AIM
Accessible Information Management (or AIM for short) is Disability Services’s online portal for students and instructors.
- Students new to Disability Services use AIM to submit their application for registration.
- SLDS-registered students use AIM to generate their Course Accessibility Letters.
NOTE: To ensure that you do not miss important emails sent via AIM, we encourage you to either:
- Add the domain “post.accessiblelearning.com” to your safe sender list (Outlook 365 instructions), or
- Regularly check your junk mail folder
Registration Process for Accommodations
1. Application and documentation
Complete the New Student Application and upload supportive documentation.*
2: Review
SLDS will review the application and submitted documentation.
3: Notification
SLDS will notify the student through their COTC email within three business days of receipt to schedule a Welcome Meeting.
4: Welcome Meeting
During the Welcome Meeting (either in person or via Zoom), the student will meet with one of the SLDS staff members to discuss the accommodation needs and other relevant information to finalize accommodations.
*Students with readily observable permanent disabilities (e.g., wheelchair and cane users) are exempt from submitting documentation. Instead, they can submit their application and contact the office at 740.364.9578 to schedule a Welcome Meeting.
Current Registered Students
Students currently registered with SLDS must request accommodation letters every semester. Once requested the letters will be sent to the student and the instructor. It is recommended that letters be requested before the beginning of every semester.
Contact Information
COTC Staff
Student Life Disability Services
Stephanie Rowland
Manager
Warner 226 — Office of Student Life
Email: rowland.245@mail.cotc.edu
Phone: 740.364.9578
Jillian Pfeffer-Hupp
Access Specialist
Warner 226 — Office of Student Life
Email: hupp.162@mail.cotc.edu
Phone: 740.755.7001
ADA/504 Coordinator
John Davenport, PhD
Dean of Students
Warner 226 — Office of Student Life
Email: davenport.285@osu.edu
Phone: 740.364.9578
External Organizations
Federal Office for Civil Rights
Voice: 800.368.1019
TDD: 800.537.7697
Fax: 312.886.1807
Ohio Civil Rights Commission
Voice: 614.466.2785
TTY: 614.752.2391
Fax: 614.466.6250
Disability Rights Ohio
Voice: 614.466.7264
TTY: 614.728.2553
Fax: 614.644.1888
Documentation
What is needed?
It is recommended that documentation be submitted in advance of accommodation-related needs. This allows our staff time to review it, request additional materials, and prepare before the welcome meeting.
In cases where obtaining disability-related documentation is difficult, please contact SLDS directly to discuss possible options and additional resources.
Temporary/Provisional Accommodations
Students with temporary injuries, such as a broken leg or arm, concussion, or surgery recovery, can receive temporary services through SLDS. Students should contact SLDS to register for a temporary injury.
Under Title IX, schools are required to provide pregnant students and students with related conditions such as childbirth or false pregnancy, with at least the same special services as they provide to students with other temporary conditions. The Title IX Coordinator will work in conjunction with SLDS where pregnant students and those with related medical conditions may also be eligible for disability protections and services under the ADA, depending upon their condition. Occasional provisional accommodations may be approved for students who are in the process of registering with SLDS. These provisional accommodations are typically approved for one semester and may be approved permanently upon receipt of appropriate documentation.
Disabilities and Accommodations
Types of Disabilities
This is a list of general disabilities and does not reflect the breadth of disabilities students are experiencing that may be barriers to access. Disabilities may include but are not limited to
- Mental health
- ADHD
- Learning disabilities
- Physical disabilities
- Chronic health conditions
- Visual impairment/limitations
- Deaf/hard of hearing
- Temporary conditions
Types of Accommodations
The accommodation process is individualized and determined based on several factors, including formal documentation, students’ narratives, previous accommodations, and staff professional knowledge, to create an accessible and equitable learning environment for students. Accommodations may include but are not limited to the following:
- Exam accommodations
- Note-taking assistance
- Assistive technology
- Sign Language/captioning
- Attendance flexibility plan
- Accessible parking
- Priority scheduling
One important note is that while we attempt to work to find accommodations that allow you to complete your education, we cannot provide accommodations that would “fundamentally alter” the educational program or academic requirements that are essential to a program of study or to fulfill licensing requirements.
Confidentiality
All materials regarding a student’s disability received by SLDS are confidential. All disability-related information at COTC is housed in Disability Services. Only staff persons working at Disability Services have access to these files. Registration with SLDS will not appear on transcripts.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) do not allow faculty or others access to disability-related information (e.g., diagnosis, medications). SLDS will not share a student’s medical information with university faculty or staff without the student’s consent. SLDS staff will confirm registration and approve accommodations on a need-to-know basis. SLDS will retain all disability documentation for six years after students leave the college.
Grievance Procedure
The Office of Student Life Disability Services (SLDS) supports you in your right to file a grievance when you believe you have been denied equal access in the form of appropriate accommodations, modifications, auxiliary aids, or effective communication or suffered discriminatory harassment as described in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 or the Ohio Administrative Code 4112-5-09: Discrimination against persons with disabilities in institutions of higher education.