The Disability Support Program and Services on campus helps disabled students succeed and achieve their academic goals.

Services offered by DSPS are hereto help studentswith the following:academic accommodations, deaf and hard-of-hearing, and diagnostic learning services. 

Students in the program may also take their tests at DSPS in order to relieve them of any distractions they may receive in the classroom, which is partof their academicaccommodations along withextra time on test or a quiet, test-taking environment.

For those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, interpreters and note-taking paper are available.

DSPS has its own high-tech computer lab in the first floor of theCesar E. Chavez Library, in room L-119, which offers adaptive word processing instruction and equipment for students unable to successfully use computers in the traditional manner.

For students with learning differences DSPS offers assessment services to determine a student’s learning style such as strengths and weaknesses. Small group classes are there to help support student and prepare them formainstream classes.

Adaptive Physical Education classes help those with physical disabilities to promote fitness, muscular strength, endurance, flexibility and independence.  The adaptedclasses offered here are weight training, Fitness for Life and physical conditioning.

San Jose City College was one of the first community colleges in California that began offering services for the disabled community.

It began in 1976 servicing those with physical, visual, and hearing disabilities. Learning disabilities were added in the 1990s.

Coordinator and Counselor Karen Pollen is in charge of the DSPS program. She began working at SJCC in 1997 and has a background in rehabilitation, education,  worker’s compensation and divorce law.

“Any students that feel that they have a disability should feel free to contact me or Tom Linvill,” Pollen said. Students are encouraged to use DSPS for tests from the beginning of the semester instead of the end.

One of the issues DSPS is facing right now is obtaining note-takers for students who need them. The note takers are classmates who volunteer to do so.

DSPS is currently giving book vouchers for those note takers as a stipend, which can be redeemed at the student bookstore.

Notes are taken on carbon fiber paper, in which a copy is for the student and the other one is for the note-taker.

Another ongoing problem is there aremany students, and not enough time for counseling.

The increase in the number of students is due to the lack of other services in the community, such as as students who were in special education programs in grade school go into college, they are utilizing DSPS.

Budget cuts have also affected services. The program supports the current staff but to make staff, changes, DSPS would need additional aidfrom the state.

In addition to the regular staff the DSPS also employs student staff who help set up appointments for students and do other clerical work.

“I enjoy working with students and I have great  satisfaction doing it,” Raymond R. Woods Jr, 52, Student staff assistant said.

Many students each semester have successfully used the services of theDSPS, Pollen said.

Julie Bowles, 47, Nursing, said “DSPS has allowed me the ability to succeed in my classes; they help me set achievable goals in my studies and provided a safe, stress-free, testing environment.”

After students transfer or graduate from SJCC, many former students return and give thanks to the DSPS, with the most commonly said phrase  “I couldn’t have done this without your help,” Karen said.