Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS): What to Know

The Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) is one of the many resources at USC that allows our students to thrive both in and out of the classroom. 

What is OSAS? 

Let’s start with some general information about OSAS from the OSAS website): 

Purpose: “Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) is the unit at USC responsible for ensuring equal access for students with disabilities in compliance with state and federal law. OSAS serves undergraduate, graduate and professional students; on-ground and on-line students; and students in all credit-granting courses and programs of study.” 

Mission: “The OSAS team is committed to serving the USC community through: ensuring equal access, removing disability-related obstacles, supporting civil rights, and increasing education and awareness on behalf of students with disabilities.” 
 

Practice: “OSAS strives to provide a welcoming and mutually respectful environment for our students, campus partners, our staff and the broader USC community. To that end, OSAS welcomes interactions with all its constituencies in person, or via telephone, email, or virtual platform, that are respectful and that serve to professionally meet the needs of our students and the campus community.” 

When and how do I register with OSAS? 

If you’re in the exploratory stages as a prospective student, you can submit a Contact Us Form through the OSAS website to receive more information regarding the resources offered. Once you’ve been admitted to USC and have confirmed that you will attend, OSAS encourages you to connect with their office right away to sort through the details of your specific accommodations. Students are encouraged to check out the New Student Overview page to learn more about important dates and deadlines. Currently enrolled or continuing students can register with OSAS at any time, though in order to ensure that your accommodations will be in place at the start of the semester, OSAS recommends you reach out well before the semester begins. 

If you’re ready to apply for accommodations, you can fill out this application. Once it has been submitted, you’ll be asked to provide documentation relating to your disability (which you are able to provide at a later date if needed). You will then be assigned an OSAS Specialist who will work with you throughout the application process, and provide one-on-one in-person, phone, or virtual/video meetings. The OSAS team works diligently to review your information and guide you through the rest of the process. 

What kinds of accommodations are available? 

Your OSAS Specialist and the OSAS team will closely review your application and documentation and will work with you one-on-one to determine your accommodation(s). 

Some examples of potential accommodations include: 

• Academic Accommodations 

  • Attendance Modifications 

  • Curriculum Substitutions

  • Deadline Modifications

  • Priority Registration

  • Reduced Course Load

• Service/Assistance Animals

• External Work Placements

• Physical & Structural

  • Classroom Scheduling, Accessible Classrooms, and/or Accessible Furniture

  • Transportation Assistance

• Residential & Dining

• Accommodated Testing

• Alternative Format Materials

• Assistive Technology

• Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services

• Notetaking Services

You can visit the OSAS website and hover over the “Current Students” tab for more detailed information. 

OSAS is committed to providing all Trojans with the accommodations they need in order to thrive during their time at USC. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to OSAS directly: 

Email: OSASFrontDesk@usc.edu 

Phone: (213) 740-0776 

Written By: Jennifer Cox, Assistant Director – Office of Undergraduate Admission 

Edited By: Jennifer Donis Gonzalez, Senior Assistant Director – Office of Undergraduate Admission