DSP&S Faculty Overview

What Faculty should know about Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSP&S)

DSP&S utilizes Accessible Information Management (AIM) districtwide to facilitate academic accommodations and auxiliary aids. Faculty can anticipate students with disabilities requesting their academic accommodations solely through AIM beginning summer 2020. Accommodations are identified on a Faculty Notification Letter (FNL), formerly known as a Notification of Authorized Services (NOAS) form.

Previously, students would provide a hardcopy of a NOAS form to instructors. DSP&S students now request their academic accommodations through their student AIM portal. An FNL can be accessed one of two ways:

  1. FNLs are sent to faculty via email, and
  2. Instructors can log in to their faculty AIM portal to identify which students in their courses have requested academic accommodations through their FNLs.

All accommodations on FNLs have been approved by a DSP&S counselor. The student's primary DSP&S counselor is identified on the FNL. DSP&S encourages you to connect with the student’s counselor with any questions and/or concerns with setting up accommodations.

Faculty, please ensure you provide, facilitate, and support academic accommodations with the assistance of DSP&S staff. As a member of the institution, you are legally responsible to provide academic accommodations to students with disabilities who have requested them via the DSP&S office.

DSP&S encourages all instructional faculty to:

  • Read the DSP&S Faculty Handbook
  • Peruse AIM to become familiar with the disability service platform, and
  • Review the DE Teachers Tool Box Online Accessibility Guidance module for the summer 20 and fall 21 semesters.

Contact DSP&S staff at 559-325-5050 or dsps@cloviscollege.edu with any DSP&S related questions.

DSP&S SERVICES:

Disabled Student Programs and Services is an institutional program that assists students and faculty with receiving and implementing academic accommodations for students with disabilities. DSP&S staff acts as a liaison to faculty and students to ensure an accessible and inclusive environment is being provided.

Common Questions from Instructors

Do I need to stay longer for extended testing time?

No, it is explained to the student during our initial interview that they are required to set up tests with our testing center and follow the process for in-person course exams. Online exams can be extended via Canvas.

Do I need to provide electronic text (E-Text)?

No, if a student is authorized for e-text we require them to show us the hard copy of the text or receipt and we then request their book in an alternate format from our Alternative Media Specialist. However, picking a book that is available in accessible format does make the process easier, and may even eliminate the need for e-text services, making your pedagogical approach one that supports universal design learning (UDL).

My student told me I need to do something for them that is not on the Faculty Notification Letter. Do I need to do that?

No, but please refer the student back to DSPS. If a student believes they need a specific accommodation, it has to be discussed with a DSP&S counselor and supported by disability verification.  Providing accommodations not listed on the student's FNL may set a precedence that other instructors and/or institutions may not provide.

What's Necessary:

  • It is necessary to include a disability statement on your course syllabus. An example disability statement can be found in the DSP&S Faculty Handbook.
  • It is necessary to maintain confidentiality: do not initiate a conversation about the student’s disability or accommodations in front of others.
  • It is necessary to support, facilitate, and provide the accommodations listed on the Faculty Notification Letter.

Referral Process:

If an instructor suspects that a student has a disability, but they have not self-identified, please refer the student to DSP&S through the Starfish Early Alert system. DSP&S staff will receive an alert and reach out to the student. If the student is interested in following through with services they can continue the process of signing up for DSP&S assistance.

DSP&S Contact:

Phone: 550-325-5050 | Email: dsps@cloviscollege.edu