Faculty Resources

1. How to Create Accessible documents - Youtube
How to Create Accessible documents - PDF Handout
Washington Do-It Universal Design

2. How to make Canvas Accessible

Students who are eligible to receive testing accommodations through the DSPS office will complete an online Testing Request form. DSPS will verify the student's request and email their instructor a notification email and electronic Blue Form. The instructor will complete the Blue Form to the best of their ability and submit it electronically to DSPS. The more information provided to DSPS on the Blue Form, the smoother the testing process for students, DSPS staff, and faculty. Students are required to provide DSPS with advanced notice of their exams. The advanced notice will allow DSPS to arrange any necessary accommodations and notify their instructor in a timely manner. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and sometimes DSPS is provided with little notice of upcoming exams. Please know we try our best to ensure you receive a courtesy email reminder for each exam we intend to proctor. Courtesy email reminders are typically sent 1-2 days before the student is scheduled to take their exam at DSPS. The instructor will deliver the exam to DSPS. DSPS will proctor the exam and return the completed exam back to the instructor per their preferred delivery method indicated on the Blue Form.

For exams converted into accessible formats: You will be notified in advance if your exams need to be converted into an accessible format (large print, Braille, e-text). These exams must be submitted to the Alternate Media Specialist two weeks in advance to allow us time to convert the exam. Submit exams to the DSPS Office at dsps@gwc.cccd.edu or drop them off/mail to the DSPS Office located in the Student Services Center, Building 96 on the map.

DSPS Spring 2023 In-Person Exam Procedure

DSPS Spring 2023 Online Exam Procedure

Any service animal might be trained to assist an individual with a specific disability-related need.*Guide dogs used by those with vision loss are the most commonly recognized. No licensing or certifying entity exists to legitimize the use of a service animal. Rather, the need of the individual with a disability and the specific function the service animal is trained to perform legitimize the use under federal and state laws. http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Individuals who have obvious disabilities, such as blindness or quadriplegia, raise few questions. Those with hidden disabilities, hidden needs, such as hearing loss, epilepsy, autism, who use service animals may create questions.

• It is reasonable to question the presence of a service animal by asking, Is this a service animal required because of a disability?
• It is reasonable to ask for a description of the specific function the animal is trained to perform, What work or tasks has the service animal been trained to perform?
• It is NOT OK to ask the person to tell you nature of the disability, require medical documentation, require a specific identification card or training documentation for the service animal, or ask that the service animal demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.
• If you are not satisfied with the explanation, please come to the DSPS office to discuss further.

Federal and state laws acknowledge that, in rare circumstances, access can be limited if health and safety are jeopardized by the presence of a service animal. An example is certain designated areas of a medical facility, i.e., nursing program practicum sites. Areas that pose a direct safety risk to the service animal are probably not reasonable locations for the owner either.

Mere speculation that the service animal might pose a potential health risk to others is not supported by law. If a fellow student/faculty or staff states a health problem (e.g. allergy) with the service animal, medical documentation regarding the problem will be required for the DSPS office, at 714-895-8721 to determine the appropriate solution for the situation.

If the service animal is disruptive to the learning environment or college events, directly aggressive or threatening, or not under the control of the handler at all times, then access by the individual with the animal will be prohibited with assistance from Public Safety, if necessary. Such access restriction should be referred to the DSPS office.

All members of the college community must behave properly with service animals.

• Do not attempt to pet the service animal.
• Do not attempt to feed the service animal.
• Do not deliberately startle or distract the service animal.
• Do not attempt to separate the service animal from its partner or training handler.

*Note: Dogs and miniature horses are the only animals specified as services animals under federal law

Emotional support animals (ESA) are not considered service animals under the ADA. They may be trained for a specific owner, but they are not trained for specific tasks or duties to aid a person with a disability, and this is the main difference between ESAs and service animals. This doesn’t minimize the support these animals provide for people with a psychological disorder. They’re considered companion animals and ease anxiety, depression, some phobias, and loneliness.  In order to be considered an emotional support animal, it must be prescribed by a mental health professional for a patient with a diagnosed psychological or emotional disorder, such as anxiety disorder, major depression, or panic attacks.

Unlike service animal owners, ESA owners have only limited legal rights and those typically require a letter of diagnosis from the owner’s doctor or psychiatrist. While they don’t have unlimited access to public spaces, the Fair Housing Act mandates “reasonable accommodations” for emotional support animals even in buildings that don’t allow pets.

All students looking to bring their ESA’s on campus will be required to apply for DSPS services.