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Accessibility Services


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Accessibility Services is located in the Student Success Center.  

The faculty and staff of Grayson College are dedicated to providing full access to programs and services by providing reasonable and effective accommodations that promote student independence.

Coordinator of Tutoring and Accessibility Services

Jeffri Johnson Hodge
6101 Grayson Drive, Hwy 691
Denison, TX 75020
Phone: 903-463-8751
E-mail: hodgej [at] grayson [dot] edu

How to Request Accommodations

Disability is defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act 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.”  

Students requesting accommodations should:

  1. complete an  accommodation request form online. (Hard copy format is available upon request).
  2. contact the Coordinator of Tutoring and Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment.
  3. provide documentation to the Accessibility Services Coordinator from appropriately trained professionals, such as physicians, educational diagnosticians, licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, or other qualified professionals.
    1. upload documentation to the accommodation request form, or
    2. send documentation by email to the coordinator, or
    3. bring to in-person meeting with the coordinator
  4. if applicable, complete the alternate format textbook request form to request textbooks in an accessible format.

Determining reasonable and appropriate accommodations is based on documentation submitted as well as a discussion with the student. The student and the Coordinator of Tutoring and Accessibility Services will work together to determine appropriate accommodations for the entrance exam, if needed, and college coursework. Documentation becomes part of students' educational records and is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Contacting the Coordinator of Tutoring and Accessibility Services

Students may contact the Coordinator of Tutoring and Accessibility Services at any time during regular office hours in the Accessibility Services Office. The office is located inside the Testing/Tutoring Center on the 2nd floor of the Student Success Center. Days and hours vary during mini-mesters and summer semesters. To schedule an appointment, contact the coordinator by email or phone. 

Delivery of Accommodation Approvals to Professors

The Coordinator of Tutoring and Accessibility Services notifies professors by email of the student's approved accommodations for the current semester. Students may choose to discuss their accommodations with their professors, but are never required to disclose their diagnosis to anyone outside the Accessibility Services Office.  

Guidelines for Documentation

Diagnostician's report should include the date of the report, their name, title, signature, full address, and phone number on their office letterhead. 

Diagnosticians should provide a report that includes student's full name, date of birth, and responses to the following questions:

1. What is the specific diagnosis of the disability? Include DSM-IV code, if applicable.

2. What is the nature, history, and extent of the disability? How does it limit one or more of the student's major life activities? Will the disability change in any way over time? In use of a learning disability, include specifics as to the type of disability (e.g., visual or auditory reception or perception, processing, memory, comprehension, verbal or written expression, etc.).

3. When was the disability first diagnosed? Describe the tests used to diagnose the disability, findings, and interpretation of test results obtained.

4. What is the effect of the disability on the student's ability to perform under classroom and/or testing conditions?

5. Based on the diagnosis, what are the diagnostician's specific recommendations for accommodations for the student (extended time, minimally distracting testing environment, audio recording of lectures, etc.)? Please include an explanation of why these accommodations are required.

Additional Documentation

Academic accommodations may not fundamentally alter the nature of an academic program; consequently, some programs will require additional documentation before accommodations can be approved for those classes and assessments. The following programs have provided guidance on this requirement:

  • Nursing Programs: State licensing of nurses requires successful performance on the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exams, and the Texas Board of Nursing’s guidelines for special accommodations based on ADA considerations are applied to those assessments. Those Texas Board of Nursing policies, further inform the policies followed by the Nursing Programs at Grayson College. These forms and a fuller explanation of these procedures will be available from the Accessibility Services Office. 

Please note:

  • Students may choose to request accommodations in one or more classes, but not request accommodations in others. Unless specifically requested by the student, approvals are sent to all the professors in courses for which the student is currently enrolled. 
  • Accommodation approvals are not retroactive and must be updated each semester. Students submit an  accommodation request at the beginning of each semester for which they are enrolled. 
  • 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.

Service Animal and Assistance Information:

Additional Resources:  

Technology: 

Using the right technology or software is vital to students' success. The following list includes just a few of the many options currently available to students with disabilities. This list is not comprehensive and is not an endorsement for any of these products. Research all options based on diagnosis and recommended accommodations. Talk to a vocational rehabilitation counselor or other trusted professional. Ask about free resources and trial versions.  

Accessible books:  

Text-to-speech:   

Note-taking assistance:

Screen readers for blind or low vision:

Faculty Guidelines

Instructors are asked to read and familiarize themselves with the Faculty Guidelines for Disability Services and explore UDL resources on the University of Washington's DO-IT website.