Disability Support Services (DSS)
Services
Registration Assistance
Eligible students receive assistance in registering for
classes. They may register early in order to accommodate disability
related needs, such as preferred time or location scheduling, arranging
for classroom support services or procuring alternative media
materials. Continuing students will be advised by email about the
timelines for registration appointments with DSS
counselors.
On-Campus Assistance
A wheelchair accessible shuttle service is available from
Student and Community Services Bldg. to classrooms and other campus
offices on a scheduled basis or for special appointments.
Counseling and Advisement
The philosophy of Special Education is to empower students to
successfully achieve their goals through effective life management and
problem solving. Counselors work with students to:
- determine educational goals
- orient to the college
- develop plans for
A.A. degrees, certificates and university transfer
- manage time, stress and anxiety
- learn skills for self advocacy
- problem-solve life and disability issues
- develop student skills for academic success
- identify and utilize campus and community resources
- transition from De Anza to a four year college or to
employment
Interpreting and Captioning Services
Deaf and the hard of hearing students work with a DSS
counselor and the deaf services supervisor to schedule appropriate
classroom support services. Since such services take time to arrange,
it is important to register for classes during the priority period.
Later schedule changes may result in a delay in service.
Services are also provided for students for meetings with
tutors or instructors or other required educational activities.
Requests should be submitted on the request form at least one week in
advance.
Students are required to notify DSS if
they will not be attending class so that services can be cancelled.
Notetaking Services
When a disability makes class notetaking ineffective,
students may consider the following options :
- Tape-recording -- Students with
disabilities may tape-record instructor lectures, as stated in the De Anza
Senate Policy on tape-recording
- Classmate Copies -- Students are
provided with non-carbon reproduction (NCR) paper
- Instructor Copies -- Instructors who
have lecture notes, or overheads, may be able to share these for use as
a notetaknig template. Arrangements can be made to copy these through DSS.
NOTE:
When students use instructor materials or tapes, they may be
asked to sign a Restricted Use Agreement.
Reader / Tutor Referral
Tutoring services may be provided through the Educational
Diagnostic Center (EDC)
for math or language classes or through other campus tutoring services.
EDC
instructional associates provide tutoring generally through a group or
lab setting. The Tutorial and Academic Skills Center offers one-to-one
and drop-in peer tutoring, based on availability. A Reading and Writing
lab and a math tutoring center also offer academic support assistance
and tutoring. The
DSS counselor can help advise about the most
appropriate service and provide the necessary enrollment forms and
liaison.
Assistive Technology & Adaptive Equipment
The campus has a variety of assistive technology equipment
available. The Computer
Access Lab has a comprehensive list of computer technology
hardware and software in its lab and for mainstream computer labs.
Students may be trained in and use assistive technology at the Center.
An Assistive Technology Resource Room in the Library provides
computer access by voice input, screen reading, Braille printing,
optical scanning to E-text. It also contains closed circuit television
enlargers, Daisy player, Braille writers, and other
assistive resources.
FM
listening systems may be checked out for classroom use by hard of
hearing students.
Students may also request that a table and chair be placed in
their classrooms for the quarter as an alternative to the traditional
classroom desk.
"Handicapped" Parking
All parking lots at De Anza have designated blue
"Handicapped" parking spaces. Persons with California State DMV
disability permits or placards may park in these spaces without
purchasing a De Anza parking permit. They may also park in any regular
designated "Staff" space or lot.
Students whose disability impacts their mobility, but who may
not have a DMV
placard, can apply for a special temporary "D" sticker issued by DSS.
This permits parking in staff lots and spaces, but not DMV designated
disability spaces.
Materials in Alternative Media
Instructional materials in alternate format may be requested
from the alternate media specialist in Disability Support
Services. DSS counselors and the assistive technology instructor will
assist students to determine the most effective method for obtaining
materials.
E-Text
The
alternative media specialist will take requests for instructional
materials to be scanned and placed on e-text formats, or ordered
directly from publishers or other E-text sources.
There are numerous Kurzweil 1000/3000 stations on campus to
enable
students to directly scan, store, read and display or print scanned
materials themselves.
Braille and Tactile Materials
Requests for Braille translation of classroom materials can
be directed
to the alternate media specialist.
Large Print
Print enlargement may be done by photocopying, or printed
from E-text or other electronic file. The alternative media specialist
assistance may be obtained or students can also use closed circuit
television enlargers located in the CAL lab and the Learning Center.
Audio Format
De Anza has an institutional membership with Recording for
the Blind and Dyslexic. This permits eligible students to borrow audio
books at no charge. Students may borrow Daisy players (for time
specific periods) to play these materials. Books may also be scanned
and stored on audio file for use on computer, MP3 players or other
devices. All requests for audio format materials are processed by the
alternate media specialist.
Test Accommodation
Test accommodation is an essential service for students with
verified disabilities whose educational limitations impair their
ability to take exams and demonstrate mastery of the course objectives
in a standard way. In the case of students with learning disabilities,
visual impairments, limited dexterity, or psychological disabilities,
the need for, and type of, accommodation depends on the impact the
disability has on test taking. Students with other verified
disabilities may also be eligible for accommodations. Disabled Student
Services and the Educational Diagnostic Center work with each student
individually to determine the most appropriate accommodation. The test
facilitator coordinates appointments and accommodating.
Although test accommodations are determined on a case-by-case
basis, frequently used accommodations include:
- readers and scribes
- testing in alternative media
- reduced distraction environments
- use of assistive technology
- extended time
- use of dictionaries, spell-checkers, and calculators
Campus and Community Referral
Staff members in each Special Education Division program are
knowledgeable about, and coordinate with, campus and community agencies
to ensure that students receive a comprehensive array of appropriate
services. Staff members interact with educational, vocational,
rehabilitation, consumer, medical, and social service agencies and
refer students according to their needs. The DSS
office coordinates with Department of Rehabilitation to process fee
authorizations and assist students with meeting their vocational plans.
Transition Planning
Each program works to help students enter De Anza, complete
their program, and progress to the next phase of their lives,which may
include additional training, higher education, or employment. DSS
works closely with the California State Department of Rehabilitation,
high schools, colleges and universities, and other appropriate programs
to assist students in the transition process.
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