Semester Checklist

1. Accessing Accommodation Letters

DSPS requires students to send their instructors a letter of accommodations at the beginning of every semester. If there is a DSPS student in your course, you will receive an email that will prompt you to log into our online Faculty Portal.

2. Note Takers

Please note, in some online class formats the need for a note-taker may be mitigated by the structure of the course or lecture. In addition, there may be instances where note-taking is not an appropriate accommodation. If a student requests a note-taker, please consult with to determine the appropriateness of note-taking

If a student requests a note-taker, please consult with DSPS to determine the appropriateness of note-taking. Please make sure to keep the anonymity of the DSPS student. For their service, Notetakers are given priority enrollment or service hours. 

Suggested Announcement to class: “Our class needs a note-taker; a note-taker simply submits a copy of the notes you take every lecture to DSPS, and in return, you will receive priority enrollment or service hours. DSPS has an online system, so you can upload a copy of your notes using your phone. ”

3. Testing Accommodations

The test request process will vary based on whether the course is online, in-person, or hybrid.

For online exams that will be proctored remotely by an instructor (i.e. via a live Zoom session), if a student is approved for an extended time as a testing accommodation and you require assistance with proctoring the exam virtually, instructors are asked to fill out a Virtual Proctoring Request Form at least 5 business days prior to the date of the exam. If an instructor request does not meet the 5-business day deadline, please note there is no guarantee the instructor’s request will be accommodated. This test request form can be accessed at: http://bit.ly/DSPSProctoring. Please note, DSP&S will only be able to aid with virtual proctoring for the duration of the student’s approved extended time. Our office will not be able to provide additional assistance during the portion of the exam where the instructor will be proctoring.

If online exams are to be completed asynchronously via Canvas or other remote platforms (e.g. Proctorio), the instructor is responsible for extending the student’s exam time. If a student in your course is approved for an extended time as a testing accommodation, please utilize the “modify quiz” feature in Canvas. For a “How to Video” please visit the following link: https://youtu.be/yDqTD3jeK4g. After extending the student’s exam time, please email the student defining the time that the class is receiving and the time they will be afforded.

Students enrolled in on-campus courses, who are approved for extended testing time and are interested in completing their exams in person at one of our office’s testing spaces are advised to immediately contact the DSPS Testing Office with their request. Please direct students to our DSP&S testing office immediately should they express this interest. Instructors are asked to submit their exams to the DSP&S testing office at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled exam date. Instructors can submit their exams to dspstest@lbcc.edu or upload exams via the DSP&S Instructor Portal. If exams are not received on time, please be advised this can cause delays in DSP&S being able to proctor due to limited space in our testing offices. Additionally, for any instructors who wish to receive their student’s exam on the same day, our office can scan and email the exam responses. For instructors who require the hard copy of the exam be returned immediately, in-person pick-up at our DSP&S testing office is available. Any exams that are not specified to be sent via email or requested to be picked up in person by the instructor, will be dropped off at the mailroom. Due to limited staff availability, please note, the delivery may take 5-7 days to be delivered.

Please note, students can schedule on-campus exams by either:

1. Visiting their DSP&S Student Portal and selecting the “Schedule a Test” icon
2. Emailing dspstest@lbcc.edu or calling 562-938-4831
3. Visiting DSP&S Testing Office in person

For instructors teaching hybrid courses, please follow the processes for online exams should exams take place online. Whereas instructors teaching hybrid courses that will have exams administered on campus should direct their students to the DSP&S testing office.

If you need assistance relating to testing, please contact our Proctoring Center (562) 938-4831 (LAC) or (562) 938-3208 (PCC).

4. Captioning

Please note ALL videos MUST be captioned.

To find new closed-captioned videos, you can access databases such as NBC Learn that offer a variety of accurately captioned videos available for use through our Library Catalog. You can access NBC Learn.

For existing videos that need to be captioned, please request closed captioning by doing the following:

If you use Canvas –

1. Submit video through 3CMedia upload space in Canvas.
2. Captioning will automatically be added to your media. Closed captioning will be completed in approximately 3-5 business days.

If you do NOT use Canvas –

Submit a Captioning Request Form.

(Please note using this link requires you to log into Canvas to complete the Captioning Request Form. You can log in to Canvas even if you do NOT use Canvas as part of your course.)

FAQs

How do I refer a student to DSPS?

If you are not sure whether the student has a disability, the best way to refer them is objectively point out what the student is doing that leads you to believe he/she needs assistance. For example, “I see that you are having trouble completing this assignment,” or “I see that you struggle during tests. There are many on-campus resources that can help.” Then list for the student all the resources you are aware of such as the Tutorial Learning Center, EOPS, DSPS, etc. Offer to walk them over to the selected area. This will show the student you care about his/her success and you are willing to help them make the first move.

How do I know that the accommodation the student has requested is appropriate and legitimate?

If the student sends you a letter of accommodation via your faculty portal, the student has provided the college with proof of a disability under the legal definition of the word. 

What if I do not agree with a recommended accommodation?

Contact the DSPS faculty who has approved the students’ accommodation to discuss why you think the accommodation is not appropriate for your course.  If an alternative accommodation is suggested, it must first be discussed and approved by the student before making any changes to the accommodations. 

How can I be sure I am doing what is necessary to provide academic access?

The most successful way to ensure academic access is to discuss with the student in private what his/her needs are.  No two students with disabilities are alike.  Only a personal conference with the student in which you discuss both the course demands and the students’ accommodation needs is likely to provide both parties with a satisfactory outcome.  It is a good idea to put into writing what you and the student agree so that it minimizes confusion.  We always recommend to students that they have a personal conversation with all their instructors.  During the meeting, is not appropriate to ask the students specifics about their disability, or the legitimacy of.

What if a student does not volunteer to be a note taker?

Even if a student does not volunteer to be a note taker, the College is still obligated to provide the note taking accommodation. Reasonable alternatives would be providing PowerPoints slides or other lecture materials to the student with the approved accommodation. Alternatively, some instructors offer extra incentives

What if a student is displaying disruptive behaviors in class?

Disruptive behaviors may be a manifestation of a disability or external factors not related to a disability. You should always contact Campus Police if there is an imminent threat; however, if the student has disclosed they are registered with DSPS, you should contact DSPS for strategies for working with the student.

Can I fail a student with a disability?

Yes. It is possible to fail a student with a disability. The laws mandate access to education, not guaranteed academic success. When a faculty member has provided reasonable academic accommodations, they have done what is required to comply with the law.   If the student does not meet the course requirements, then failing a student is proper and lawful. All students have the right to fail as much as they have the right to succeed.  The following is a compliance checklist that may be helpful:

Stand by academic standards and freedoms, which include full and equitable access to academic programs.

Provide verbal and written notice to your students of your willingness to accommodate. For example, “I encourage students with disabilities to discuss accommodations with me.”

Communicate clear and concise expectations for performance to your students. Distinguish between essential and non-essential components of the course.

Respect requests for reasonable accommodations. (The DSPS office facilitates obtaining these alternative formats).

Permit students to use auxiliary aides and technologies that ensure access (examples: note takers, sign language interpreters, readers, scribes, research assistants, tape recorders/players, assistive listening devices).

Assure that your course materials, whether printed or electronic, are accessible and available in alternative formats (examples: Braille, computer electronic text, large print, internet, CD/cassettes).

Consult with DSPS if you have questions when a student requests accommodations.

Keep student disability-related information strictly confidential.

After I receive a letter of accommodation, can I speak to the student?

If you receive a letter of accommodation, you can invite the student to have a private meeting

What is the parents of a DSPS student contacts me?

Parents may have conservatorship of their student; therefore, the parent is privy to information regarding their student’s course progress and academic performance. Before releasing information, you should check in with DSPS to see if there is a release of information on file.