Disability Support Services
Welcome to the Montgomery College Office of Disability Support Services!
When we celebrate and empower diversity at Montgomery College, we recognize and value disability as a distinct aspect of our diverse community.
Disability Support Services (DSS) leads this effort, to promote full participation and equal access to educational opportunities, programs and activities. DSS provides accommodations and support services for students with documented disabilities, and educates the larger College community on disability related issues.
DSS also ensures that the College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act 2009 as Amended, in a partnership with students, faculty, and staff to identify and remove barriers so MC's campuses, programs and course are accessible and inclusive.
Students must self-identify and are encouraged to contact DSS as soon as possible after admission to the College.
Disability Support Services (DSS) works with students with disabilities such as:
- Learning disabilities
- Attention-deficit disorder (ADHD/ADD)
- Mental health disabilities
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Brain injuries
- Physical/mobility and medical disabilities
- Vision and hearing impairments
DSS counselors determine eligibility for services and meet with students to identify academic adjustments and/or accommodations. Accommodations are determined on a case by-case basis and may include extended time, note-taking assistance, sign language interpreting services, and alternative formats for printed materials.
Each campus offers assistive technology, including computers with disability-specific software and hardware, voice recognition and synthesizers, print magnifiers and scanners, large print, and Braille, as well as individual tutorial support.
Office hours on all three campuses are Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Request for Services
- Complete the online student intake form using your Montgomery College Student ID number.
- You may upload a scanned PDF copy of your documentation. If you not have a scanned copy, complete the form and click Submit. You may bring paper copies of your documentation to your initial intake appointment with a DSS counselor.
- DSS will review your information and contact you to schedule an initial intake appointment.
Returning students can request accommodations/services using a Request for Services Form at least 2 weeks before the start of the semester to ensure timely services. Requests for accommodations and services will be processed as rapidly as possible if submitted after the deadline.
This form is for Returning DSS students only. If you have not identified to DSS or worked with a DSS counselor at MC before, please apply for services or contact the main DSS office at 240-567-5058.
- Please complete the form in its entirety. Missing or incorrect information may cause a delay in processing the form.
- If requesting accommodations other than those from the previous semester, please make an appointment to see your counselor.
- Email the completed Request for Services form, from your Montgomery College email,to
one of the following:
DSSlettersRV@montgomerycollege.edu – if your home campus is Rockville
DSSlettersTPSS@montgomerycollege.edu – if your home campus is Takoma Park/Silver Spring
DSSlettersGT@montgomerycollege.edu – if your home campus is Germantown.
If you are taking classes on multiple campuses or online, email your Request for Services to the campus/DSS counselor where/with whom you did your first meeting (intake). - Once your Request for Services form is reviewed, your Accommodation Letter will be setup and emailed to your Montgomery College email.
- During the first or second week of classes, deliver and discuss your Accommodations Letter with your instructors to make arrangements for your authorized accommodations. You are responsible for delivering the letter to each of your professors.
DSS utilizes an interactive process in determining accommodations for each student. DSS counselors advise students and provide academic, career, and short-term personal counseling. They determine and facilitate appropriate academic and technological accommodations, act as liaisons with College resources and external agencies and consultants, and provide referral services for students with disabilities. DSS faculty and staff assist in arranging support services within the framework of student self-determination and self-advocacy.
Accommodations and modifications are authorized based on your disability and specific functional limitations. Reasonable accommodations refer to modifications that provide students with disabilities equal access to college programs and activities. Accommodations may include but are not limited to, the elimination of physical barriers, extended time on tests, note-takers, recording devices, captioning, sign language interpreters, calculator use, computer use, electronic books, screen-readers, voice recognition and other adaptive software or hardware for computers. An accommodation is not considered reasonable if it fundamentally alters the essential elements of an academic program. The college has a legal obligation to make these accommodations, unless it can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the nature of the services, program or activity.
Accommodations are based on the functional limitations of the disability, course standards and requirements, and will vary accordingly. The following are examples of accommodations. For additional information please refer to the DSS Student Guide or discuss with a DSS counselor.
- Access to class notes
- Allow audio recording of class
- Alternative to Scantron/ability to write directly on the test
- Calculator
- Captioned videos, films, and online media
- Double time
- Flexibility with attendance
- Preferential seating
- Reduced distraction testing environment
- Scribe for exams
DSS provides general academic advising and help with course selection. For major-specific advising, students work with major field advisors as appropriate.
Remember: New students must self-identify to DSS in order to begin the process for accommodations and services.