Peninsula College is dedicated to providing a campus that is accessible, equitable, and inclusive to all. Access Services works with students, instructors, staff, administration, and the community to ensure that the accommodations necessary to create equal access are provided to all Peninsula College students.
- Determines reasonable accommodations for qualified students.
- Provides accommodation services support to students and faculty.
- Maintains and protects the confidentiality of student records as required by FERPA and HIPAA.
Registering For & Utilizing Access Services Accommodations
Access Services accepts accommodation requests throughout the year; however, we recommend having the accommodations process completed at least four weeks before classes start. This helps ensure that support is in place for students. It is never too early to request accommodations.
- Step-By-Step: Register For Access Services
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Peninsula College Students can register for accommodations at any point; however, we recommend having the process completed at least four weeks before the start of classes. If students have any questions about the registration process or need assistance completing it, please get in touch—we are here to help!
STEP 1: Please complete and submit the Access Services registration form.
Access Services Registration Form
Additionally, please include medical documentation if available. Our documentation guidelines for Access Services are as follows:
Documentation of a student’s disability is required to determine if they are eligible for services (that is, you have a disability as defined by ADA, ADAAA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) and what accommodations would be reasonable to support them. We will work with students to determine what types of documentation is needed and, in some cases, even help students obtain their documentation. If students cannot obtain documentation, we can still work with students—please contact us.
What We Look for in Documentation: In general, the documentation needs to be from a qualified professional who has experience with a student’s disability or diagnosis. This information must be submitted on the official letterhead of the professional or institution (such as a doctor, psychologist, school, or other agency) describing the disability. A summary letter explaining a student’s disability, how it affects their learning, and what supports a student’s provider recommends may suffice. Access Services does not provide or pay for assessments for learning or other disabilities.
How We Store your Documentation: Students’ documentation will be kept private and confidential, strictly following both FERPA and HIPAA. It will be stored on a secure file storage system. Only those who work for Access Services will have access to this secure file storage system and see students’ documentation. Students' documentation will also be kept separate from their official school file, so it will not be a part of their official school file.
STEP 2: Access Services staff will contact the student to schedule a new student intake. Participating in this meeting is a requirement to establish accommodations. In this meeting, Access Services staff and the student will:
- Discuss the student's experiences, including educational experiences. A student's self-report on the barriers or problems they face is a critical component in establish accommodations.
- Review any documentation the student has submitted or develop a plan to assist with obtaining documentation.
- Discuss possible accommodations. (See below for complete details of accommodations offered by Access Services.)
- Address any questions the student may have.
- Go over the responsibilities of a student registered with Access Services and accessing accommodations.
Access Services Accommodations
STEP 3: We create the accommodation plan with students. We send a copy to the student each time the plan is created or updated. We also send a copy to students’ instructors quarterly. Accommodation plans expire yearly and require at least a yearly meeting to update the plan.
STEP 4: We teach students how to request or use accommodations. For some accommodations, we require an interactive process to support students.
STEP 5: In some cases, we may schedule follow up appointments with students to support students’ needs. Students can always schedule a check-in with us if they need additional support.
A Note to Running Start Students
It is the Running Start student's responsibility to request accommodations. While Access Services provides support for Running Start students, 504/IEP accommodations are not automatically transferred from high school to college. We recommend that students visit the Office of Civil Rights Transition Guide for information on the differences between K-12 and postsecondary accommodations.
Get in Touch!
We always welcome prospective and current students to get in touch with us for additional information. Access Services staff can be reached at:
Email: ssd@pencol.edu
Phone: (360) 417-6373
Video Phone: (360) 406-4759
Peninsula College provides equal opportunity in education, employment, and college activities regardless of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, use of a trained guide dog or service animal, or any other unlawful basis. For inquiries regarding non-discrimination or sexual misconduct policies, contact Title IX Coordinator and Vice President of HR/DEI (Hanan Zawideh, 360/417-6298), or ADA Coordinator (Kelley Opdyke, 360/417-6298), 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd. Port Angeles, WA.