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 diagnosed learning,
mental, physical, and/or other health-related disabilities that are either permanent
or temporary. Students with disabilities needing accommodation, including those with
an IEP or a 504 plan in high school, should request the DSPS office by using the online application found on the DSPS website, or contacting the office by phone, email, or by visiting
their Virtual Lobby. All requests for accommodation require appropriate advanced notice
to avoid a delay in services. After completing the intake process with DSPS, please
provide your instructors with a copy of your DSPS-approved accommodation letter so
that we can work together to ensure your access and success at BC.
To ensure maximum success for student accommodations, you should submit your DSPS
accommodation letter to your professor at least a week before any assignment or test.
This provides adequate time to meet your testing and/or assignment needs. Failure
to do this could result in the inability of staff to make appropriate arrangements.
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.
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.
