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DSS Faculty Handbook
Introduction
Since its inception in 1974, DVC's Disability Support Services (DSS) has grown to serve over 1,500 students with disabilities per year. The purpose of this handbook is to help you learn more about the major disability groups, the needs of students with disabilities, and our collective responsibilities relative to students with disabilities. In addition, this handbook is intended as a resource which can serve to increase your knowledge of the various DSS services and how they can assist you and students with disabilities in your course/service areas.
The Law
Post-secondary institutions must take steps to ensure that students with disabilities are not excluded from programs because of the absence of educational auxiliary aids. Federal law states that "No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States...shall, solely, by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." The more recent Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 extends federal civil rights protection. It prohibits excluding people from jobs; services, activities or benefits based on disability. Appendix A describes the laws in more detail.
Working Together
The appropriate educational accommodations to ensure access will vary from one student to the next because each student with a disability will have a different level and style of learning - even within the same disability category. The information in this handbook is intended to facilitate interaction between you and your student to determine appropriate accommodations. We also invite your input and ideas.