Disability Services strives to provide access to educational opportunities for students with disabilities. We collaborate with students, faculty, and staff of the college community to create accessible and inclusive learning environments. Our goal is to increase awareness and acceptance of individuals with disabilities in support of CBC’s mission of providing "educational and life-enriching opportunities" for all students. 

Success Coaches

Carlos Gonzales 
cgonzales@coastalbend.edu 
(361) 354-2246

Jessica Cavazos
jcavazos@coastalbend.edu 
(361) 592-1615, ext. 3045

Randi O'Bryant
robrant881@coastalbend.edu 
(830) 569-4222, ext. 1225 

Dean of Student Services & Accessibility 
Kayla Devora-Jones 
kdjones@coastalbend.edu 
(361) 354-2532 

How to Request Accommodations for the First Time  

Disability is defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a "physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment." Major life activities include, but are not limited to "functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working." 

STEP 1. Complete an online CBC Accommodation form .    
 

STEP 2. Provide documentation. Students who wish to request accommodations should submit documentation that: establishes a disability, details the current functional impact of that disability, confirms the need for each accommodation requested, establishes a direct link between the underlying disability and the requested accommodation. The documentation must be issued by a medical or other qualified, licensed professional, printed on letterhead, dates, signed and include the professional's contact and licensing information. In addition to the current assessment, students are encouraged to submit any past documentation or materials that establish a history of receiving appropriate accommodations in a previous academic setting when available. Secondary school accommodation plans such as IEPs or 504 Plans are helpful but do not provide sufficient information to establish eligibility for the requested accommodation at the college level.
STEP 3. Contact the Office of Disability Services at (361) 354-2300 to schedule an appointment.    
 

Determining reasonable and appropriate accommodations is based on documentation submitted as well as a discussion with the student.  The student and the Dean of Student Services & Accessibility will determine appropriate accommodations for courses.  Documentation becomes part of students' educational records and is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).    
 

How to Request a Renewal of Accommodations
Step 1. Complete the online  CBC Accommodations Renewal form. 
Step 2. Check CBC email for your accommodation notice.
 

Delivery of Accommodation Approvals to Professors   

The Office of Disability Services emails the student and professors/instructors the approved accommodations for each of their courses for each semester. It is the student's responsibility to issue the accommodation notice to their professors. We encourage students to inform instructors in the first week of the semester. Students may choose to discuss their accommodations with their professors, but are never required to disclose their diagnosis to anyone outside the Office of Disability Services.   
 

Guidelines/Tips for Submitting Documentation for Eligibility
A specific diagnosis, including the level of severity and duration   

The specific findings in support of the diagnosis, such as relevant history, tests administered, test results, and interpretation of test results
A description of the student's functional limitations (symptoms) as they directly relate to the stated disabilities and impact academic performance  
Disability management by assisting devices (such as hearing aids, walkers, etc.) medications, treatments or other coping mechanisms as well as side effects caused by medication for the treatment of conditions when impacting academic performance  
 

Specific recommendations for reasonable accommodations (such as note-takers, extended testing time, adaptive technology, etc.) necessary for equal access in the academic environment 
Documentation on the professional's letterhead, signed and dated, with contact information, such as address and telephone number.  

If students with disabilities attempt a class without requesting accommodations, they cannot, unless given special approval by the professor, ask to have accommodations applied to previous coursework, exams, or quizzes.
To complete the accommodation form, you must log in with your CBC Office365 (O365) account. If you need any assistance, please feel free to contact us.   

Services Animals   

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), "service animal" means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, do not service animals for the purposes of this definition. 
The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.
 

The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.  28 C.F.R. 35.104  FAA (LEGAL)
 

Technology:    

Below is a variety of websites and technology that can assist individuals with disabilities. We are not endorsing any product, and we are merely sharing available resources.  We encourage you to research all options based on diagnosis and recommended accommodations.
 

Accessible books:   
Bookshare    
VitalSource
 

Text-to-speech:    
Natural Readers    
Read&Write
 

Note taking assistance:  
Sonocent Audio Notetaker
 

Screen readers for blind or low vision:  
JAWS    
NVDA    
ZoomText
 

Additional Resources:     

Autism Speaks - Postsecondary Education    
National Center for Learning Disabilities    
National Deaf Center    
Going to College with Diabetes  
Texas Workforce Commission- Vocational Rehabilitation for Youth & Students