link below for additional information.
Additional Support Services
- AccessABILITY Liaison
- Access-VR
- Academic Success Center/ Tutoring
Academic Success Series
The Office of AccessABILITY Services has Academic Success Sessions that focus on but are not limited to:
- Time Management
- Study Skills
- Understanding your academic journey at Guttman
- Working with your Academic Team
- And much more
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at accessabilityservices@guttman.cuny.edu.
- Accessible Materials Request
The Office of AccessABILITY Services determines eligibility for accessible format materials as an accommodation. Students who have an accessible format as an accommodation can request using My Guttman and school down to Requesting Accessible Format. Faculty and Staff can request using the forms system under the Student Affairs Tab.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at accessabilityservices@guttman.cuny.edu.
- Assistive Technology
Assistive technology (AT) are tools that assists students with disabilities in working around challenges. They make tasks and activities accessible at school, work, and home. Office of AccessABILITY Services has an array of Assistive technology (AT) for our students who are registered with our office. For additional information visit CATS: CUNY Assistive Technology Software.
- CUNY LEADS (Linking Employment, Academics, and Disability Services) is a program established to facilitate successful academic and career outcomes for students with disabilities who are enrolled in CUNY programs. This exciting program is free of charge for eligible candidates and available on all CUNY campuses. Each CUNY campus has a LEADS counselor who collaborates with campus departments, agencies, and businesses to provide career guidance and support to students.
The LEADS Advisor is a fully integrated staff member of the Access ABILITY Team, and thus also performs accommodation review meetings and assesses and determines academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and services. The LEADS Advisor works collaboratively with internal units within the Guttman Community and NYSED ACCES-VR.
Services provided include:
- Advocacy and communication skills
- Academic counseling
- Career counseling
- Resume preparation
- Interview preparation
- Internship assistance
- Referrals for external career readiness support services
Vocational Resources:
- Lime Connect
- JAN (Job Accommodation Network)
- US EEOC
- Think Beyond the Label
- CareerEco-Virtual career fair
- Americans with Disabilities Technical Assistance Program
- ACCES-VR
Career Corner
CUNY LEADS provides an array of career focus sessions that align with the Guttman Community College Strategic Plan. We provide students with career assessments that assist them in gaining strength within their program of study. These career assessments include are not limited to:
- 123Test: Career Aptitude Test
- My Next Move – O*NET Interest Profiler
- Truity – Career Personality Profiler
- Career Explorer by Sokanu – Career Test
- Career Fitter – Career Test
- The Princeton Review – Career Quiz
For more information on CUNY LEADS, contact us at GuttmanLeads@guttman.cuny.edu.
DAPI:
Delta Alpha Pi International is an academic honor society founded to recognize high-achieving students with disabilities who are attending colleges (including community colleges) and universities as undergraduate or graduate students. This dynamic organization celebrates and supports academic achievement, leadership, and advocacy for post-secondary students with disabilities. Over 200 institutions have established a chapter to recognize students’ academic achievement. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
PROGRAM INCENTIVE
- Career Consultation
- DAPI Scholarship opportunities for students who are eligible.
- Internship Opportunities
- Meaningful Mentorship with our LEADS Liaison
If you are interested in joining Delta Alpha Pi , feel free to contact us at accessabilityservices@guttman.cuny.edu.
What is IMPACTABILITY? A free, 10-session online certificate program in partnership with CUNY LEADS providing skills, tools, and resources to succeed in achieving your career goals and job searches.
Online Weekly Courses: Meets on Tuesdays or Thursdays during common hours.
- Assessing your Skills and Goal Setting
- Disability Advocacy
- Federal Jobs and Resumes
- Internships
- Professional Image for Job Interviews
- Your 30-second Elevator Pitch
- Job Interview Skills
- Resume Writing
- Using social media for Job Searches
If you are interested in joining IMPACTABILITY, feel free to contact us at IMPACT.ABILITIES@guttman.cuny.edu.
Neurodiversity Navigators
The new Neurodiversity Navigators initiative provides educational opportunities to increase self-awareness, leading to successful academic outcomes in executive functioning, self-regulation, social interaction, self-advocacy, career preparation, and advocacy and access services for our neurodiverse students. Our goals are to:
- Encourage student responsibility and action in the learning process.
- Ensuring personalized support for students working toward academic and career goals.
- Improving communication and building accountability using techniques.
- Fostering collaboration in support of student academic achievement.
- Students will identify the importance of equity and inclusion in a postsecondary setting.
- Students will identify career goals related to their program of studies.
- Assist students in becoming goal-orientated in selecting a program of study or career goal.
Faculty: Supporting Students with Disabilities
The Office of AccessABILITY Services has been designated by the University to assist students with diagnosed and documented disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with accessing and participating in the educational, social, and professional opportunities available at Stella and Charles Guttman Community College in accordance with federal laws and University obligations.
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College recognizes that a diverse campus community is essential to enriching intellectual exchanges and enhancing cultural understanding and, as such, values equality of opportunity, mutual respect, and an appreciation for diversity. Therefore, the University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to our students with disabilities in support of all students’ educational goals, personal growth, and professional development.
Prior to receiving accommodations, a student obtains an accommodation card from the Office of Accessibility. It is important to discuss appropriate accommodations with students; however, asking questions about a student’s disability, such as the diagnosis, must be avoided. Students have the legal right not to disclose the diagnosis; they need only discuss how reasonable accommodations assist them in their academic environment.
Below please find some helpful materials that can guide you in assisting our neuro-diverse population.
Teaching Strategies:
Additional Information
Convert documents into accessible formats—anytime, anywhere.
SensusAccess is a self-service accessibility and alternate media conversion tool available to students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The service makes it easier to convert documents into accessible formats that meet a variety of reading, learning, and accessibility needs.
SensusAccess promotes independence, accessibility, and equitable access to information by allowing users to convert materials into formats that work best for their individual needs and assistive technology.
What Can SensusAccess Do?
SensusAccess can automatically convert documents into a variety of alternate formats, including:
- Audio: MP3 and DAISY audiobooks
- E-Books: EPUB and EPUB3
- Digital Braille
- Digital Large Print
- BeeLine Reader
- Accessible and searchable documents
SensusAccess can also help remediate documents that may be difficult to access, including:
- Image-only or scanned PDF files
- JPG and other image files containing text
- Microsoft PowerPoint presentations
- LaTeX projects
- Documents that are not compatible with assistive technology
Translation Support
SensusAccess can also convert and translate documents from one language into another, making course materials and other information easier to access for multilingual users.
How to Use SensusAccess
1. Visit https://www.sensusaccess.com/web3/guttman
2. Upload the document you would like to convert.
3. Select the document’s original language.
4. Choose the accessible output format you need.
5. Enter your email address when requested.
6. Submit your conversion request.
7. Check your email for the converted document.
Need assistance?
Contact the Office of AccessABILITY Services for support with accessible materials, assistive technology, or disability-related accommodations by emailing us at accessabilitysevices@guttman.cuny.edu or stop by 506.
Designing An Accessible Website:
Faculty Roles:
- Make Reasonable Accommodations
- Provide Access to Classroom & Materials
- Maintain Confidentiality
While it is the instructor’s responsibility to ensure that the learning environment is accessible, students with disabilities must request accommodations, when needed. Instructors will find it useful to include a statement on their syllabus which informs students about the steps they need to take to receive classroom accommodations through the Office of AccessABILITY Services. (Including 5 day advance notice).
In certain situations, reasonable accommodations may require modification of standard classroom approaches. The following are examples of accommodations that may be necessary to ensure equal access to education:
- Provide necessary accommodations for exams where the student can receive the accommodations needed. (Provide necessary adjustments such as preferred seating and extended time for online exams for students to receive proper accommodations).
- Provide alternative ways to fulfill course requirements. (Use best practices for Universal Design Learning).
- Allow assistive technology such as audio recorders, electronic note-takers, and laptop computers to be used in the classroom.
- Consider alternate ways of assessing student’s knowledge of the course content which allows the student’s academic abilities to be measured.
Confidentiality in the accommodation process must be maintained by all parties. An Accommodation Card should be provided by the student. Faculty should refrain from discussing students’ disabilities and necessary accommodations in the presence of fellow students or others who do not have an “educational need to know.”
The Office of AccessABILITY Services staff are available to answer questions and serve as a resource for faculty seeking assistance in providing accommodations to students.
Faculty Rights:
Faculty members have the right to:
- Maintain academic standards for courses.
- Determine course content and how it will be taught.
- Confirm a student’s accommodations and ask for clarification about a specific accommodation (listed on the student’s accommodation card)
- Deny a request for accommodation – if the student has not been approved for such accommodation or if the student does not provide their accommodation card to the instructor.
- Award grades appropriate to the level of the student’s demonstration of mastery of the material
- Fail a student who does not perform to passing standards.
Faculty members do not have the right to:
- Refuse to provide approved accommodation for a documented disability.
- Challenge the legitimacy of a student’s disability.
- Review a student’s documentation, including diagnostic data.
Faculty Responsibilities:
Faculty members have the responsibility to:
- Understand the laws and university’s guidelines regarding students with disabilities.
- Refer students to the Office of AccessABILITY Services when necessary!
- Provide requested accommodations and academic adjustments to students who have documented disabilities (and provide their accommodations card to instructor) in a timely manner.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality of records concerning students with disabilities except when disclosure is required by law or authorized by the student.
- Provide handouts, videos and other course materials in accessible formats upon request.
Faculty: Supporting Students with Disabilities
The Office of AccessABILITY Services has been designated by the University to assist students with diagnosed and documented disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with accessing and participating in the educational, social, and professional opportunities available at Stella and Charles Guttman Community College in accordance with federal laws and University obligations.
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College recognizes that a diverse campus community is essential to enriching intellectual exchanges and enhancing cultural understanding and, as such, values equality of opportunity, mutual respect, and an appreciation for diversity. Therefore, the University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to our students with disabilities in support of all students’ educational goals, personal growth, and professional development.
Prior to receiving accommodations, a student obtains an accommodation card from the Office of Accessibility. It is important to discuss appropriate accommodations with students; however, asking questions about a student’s disability, such as the diagnosis, must be avoided. Students have the legal right not to disclose the diagnosis; they need only discuss how reasonable accommodations assist them in their academic environment.
Below please find some helpful materials that can guide you in assisting our neuro-diverse population.
Teaching Strategies:
- The Faculty Room
- Online Universal Design Book
- Access Project
- Center for Teaching
- SensusAccess – Accessible Documents Made Easier
Convert documents into accessible formats—anytime, anywhere.
SensusAccess is a self-service accessibility and alternate media conversion tool available to students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The service makes it easier to convert documents into accessible formats that meet a variety of reading, learning, and accessibility needs.
SensusAccess promotes independence, accessibility, and equitable access to information by allowing users to convert materials into formats that work best for their individual needs and assistive technology.
What Can SensusAccess Do?
SensusAccess can automatically convert documents into a variety of alternate formats, including:
• Audio: MP3 and DAISY audiobooks
• E-Books: EPUB and EPUB3
• Digital Braille
• Digital Large Print
• BeeLine Reader
• Accessible and searchable documents
SensusAccess can also help remediate documents that may be difficult to access, including:
• Image-only or scanned PDF files
• JPG and other image files containing text
• Microsoft PowerPoint presentations
• LaTeX projects
• Documents that are not compatible with assistive technology
Translation Support
SensusAccess can also convert and translate documents from one language into another, making course materials and other information easier to access for multilingual users.
How to Use SensusAccess
1. Visit https://www.sensusaccess.com/web3/guttman
2. Upload the document you would like to convert.
3. Select the document’s original language.
4. Choose the accessible output format you need.
5. Enter your email address when requested.
6. Submit your conversion request.
7. Check your email for the converted document.
Need assistance?
Contact the Office of AccessABILITY Services for support with accessible materials, assistive technology, or disability-related accommodations by emailing us at accessabilitysevices@guttman.cuny.edu or stop by 506.
Designing An Accessible Website:
Faculty Roles:
- Make Reasonable Accommodations
- Provide Access to Classroom & Materials
- Maintain Confidentiality
While it is the instructor’s responsibility to ensure that the learning environment is accessible, students with disabilities must request accommodations, when needed. Instructors will find it useful to include a statement on their syllabus which informs students about the steps they need to take to receive classroom accommodations through the Office of AccessABILITY Services. (Including 5 day advance notice).
In certain situations, reasonable accommodations may require modification of standard classroom approaches. The following are examples of accommodations that may be necessary to ensure equal access to education:
- Provide necessary accommodations for exams where the student can receive the accommodations needed. (Provide necessary adjustments such as preferred seating and extended time for online exams for students to receive proper accommodations).
- Provide alternative ways to fulfill course requirements. (Use best practices for Universal Design Learning).
- Allow assistive technology such as audio recorders, electronic note-takers, and laptop computers to be used in the classroom.
- Consider alternate ways of assessing student’s knowledge of the course content which allows the student’s academic abilities to be measured.
Confidentiality in the accommodation process must be maintained by all parties. An Accommodation Card should be provided by the student. Faculty should refrain from discussing students’ disabilities and necessary accommodations in the presence of fellow students or others who do not have an “educational need to know.”
The Office of AccessABILITY Services staff are available to answer questions and serve as a resource for faculty seeking assistance in providing accommodations to students.
Faculty Rights:
Faculty members have the right to:
- Maintain academic standards for courses.
- Determine course content and how it will be taught.
- Confirm a student’s accommodations and ask for clarification about a specific accommodation (listed on the student’s accommodation card)
- Deny a request for accommodation – if the student has not been approved for such accommodation or if the student does not provide their accommodation card to the instructor.
- Award grades appropriate to the level of the student’s demonstration of mastery of the material
- Fail a student who does not perform to passing standards.
Faculty members do not have the right to:
- Refuse to provide approved accommodation for a documented disability.
- Challenge the legitimacy of a student’s disability.
- Review a student’s documentation, including diagnostic data.
Faculty Responsibilities:
Faculty members have the responsibility to:
- Understand the laws and university’s guidelines regarding students with disabilities.
- Refer students to the Office of AccessABILITY Services when necessary!
- Provide requested accommodations and academic adjustments to students who have documented disabilities (and provide their accommodations card to instructor) in a timely manner.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality of records concerning students with disabilities except when disclosure is required by law or authorized by the student.
- Provide handouts, videos and other course materials in accessible formats upon request.
SensusAccess: Accessible Documents Made Easier
SensusAccess is a self-service document accessibility and conversion tool that helps students, faculty, and staff transform course materials into formats that are easier to access and use. It can convert PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, scanned materials, and images of text into accessible formats.
Appeal Process
Student Disability Accommodations:
The City University of New York and Stella and Charles Guttman Community College, CUNY in compliance with sections 503 and 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, New York State legislation [Executive Law 296] and the New York City Human Rights Law does not exclude qualified individuals with disabilities, solely by reason of their disability, from participation in programs, activities, or employment. In addition, CUNY and Stella and Charles Guttman Community College, in compliance with Title IX of the Education amendments Act of 1972, does not discriminate against any student based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.
Therefore, students needing assistance for fulfilling academic program requirements due to a disability or while experiencing pregnancy or a medically related condition can make a request for an accommodation from the Office of AccessABILITY within the Office of Student Engagement unit by following the procedures outlined herein.
The Office of AccessABILITY Services makes every effort to reasonably accommodate students with disabilities to have the same access to school programs and educational opportunities that other students receive.[1] The Office of Accessibility Services will determine whether to grant a reasonable accommodation based on presented documentation, including medical documentation, as well as student-described strengths and limitations. Prior accommodations granted for the same type of disability will be taken into consideration.
The Office of AccessABILITY Services may consult with appropriate College officials to determine the feasibility of granting the requested accommodation consistent with University and College policy. Such consultation shall be confidential and limited to those officials having a need to know, such as the instructor for a course in which the accommodation is needed or Academic Affairs officials when there are faculty or academic issues involved, as well as the CUNY Office of Disability Services to consult on best practices.
At times, students may request accommodations that are not reasonable, as described under the law, or cannot be justified by the documentation presented. If the accommodation requested is denied, the Office of AccessABILITY Services will explore and seek to establish alternative accommodations or services.
Appeal of a decision denying a student accommodation:
If the proffered accommodation is still unacceptable to the student, the student may contact the College’s 504/ADA Coordinator to informally discuss the matter to resolve the situation. The 504/ADA Coordinator will make recommendations to resolve the matter. The student may also formally appeal, in writing, addressed to:
Jewel Jones
Chief Diversity Officer
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College
50 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
646-313-8015
jewel.jones01@guttman.cuny.edu
The complete written appeal request should identify the specific accommodation that was originally requested and explain the circumstances that justify why the Office of AccessABILITY Services should have granted the requested accommodation.
The 504/ADA Coordinator will review the written appeal, which includes the student’s justification for the requested accommodation, will consult with the Office of AccessABILITY Services to review the records and information the Office of Accessibility Services had available related to the request for a reasonable accommodation at the time the decision to deny the specific requested accommodation was made. [2]
The 504/ADA Coordinator will issue the decision by sending a written response via email to the student at his or her Guttman email address, if the student does not request to be contacted elsewhere, with a notification to the Office of AccessABILITY Services. The decision will be issued as soon as possible with an estimated time of 7 to 10 business days from the date the student submitted the complete written appeal to the 504/ADA Coordinator.
If the original request is approved, the Office of AccessABILITY Services will implement the accommodation as per the decision of the 504/ADA Coordinator. If the appeal is denied, the Accessibility Services Office will work with the student to establish alternative accommodations or services to support their academic progress.
For additional information, please see the CUNY Procedures for Implementing Reasonable Accommodations.
[1] The Office of AccessABILITY Services establishes and registers all official reasonable accommodations in the College for students with disabilities to access academic programs. It cannot enforce informal arrangements made outside of its purview.
[2] In the event that the student submits new information to the 504/ADA Coordinator that the Office of AccessABILITY Services did not have at the time the decision was made to deny the accommodation request, the 504/ADA Coordinator will submit that new information to the Office of Accessibility Services to review and consider considering the original accommodation request. If the Office of AccessABILITY Services still denies the request for accommodation and the student request to appeal that decision, the 504/ADA Coordinator review the appeal.