Use these best practices to help support and facilitate accommodations with your students
and the Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) office
Please be sure to provide a statement in your syllabus for students to connect with
DSPS Services. You may use the following:
Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) is available to provide accommodations to students with learning, mental, physical,
and/or other health-related disabilities that are either permanent or temporary. Students
with disabilities who may need accommodations, including those with an IEP or a 504
plan in high school, should complete the online application found on the DSPS website, or contact the office by phone, email, or by visiting
the DSPS Virtual Lobby. Please note that some accommodations require advance notice
and coordination time; therefore, students are encouraged to contact DSPS as early
as possible to avoid delays in services.
After completing the DSPS intake process, students are responsible for providing instructors
with their DSPS-approved accommodation letter so accommodations can be implemented
collaboratively and in a timely manner. Accommodations are generally not retroactive.
To support timely implementation of accommodations, students are encouraged to provide
their accommodation letter to instructors at least one week prior to an exam, assignment,
or activity requiring accommodations whenever possible. Advance notice helps ensure
adequate time to coordinate testing arrangements and other approved services.
DSPS provides books in alternate formats (e-text, audio-tape, large print, Braille)
for eligible students. It can take up to ten weeks to secure or produce a textbook
in an alternate format. Once students enroll in classes during the first day of priority
registration, it is crucial for DSPS to be able to access the required book information
from the Bookstore. Keep in mind that course readers (hardcopy or electronic) can
be especially difficult to produce in an alternate format if they have underlining,
hand-written notes, highlighting, cut-off margins, or poor-quality copies.
When a has been approved for accommodations with DSPS, you will receive an email notification
with a link to review the accommodation letter via your . Here, you will be able to review accommodation information for every student using
accommodations in your course(s). It is encouraged to discuss this information directly
with your student once it is received. Please respect the confidentiality of students
with disabilities by discussing their accommodations in a private setting.
Note: DSPS accommodations are not retroactive. This means they only apply from the point
they are officially communicated to faculty through the accommodation letter. Faculty
are not required to adjust past assignments, exams, or grades prior to receiving the
letter. Once the letter is sent, accommodations should be implemented moving forward
to ensure equal access.
Some students who are eligible to receive a copy of a classmate鈥檚 notes (as specified
in the Accommodation Letter) may need the professor鈥檚 assistance in recruiting a suitable
notetaker from the class. DSPS provides lined NCR paper so student and notetaker each
get a copy. When requested, please assist with this process by recommending a competent
student or by making the following announcement: 鈥淎 student with a disability in this
class is eligible to receive a copy of a classmate鈥檚 notes and DSPS provides the paper.
If you are willing to provide this service, please see me after class.鈥� Once a note-taker
is identified, please direct them to contact DSPS.
Please do not identify the student needing notes.
DSPS can provide instructions or tools (like Notetaker forms or platforms) to facilitate
the process.
If no volunteers come forward, DSPS may offer alternative solutions, so faculty should
notify the office.
Students who are eligible for testing accommodations will schedule their exams through
their DSPS Student Portal for each exam needing accommodations. You can update all
exam information through your.
If you have any questions, or for additional resource information, contact Disabled
Students Programs and Services, at (661) 395-4334, or email dspsdesk@bakersfieldcollege.edu or join the for direct support.
