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About DSPS

Are you a recent high school graduate attending college for the first time? Watch the short video below to learn about what to expect as you transition to college.

Disability Support Programs & Services (DSPS) provides support services and educational accommodations to students with disabilities so that they can have full and equitable access to the community college experience.

DSPS assists colleges to provide academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, services and/or instruction for students with disabilities to support their student success and to meet the requirements of federal and State non-discrimination laws, including Sections 504 and 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act (ADAA), and State Government Code Sections 11135-11139.5.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states, "no qualified individual with disabilities shall, on the basis of their disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subject to discrimination under any post-secondary program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."

Transition to College

In order to ensure that you have the same opportunity to succeed as any other student, colleges use academic adjustments and auxiliary aids commonly known as accommodations to help you participate in general activities, programs and classes offered by the college. It is important to keep in mind that as a college student you drive the process of requesting accommodations for a disability, including when or if to disclose your disability, by Applying to DSPS.

Differences between High School & College

There is no Special Education at the college level and instead of being guided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), colleges must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Civil Rights Restoration Act. That means that if you choose to disclose your disability by applying to DSPS, you are not placed into easier courses and continue to be held to the same academic and behavioral standards as all students. At the same time, you are assured that your information is not shared with others without your consent and your instructors or other student services staff are only notified by DSPS in specific circumstances that you are entitled to certain accommodations.

Differences Between:	High School	College
Policies and Procedures	The school is responsible for identifying students with disabilities The school must provide the assessment of disability, classify disability, and involve parents School staff will discuss academic progress with parents or legal guardians The school must develop an Individualized Educational Program The school must provide a free and appropriate education including modified program and appropriate related services The school must coordinate the provision of all services, monitor progress, and evaluate results	The student must self identify or disclose his/her disability The student must provide documentation of his/her disability to the designated office The student is considered an adult with privacy and confidentiality protections. Staff cannot talk with parents or legal guardians about the student's academic progress The student must request specific accommodations and provide supporting evidence through documentation The student must act as independent adults to activate and obtain accommodations and structure weekly schedules The college must provide reasonable accommodations for students who qualify
Courses	Class attendance is mandatory and monitored carefully Teachers will usually approach students who are having academic difficulties Teachers remind students of assignment due dates Teachers will provide students with missed information when they are absent Teachers many times will provide extra credit assignments to help students raise their grades Make up tests are usually available Teachers present information to help the student understand the textbook	Students are expected to follow the instructor's attendance policy as stated in the syllabus Students are responsible to ask the instructor for help Students are responsible for keeping track of their projects, assignments, and tests dates Students must approach their instructors for information they missed when absent Extra credit assignments are not usually given Make up tests may not be an option Instructors may not follow the textbook, but lectures enhance the topic
Accommodations	Services include individually designed instruction, modifications, and accommodations based on the IEP Modifications that change course outcomes may be offered based on the IEP Appropriate accommodations are determined by the student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)	Reasonable accommodations may be made to provide equal access and participation The college is not required to lower or effect substantial modifications to essential requirements. Appropriate accommodations must be determined based on the student’s disability documentation, and individual need
Parent's or Legal Guardians's Role	Legal guidance is provided by IDEA Parents must ensure that their child attends school until the age of 16 Periodic progress reports are given to parents Teachers are free to approach parents without consent from student to discuss student’s progress The parent is the student’s legal guardian The parent is expected to advocate for the student	Legal guidance is provided by Section 504 and ADA Parents are not required to send child to college No progress reports will be given to parents Without a release of information signed by the student the teacher legally cannot include the parents in any part of the educational process In college the student is considered to be his/her own legal guardian unless there is a court order to the contrary The student is expected to advocate on his/her own behalf

For more information on how to meet the requirements at the college level visit our Student Rights and Responsibilities page.