Intake Process
Preparing for Your Appointment
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The Application Process
1. Apply and be admitted to COCC: Select your student type and follow the steps to get started at COCC. Have questions? Don't hesitate to contact Admissions at 541-383-7500 or email welcome@cocc.edu. Once you are admitted you will receive instructions on how to access your COCC email, which is where Housing and Residence Life will send all communication.
***NOTE: You must be an active COCC student with Student ID # and COCC email given to you in order to apply to Services for Students with Disabilities***
2. Fill out and submit the online application for Services with Students with Disabilities, including reading the Disclosure Form
3. Review your documentation (with an appropriate licensed professional if needed) ahead of time and make a list of the accommodations that are recommended to you. Ask for explanations of your disability, its limitations, management strategies to help, etc. The more information you know of your disability/documentation, the more you will be able to know what to self-advocate for. Here are example questions you can use as a guide to ask your medical provider. You can even show your provider a copy of the documentation guidelines and ask them to provide more information in their written documentation in order to meet the documentation guidelines. Take notes during this meeting! Refer to our documentation guidelines.
4. Upload a copy of appropriate documentation of your disability which states a documented disability, notes its substantial impact to one or more major life activities, and explains functional limitations. You will be prompted to upload your documentation after submitting the online application. An easy way to do this is to save an electronic copy of it to your device, then upload it to the application link. You may need to upload it in separate files depending on the length of your documentation. You are also welcome to email it to disabilityservices@cocc.edu or FAX to 541-318-3737
5. You will be contacted within three business days once your application and documentation have been received and reviewed. We will reach out via email with a request of additional documentation to be sent in/uploaded to your account. We will contact you directly if your application and documentation has been approved to schedule an intake appointment.
If you would like to allow permission for Services for Students with Disabilities to respond to inquiries on your behalf, then you will need to complete and send back our release of information. This is separate from the Admissions and Records release in order to comply with confidentiality laws pertaining to disability. You as the student will still be included on any responses. You can email the signed release form to disabilityservices@cocc.edu or upload it to the documentation link you received when you submitted your application. (Note this can only be uploaded to your application prior to your intake appointment)
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The Intake Accommodation Process
During your appointment, you may be asked to discuss any of the following:
1. Describe your disability and where it creates barriers for you in the physical/learning environment. Be prepared to disclose and discuss this in depth. Can you answer the questions: "What is my diagnosed disability(ies)? What is it's impact on my academics? How does it interfere with my learning?" Here are example questions you can use as a guide to help you describe your disability and the functional limitations you experience.
2. Review the documentation of disability you provided which supports the accommodation requests you are making. Can you answer this question: "What accommodations have I previously had and/or are asking for, and how does my documentation support this?"
3. Review the strategies and accommodations which have worked for you in other learning environments, and of your existing support system. If you have not received accommodations before we will explore education areas where accommodations may help.
4. Request specific services and accommodations at COCC, and discuss your responsibilities to advocate for yourself.
5. Discuss your plans and goals, COCC's services, programs and facilities and what is readily available.
6. Refer to other outside services such as community resources, low-cost technology, etc. (See the 'Additional Resources’ tab)
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Preparing for College
If you believe you will need any accommodation based on learning or physical barriers you encounter, it is important that you connect with the Services for Students with Disabilities Department early on, or even before, the term begins. This early contact will help us, and you, to do the appropriate planning. COCC will make every reasonable effort to accommodate you even if you do not meet these recommended timelines, and certain accommodations can be arranged without a lot of pre-planning. Determining what assistance you are eligible for and making the necessary arrangements to have it in place by the time classes begin often takes time. (Examples of accommodations where early planning is very important include requests for sign language interpreters, print material in alternate format or specialized equipment.). Students in high school transition programs will want to make this contact even earlier, about midway through their senior year.
The college environment differs greatly from high school or other learning environments you may have previously encountered. According to the Oregon Post-Secondary Education Transition Guide:
"If students are interested in attending college, they need to know about and do many things in order to be successful in that setting. This is particularly true for those who wish to enroll in and complete Academic and Professional-Technical Programs."
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Adult Basic Skills
Students who are interested in COCC, but not ready for college credit instruction-should look into Adult Basic Skills (ABS). The ABS program provides high school completion courses, GED test preparation, and basic skills instruction in reading, writing, spelling, math, study skills and basic computer technology. Assessments are available to help the student determine current skill levels and learning style. Enrollment occurs through the quarter. For more information, call COCC Adult Basic Skills, (541) 504-2950, or go to Adult Basic Skills.