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Who We Are
Welcome to Access and Disability Services (ADS). ADS is dedicated to ensuring access and inclusion for all students with disabilities at Pierce College. ADS serves students with either temporary or permanent physical, health, learning, sensory or psychological disabilities. ADS provides reasonable academic accommodations and support services for students with disabilities in accordance with the A.D.A. (as amended) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. ADS supports the social and identity models of disability, celebrating disability as an integral part of diversity on our campuses. Our goal is to provide access and equitable opportunity in the classroom while promoting the use of Universal Design in our classrooms and beyond.
Mission Statement
Embedded in the core values of Pierce College is a commitment to ensuring access to a quality higher education experience for a diverse student population. Access and Disability Services (ADS) recognizes disability as an aspect of diversity that is integral to society and to our campus community. ADS serves as a partner in fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for all Pierce College students.
The Core Functions of the ADS Office
- Partner with students with disabilities to establish services for their access and inclusion on campus.
- Manage, coordinate, implement and evaluate accommodation/service programs.
- Serve as a resource to students/faculty/staff to ensure effective provision of services.
- Provide educational and resource support to the campus community to increase awareness regarding how to create and sustain access and inclusion for students with disabilities in all aspects of the university.
- Provide resource and referral information to the campus community and prospective students and their families.
- ADS works with each student individually to establish academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services, more frequently referred to as academic accommodations. These accommodations eliminate the barriers impacting the student’s equitable access to the campus facilities, programs and activities.
Fall 2024 Updates
- ADS staff will be available Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- We are available to schedule in-person and remote appointments over Microsoft Teams. We are unable to provide “walk-in” appointments at any campus. We require all appointments to be scheduled in advance. For Access Intake appointments, we are generally booked out approximately two weeks in advance.
- Accommodated testing appointments must be scheduled at least 3 business days (5 business days for finals) in advance due to space limitations. Testing is available for students with approved testing accommodations at the Puyallup campus on Monday, Thursday, and Friday and at the Fort Steilacoom campus Monday through Thursday. We will be available for accommodated testing appointments all three days of final exams (December 9, December 10 and December 11) at both campuses.
- To schedule any type of appointment, please connect with us at: ADS@pierce.ctc.edu or call 253-964-6468.
What is AIM?
AIM is a confidential ADS database that helps track student information and implementation of accommodation services. Each student registered with ADS will have a student profile inside AIM. Inside the profile, students will sign quarterly Agreement Forms, submit their quarterly Accommodation Requests for their classes, upload disability documentation, view the Message Center and more.
ADS Appointment Policies
- Please bring with, or join your remote Intake or Update appointment from, a PC/Mac, laptop, or tablet. A smart phone will not be sufficient for most appointments. If this is not possible, please let the ADS know in advance.
- ADS observes a 15-minute cancellation policy for all types of appointments. If the individual does not attend their meeting within 15 minutes of its scheduled start time, the meeting will need to be rescheduled for a later date. The individual will be responsible for rescheduling their missed appointment.
- If an individual misses four scheduled appointments in one quarter, ADS will have to request that they not schedule again that same quarter. They will be able to reschedule the following quarter.
The Interactive Access Intake Process
If you are a student with a disability and think you are in need of accommodations, you must self-identify to ADS and complete an intake appointment to establish services. The intake appointment is an interactive process allowing for an in-depth conversation between the student and ADS staff. This confidential appointment includes discussion and verification of the student’s disability, barriers and challenges, and potential accommodations. The student’s unique situation and classes are taken into consideration when determining and approving the individualized accommodation services. Sometimes an immediate determination cannot be made during the intake depending on the complexity of the accommodation request. If this is the case, staff will explain next steps to the student, which include gathering more information to assist in reaching a determination. During the interactive intake appointment, the student will receive information about their own responsibilities, next steps and professor communication. Please view our Preparing for your Access Intake Appointment page to learn more.