Getting Started with OSS
Welcome to the Office of Special Services. We are located in the Student Services Building, 1st Floor. We are right next to Financial Aid. This page has lots of information about our programs eligibility, services, student responsibilities, links to our application, and more.
OSS Introduction Video
Watch the video below to learn about the OSS program and its benefits. Click on CC to enable Closed Captions.
Important Information and Application
Los Angeles City College’s Office of Special Services (OSS) authorizes accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or support services to students who have verified disabilities such as:
- Physical Disability
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)
- Blind and Low Vision
- Learning Disability
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Intellectual Disability (ID)
- Autism Spectrum
- Mental Health Disability
- Other Health Conditions and Disabilities
Students with disabilities who attend Los Angeles City College must make measurable progress toward their educational goals.
- I will provide OSS with any information (reports, diagnoses, etc.) deemed necessary by OSS to verify my disability(ies). (E.g., medical, psychological, and/or educational information signed by an appropriately licensed professional.)
- I will meet with an academic counselor/specialist to complete a Student Educational Plan/Contract and I agree to meet each semester to update my Student Educational Plan/Contract and Academic Accommodations.
- I will make measurable progress toward the goals established in my Student Educational Plan and meet academic standards established by the college.
- I will utilize OSS programs and services in a responsible manner including notification forty-eight (48) hours in advance for OSS service cancellations, appointment changes, or requests for information related to my OSS student file.
- I will comply with the Student Code of Conduct adopted by the Los Angeles Community College District.
You might be interested in how our services will differ from the services you received in High School. Please view the document below for more information:
Privacy
In the K-12 system, parents are part of an IEP team that makes decisions regarding a student’s educational plans and goals. When students enroll at Los Angeles City College (LACC) or any college or university in California supported by federal funds, this changes, and student information is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Under this law, the college cannot discuss any identifying information about individual students. In college, only students can access their records and information unless a parent has a verified legal conservatorship or power of attorney. In college (postsecondary education) it is the responsibility of the student to make an appointment to meet with his or her Disability Specialist/Counselor. When a student attends one of these meetings he or she may invite and give written permission to another person/parent to be present. If a parent, advocate, or friend attends a meeting with a student, the student is still responsible for making all educationally related decisions. This includes decisions related to educational goals, plans, and the utilization of services provided by the Disabled Student Services and Programs Office. The Disability Specialists/Counselors cannot provide updates and progress reports to parents. It is the responsibility of the student to follow OSS (DSPS) procedures, to monitor and maintain his/her/their educational progress. In addition, the student is responsible for scheduling an appointment with their Disability Specialist/Counselor in OSS/LACC initially as a new student and when necessary to update or to continue to receive support services and academic adjustments.
Service Mandates
Special Education students on the Community College Campus are not served under the auspices of IDEA, but rather ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act that pertains to postsecondary education. For special education students concurrently enrolled in High School and Community College, the burden to provide a “Free, Appropriate, Public Education” (FAPE) in the, “Least Restrictive Environment” (LRE), as detailed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), still falls to the local school district. Students who have chosen to exit special education prior to age 22 and attend the Community College are no longer entitled to protection under IDEA and they are now served under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title 5 regulations in California. Parents do not have control over a Community College student’s educational plan or services; disability services are determined using disability verification which can take the form of medical verification and/or recent (last 3 years) psycho-educational testing and dialogue with a Disability Specialist or Disability Counselor meeting Title 5 qualifications to serve student with disabilities in California.
Title 5, Implementation Guidelines for CA Community Colleges, DSPS (PDF)
High School Special Education vs. Postsecondary Education
High School (K-12 System) |
Los Angeles City College |
|---|---|
|
Services mandated under IDEA (Entitlement) |
Services mandated under ADA, Title 5, Section 504 and 508; Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Privilege) |
|
District or school identifies disability |
Student is responsible to provide appropriate documentation that establishes:
|
|
Free evaluations by district |
Student is responsible for evaluations |
|
District IEP team develops Education Plan and priorities |
Student identifies own needs and develops Academic Accommodation Plan with LACC Counselor |
|
District personnel monitor IEP and regularly assesses goals and progress |
Student is responsible for own goals and progress |
|
Teacher advocates for student |
Student advocates for self, dialogue |
|
Modifications are allowed to:
|
Accommodations may NOT alter fundamental nature of degree applicable courses or degree requirements or instructional methods |
|
Personal services provided addressing social, vocational, academic, living skills, community services |
Student’s responsibility. College does not provide personal attendants |
|
Transportation to and from school |
Transportation is not provided |
|
School personnel monitors student success and meets with teachers to modify curriculum supports when necessary |
Student is responsible to meet with teachers and disability specialist/counselor and advocate their own needs |
|
High school counselor calls in student and has courses mapped out for student to approve and add one or two courses when possible |
Student is responsible to schedule an appointment with a disability specialist/counselor and develop their own academic course-load and schedule, SEP |
|
Teachers are required to contact parents quarterly regarding student progress |
Students are responsible to monitor their own progress in courses and confidentiality is protected |
|
Annual IEP determines modifications & accommodation |
Accommodations are determined by functional limitations of disability – Courses cannot be modified |
|
Parents have access to all educational documents |
Students’ confidentiality is protected by FERPA(Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) |
|
IEP document reviewed annually with IEP team |
No IEP…Academic Accommodation Plan developed by DSPS - dialogue w/student |
|
Students may be enrolled in RSP or SDC classes |
No SDC or RSP classes – students take courses based on their placement scores, course eligibility, educational objectives |
|
Specific courses are required to graduate |
Students choose courses based on their educational and vocational goals |
- Academic Accommodation Authorizations
- Academic Counseling
- Access to Assistive Technology
- Assistive/Adaptive Technology Training
- Alternate-Text Production
- Braille Transcription
- Classroom and Test Accommodations
- Large-Print Magnification
- Learning Disabilities Assessment
- Liaison with college faculty and staff
- On-campus Mobility Orientation
- Priority Registration
- Readers or Scribes for Exams
- Referrals (on/off campus support)
- Sign Language Interpreting Services
- Specialized Instruction
- Specialized Tutoring
- Student Education Contract
- Student Educational Plan
For more information about all of our services:
Visit the OSS Accommodations & Services Page
Students new to OSS (Office of Special Services) are REQUIRED to complete the OSS application process. The application process requires two (2) items:
- Download and complete the New Student Application Form using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Included in the application is our Orientation Quiz. The answers to this quiz can all be found on this page of our website.
- Verification of your disability. Students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and/or 504 students can submit these documents. Or, a letter from a medical professional or learning disability specialist who can verify your disability.
Please contact OSS if you need any assistance with the steps above. Once completed, please email both items to @email
Once you are enrolled in your classes, you can request your accommodation letters from an OSS Counselor or Specialist
- Learning Disabilities: Email Donna Morley
- Counselors:
- Last name starts with A - L: Email Robert Dominick
- Last Name Starts with M - Z: Email Houa Lee
Note: If you are enrolled at another LACCD campus, you will need to go through their DSPS office to request your letters for those classes.