DSP&S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

How to obtain services and academic accommodations:

1. Participation in DSP&S is voluntary.

2. If a student wishes to take advantage of the support services and academic accommodations provided through DSP&S he/she must contact the DSP&S office and schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor.

3. In order to be eligible for services provided by DSP&S, the student must have a disability which is documented/verified by an appropriate professional and which results in an educational limitation. The student will be responsible for providing appropriate documentation of his/her disability. Eligibility for DSP&S services will be determined in a timely manner.

It is the student's responsibility to:

• Resuest services and academic accommodations fiom DSPS.
  
• Disclose their disability to the DSPS counselor.
  
• Provide adequate professional documentation of their disability.
  

4. If the student believes helshe may have a specific learning disability the student may request to be tested by the Learning Disabilities Department located in Cunningham 237.

5. The student and the counselor will complete an intake packet and develop a Student Educational Contract (SEC). The SEC is a plan to address your specific needs as a student with a disability. It specifies any reasonable and appropriate support services and accommodations that are identified and agreed upon by you and the counselor as necessary to meet your specific educational needs.
Classes identified and chosen to meet your educational needs will be found in your student schedule for the semester or Student Educational Plan.

6. In order to continue receiving services, the student must meet with the DSPS counselor at least twice per semester to update progress, arrange for services and sign the Student Educational Contract for that semester.

7. Students should make their requests for services in a timely manner. Consideration should be given to the nature and type of accommodation being requested.

8. The student's records with DSP&S are confidential in nature. They are kept separate fiom other educational records and will not become a part of the student's official educational file.

9. All records maintained by DSPS pertaining to your disabilities will be protected from disclosure and be subject to the Family Educational and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements for handling of student records. Upon intake with DSPS, you will sign a release of information that will allow DSPS to maintain your documentation of disability in file as well as allow DSPS to discuss your needs to other school officials, including instructors, when there is a legitimate educational interestheed to do so.

10. Students receiving services through DSP&S or enrolled in specialized instruction shall not be precluded fiom participating in any other course, program or activity offered by the college, provided all prerequisites and requirements are otherwise met.

11. Students will be responsible in their use of DSP&S services and follow policies and procedures established by the department.

12. Students will meet academic standards established by the college and make measurable progress toward the goals established in their Student Educational Contract and Plan.

13. DSP&S will respond in a timely manner to reasonable requests for support services and academic accommodations.

14. DSP&S does not provide services of a personal nature (e.g., personal attendant care, feeding, and toileting). However, there may be other resources available on and/or off campus to assist with these needs. If a student plans on using the services of a personal aide or attendant in the classroom the aide/attendant must follow district policy: this includes having your fingerprints
taken and submitting to a T.B. test. Please contact DSPS for more information concerning these requirements.

Revised: December 2007