Disabilities Act

Disabilities / Americans with Disabilities Act

Otis College of Art and Design is committed to providing equal access to its programs, services, and activities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), and applicable state and local laws.

In compliance with these laws, no qualified individual with a disability will be unlawfully denied access to or participation in any College program, service, or activity. The College recognizes that disabilities may be permanent or temporary and may include, but are not limited to, mobility, sensory, health, psychological, or learning disabilities.

Otis College provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to ensure equal access. However, accommodations that would impose an undue burden or fundamentally alter the nature of a course, program, or activity are not required and will not be provided.

Applying for Accommodations at Otis College

Otis College is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities for students with disabilities. To request accommodations, students must complete the following four-step process:

1. Apply for Accommodations
   Students must complete and submit the Disability Services Accommodation Application using the following link: Disability Services Accommodation Application
2. Upload Documentation
   Documentation that supports the accommodation request must be uploaded as part of the application. This documentation should verify the nature of the disability and the need for specific accommodations.
   
3. Schedule an Intake Meeting
   After submitting a complete application and documentation, students must schedule an intake meeting with Disability Services using the following link: Schedule an Accommodations Intake Meeting  
4. Send Accommodation Letters to Faculty
   Once the intake meeting is complete and accommodations are approved, students will receive an official accommodation letter via email.
   This letter is:
5. Valid for the academic year for Otis College students
6. Valid for the summer semester for Extension students
7. Time-limited for students receiving short-term accommodations (e.g., due to illness or injury)
   
8. Students are responsible for sending their accommodation letter to all their faculty at the start of each semester. Faculty are expected to implement only the accommodations listed in the letter. Retroactive accommodations are not provided unless explicitly stated. All discussions regarding accommodations will remain private.

Grievance Procedure

If a student or visitor believes they have experienced disability-related discrimination or disputes related to accommodations, Otis College offers both informal and formal grievance procedures.

• Informal Resolution
  Students are encouraged to first attempt to resolve the issue informally by contacting the Disability Services Office. This may include a facilitated conversation or clarification of policies.
• Formal Resolution
  Students may file a formal complaint at any time, regardless of whether they have attempted informal resolution. To initiate a formal complaint related to disability discrimination or accommodation disputes, please complete the Bias-Related Incident Report Form.
  

For assistance, contact the Disability Services Office at ds@otis.edu or 424-207-3785, or visit our website: Otis College Disability Services.

Lecture Recording Policy

• For Personal Use Only: Recordings are only for the individual student's learning and must not be used for any other purpose.
• No Sharing: Recordings cannot be shared, posted, or distributed in any form—online or otherwise.
• Respect Academic Integrity: Recordings are subject to Otis’s academic integrity and copyright policies.
• Delete After Use: All recordings must be deleted within 10 days of the term’s end.
• Policy Violations: Misuse may result in loss of recording privileges and possible student conduct action.

• Unauthorized recording is strictly prohibited.
• Faculty cannot deny this accommodation but are not required to record lectures themselves.
• In sensitive classroom discussions, faculty may ask all students to refrain from recording or note-taking for that portion.