Accessibility Services

Students may request alternate test accommodations by following these three steps:

1. Call 763-576-7950 to make an appointment to meet with Accessibility Services staff. Make your appointment as soon as you have your course schedule to allow time to implement accommodations.

Request accommodations as early as possible. Though we try to honor late requests, we cannot guarantee immediate results. Immediate assistance may be limited due to resource availability.

2. Bring appropriate documentation from a professional source regarding your disability to your appointment. Appropriate documentation is recent, comes from a certified professional, and clearly states the diagnosis. If approved, your faculty/staff will be notified so accommodations can be provided.

3. Students must meet with the Accessibility Services staff prior to each semester so arrangements can be made.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Accommodations cannot be backdated or provided for tests/exams already taken.

Sign language interpreting services are defined as assisting with communication between deaf or hard of hearing people and hearing people. Interpreters are available for classroom, lab, and tutored sessions as well as for meetings with varied college personnel.

Request interpreters prior to the start of each semester. Though we try to honor late requests we cannot guarantee results; immediate assistance may be limited due to resource availability.

At the start of each semester, it is the student's responsibility to provide the Accessibility Services with their course schedule, thereby allowing time to arrange requested accommodations. Call 763 576-7950 to make an appointment to meet with Accessibility Services staff.

Accessibility Services will try to honor requests for specific interpreters, but cannot guarantee requests will be fulfilled. Interpreter availability is a major factor.

Accessibility Services assists students in gaining access to course materials in an alternative format. Often times, accommodations can be made for students to be provided with PowerPoint slides, classroom notes, and other written materials in a format and timeframe that best suits the student's disability and particular academic need. 

Through Accessibility Services, students may be able to access their textbook(s) in an electronic format (PDF). Students should note, requests to publishers for books in electronic or alternative format can take time and a receipt of purchase will be required before a request will be made.

Additionally, equipment or adaptive devices may be available for student use. Use of such devices are approved solely when the accommodation is reasonable for that student's disability. On a case-by-case basis, students may check out equipment for a duration that is agreed upon between the student and Accessibility Services.

Accessibility Services frequently facilitates referrals and connections between the student and other supportive services on campus. Some of the additional supportive services that are available to ALL students can include: tutoring, advising, and counseling. 

Get Transportation

The Traveler provides transportation for individuals with special needs. Metro Mobility, a program of the Metropolitan Council oversees all ADA Paratransit Service in the Twin Cities.

Where to Park

Anoka Technical College provides multiple parking spaces with the designated international symbol for disabled parking. Students and employees who have a State of Minnesota disabilities license plate or a temporary/permanent parking permit may park in any of those locations. All main entrances are equipped with power-assisted doors. The elevator in Building A (providing access to Auditoriums A and B) is the only location on campus which is not at ground level.

Temporary parking for individuals who require closer parking because of surgery/injury may also be provided by the Accessibility Services. Documentation from your medical doctor will be required; length of time special parking privileges are needed must be noted.

Are you transitioning from high school to college?

Transitioning from high school to college can be a difficult adjustment period. For many up to this point, counselors and parents were the ones making the educational decisions for the student. As a college student however, the decisions about your education are made by you, the student.

Self-advocacy or the ability to act on your own behalf is one of the most important tools you can possess while in college. It is an expectation that students work on developing their own self-advocacy. In self-advocacy. Students should become aware of their strengths and weaknesses, develop communication skills between themselves, their instructors and classmates, and advance their problem-solving skills to meet classroom deadlines and course standards.

Some students may feel the need to allow another person to assist them in making educational decisions while learning to advocate for themselves. Students can choose to have someone like a parent, guardian, or third party added to their student account to be able to discuss private information. 

Consent to Release Information

Anoka Technical College requires consent before any private educational information will be shared with anyone other than that student. This form can be submitted at any time to add or remove a third party from a student account. The Consent to Release Information form must be completed on yearly basis to renew a third party on a student account.

Please check out this Resource Guide for more information in preparing students with disabilities for the college environment.