Skip to content
Walla Walla Community College

Our Commitment

The Disability Support Services office at Walla Walla Community College is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to all aspects of campus life. We facilitate accommodations, training and advocacy work to help foster students’ independence, ensure recognition of their strengths, as well as their disability challenges. No student shall, on the basis of their disability, be excluded from their participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any college program or activity. 

Additionally, DSS maintains compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and State of Washington Laws of 1994, Chapter 105. 

Get Started with Disability Support Services

Students may initiate the process for accommodations at any time.  However, the accommodation process may take up to 6 weeks to complete so it is important to start the process as early as possible. Accommodations cannot be implemented retroactively.

Please follow the steps here to get started at WWCC before applying for DSS services. If you have questions or would like more information on services that are available please set up an informational meeting with your campus’ DSS Coordinator.  We are looking forward to being a part of your support team here at WWCC!

STEP 1 – Submit a Disability Accommodation Request Form

This form will ask you to identify your disability and describe the barriers you experience in an educational setting. If you have not been in school recently, think about what you experienced when you were in school, a work, or volunteer setting. During your intake meeting you will have an opportunity to talk more about your experiences.

If you have difficulty filling out the Disability Accommodation Request Form, please contact the DSS coordinator on your campus for assistance.

We use a combination of a student’s self-report, medical records, and educational records (IEP/504) to determine eligibility and reasonable accommodations. If you have medical or educational information such as an IEP or 504 Plan from high school, VA documents, a letter from a counselor, doctor, or otherwise qualified specialists, you can attach it to the Request Form or bring it with you to your intake appointment. If you don’t have access to your medical or educational documentation please plan on attending the appointment anyways. Please don’t delay meeting with us out of a concern for not having the right paperwork.

STEP 2 – Schedule and Attend a DSS Intake Meeting

Within 5 business days of receiving your form, the DSS office will reach out to you to schedule an Intake Meeting. This meeting is typically one hour long and can be conducted in-person or online. It will be a conversation between you and the DSS Coordinator regarding your disability information, the barriers you encounter in an educational setting, what supports you’ve used in the past that have helped, and what accommodations you feel would provide access in your WWCC classes.

The DSS Coordinator will review all of the information provided to determine if you qualify as a student with a disability and what reasonable accommodations would provide access and remove barriers. You will be notified by email the result of your meeting within 2-7 business days after your meeting. If approved your instructors will receive a letter outlining your approved accommodations.

To maintain confidentiality, we will conduct all communication with you through your WWCC student email account.

If you would like anyone to join your DSS Intake Meeting please fill out a Release to Access Educational Records Form. We recommend you fill out this form 5 business days before our meeting. You are also able to withdrawal your release at any time.

Once Registered with DSS

  • Check your WWCC student email for a copy of your Letter of Accommodation. This will be sent out the week prior to the start of the quarter.
    • If you apply for accommodations during the quarter you are requesting them, the letter will be shared with instructors within 3 business days of your approval.  Additional process may be required if you are approved for assistive technology or equipment loaners.
  • Reach out to your instructors regarding the implementation of your accommodations in their class.
  • Request your accommodations to be renewed each quarter. Students can request their accommodations immediately after registering for the next quarter. For your accommodations to be shared with instructors before the start of the quarter please request your renewal a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the start of the quarter.
  • Familiarize yourself with other campus supports available to students.

Denial of Accommodation Appeal Process

If we decline to approve an accommodation, you have the right to appeal that decision:

Informal Appeal Process

  • After receiving a denial email from DSS, respond to that email to request that the action, inactions, or decision be reconsidered. 
  • DSS may request you submit additional documentation or information to review. DSS staff may need to consult with other college staff or faculty regarding technical standards, program requirements, college policies or other information relevant to your request. 
  • Informal resolution of concerns shall not exceed 30 calendar days

Formal Appeal Process

If a student is not satisfied by the results of the informal process or the informal process meeting has been waived, the complainant may request a meeting with the VP of Student Services, in writing. 

  • Within 30 calendar days of receiving the written request the VP of Student Services shall arrange an official hearing and chair the meeting to review the complaint. 
  • The complainant may choose to meet with the administrator with or without the person(s) the complaint is directed. If the complainant requests a single meeting, the complainant, the person(s) the complaint is directed, and the VP of Student Services will attend the meeting. 
  • After the hearing and within 30 calendar days of receiving the written request, the administrator will report their findings in writing to the complainant, and the person(s) the complaint has been directed. 

Presidential Appeal

If the complaint is not resolved as a result the formal process resulting in a hearing conducted by the Vice President of Student Services, either the complainant or the person(s) the complaint has been directed, may request and appeal to the college President.

  • The request must be made in writing within 10 calendar days after receipt of the written result of the official hearing. 
  • Within 15 calendar days of receiving the request, the college President or designee will conduct a Presidential Appeal hearing and report the findings in writing to both the complainant and the person(s) the complaint has been directed. 
  • Attendance at the Presidential Appeal hearing shall be limited to the college President or designee; the administrator who conducted the official hearing; the complainant; and the person(s) the complaint is directed, unless otherwise agreed upon mutually agreed by the parties. The college President or designee shall preside. 
  • Either the complainant or the person(s) the complaint is directed may call witnesses at the direction of the person presiding. 
  • The written findings of the Presidential Appeal will be considered final. No further intra-institutional appeal exists.

Last Appeal

While we would hope to come to an aggregable solution through our appeal process you have the right to file a report with the Office of Civil Rights at any point in the denial process.

Office for Civil Rights 
Department of Education
810 3rd Avenue, Suite 750
Seattle, WA 98104-1627
206.684.4500
206.684.4503 TTY
Washington State
Human Rights Commission
711 South Capitol Way Suite 402
Olympia, WA 98504
800.233.3247