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Disability Support Services

Welcome to the Disability Support Services office. We provide accommodations to all students with disabilities. The DSS office is open for both in person services and remote communications, such as via email, phone, online, and zoom. Please email Kylie Nersesian (knersesian@dvc.edu) if you have general questions or call 925-969-2185 and leave a message. For questions about the San Ramon campus, please email Irene Swain.

Note to students: The content on this page applies to students at both the Pleasant Hill and San Ramon campuses.

The links below will take you to information on the following topics:

Applying for Services

How To Apply for Disability Support Services (DSS)

First time and returning students need to complete three steps to enroll in DSS.  

Step 1

Complete and sign DSS Application for services.

Step 2

Provide documentation of disability such as:

  • IEP
  • Note from doctor or medical provider
  • Department of Rehabilitation
  • 504 Plan
  • Veterans Affairs
  • Regional Center
  • Psych-educational report
  • Disability Verification Form completed by professional

Please attach documentation to the application.

Step 3

Meet with a DSS counselor.

DSS Staff will contact you to schedule a DSS counseling appointment.

For High School Seniors class of 2023

DSS outreach to local high schools and graduating seniors has concluded. Please view Information for Incoming Freshman in 2023.

Requesting Accommodations

DSS respects the confidentiality of student information. For that reason, DSS will not share accommodations with faculty or other DVC staff unless a student specifically requests it. DSS students must request their accommodations each semester. See below for details and links for specific services.

Pleasant Hill Campus Accessible Map - pdf

Testing Accommodations

DSS students can continue to receive time accommodations for online exams. DSS will contact instructors to adjust the software time setting for any student who has signed and submitted an Online Exams & Quizzes Testing Accommodation Form (see link below). Please note that DVC instructors require a minimum of two business days notice to adjust the software.

Please click the link to request extra time for your online exams and quizzes (DSS students only).

Online Exams & Quizzes Testing Accommodation Form

Please email Ron Tenty if you have any testing questions or do not see your time modified. 

For classes with tests in-person, DSS can proctor exams in its office, which is open Mon-Th 9:00 am - 4:00 pm and Fri 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. You will need to fill out the Digital Proctor Form (DPF) for each in-person test. Please come to the DSS office 3-7 days prior to your first test to learn how to complete this form.  

At the San Ramon Campus, please go to the Information Desk in the Administration Building and ask for Irene to receive training on the form. The testing center is open by appointment only from 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and Thursdays until 8:30 p.m.

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Note taking services

Note Taking Services offers shared notes and tools to develop students' ability to take notes independently. Note taking is available for both in person and online classes. Please contact Jonathan Cattarin with questions.

For services, please complete a Request for Note Taking Services Form. For more information see  Notetaking services web page

Equipment and software check out

DSS loans equipment to students approved for accommodations. 

If you need equipment for notetaking, such as digital recorders or a smart pen you can contact Jonathan Cattarin to arrange for pick up.  For a tutorial on the smart pen, watch this video Smart pen tutorial.

If you need software such as Kurzweil text to speech to help with reading, or Dragon naturally speaking speech to text software contact Rose Desmond.

Alternate media services

Alternate Media Services converts textbook and classroom materials into alternate formats for students who have the accommodation. Students who are blind or with low vision will get priority. This includes testing materials.  

To receive accommodation please complete the  Alternate media services contract and upload or email Rose your book receipt. Please contact Rose Desmond  if you have questions or content that you need converted.

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Got Questions banner
DVC offers help in many different formats. Please visit our "Got questions" webpage to learn more.

Counseling

During summer 2023, DSS counselors will be available most days Mon-Thur for drop-in appointments starting June 12. They can assist with accommodations and course planning for summer and fall classes. However, they will not be able to complete comprehensive education plans beyond fall 23. 

New, incoming students must have submitted a DSS application for services with documentation before they may meet with a DSS counselor. They also must have completed Counseling 95 or have registered for fall classes.

DSS is answering brief counseling questions through drop in appointments, which allow 15 minutes per student. To request the schedule and zoom links for drop in counseling, please email Nichole Santamaria.  When students sign in for drop in online, they will be placed in a waiting room. Wait times may be significant during the first weeks of the semester. Please be patient and a counselor will let you in as soon as possible.

During fall and spring, all DSS students may schedule one (1) counseling appointment per semester of one (1) hour. At that time, they may discuss any questions or needs, including education planning, class selection, accommodations, etc.

To make a DSS counseling appointment, complete the Counseling Appointment Request form.

Please note that for a probation, dismissal, or maximum time frame appeal, a 1-hour appointment is necessary. Dismissal appointments are scheduled by Carissa at the dismissal workshop. Probation students may meet with a counselor or watch a video on the probation webpage.

For general counseling information, visit DVC Counseling services.

Weekly Executive Functioning Workshops

DSS will be offering organization and time management support starting in the fall 2023 semester via group workshops and individual sessions. These workshops on executive functioning will include small group help with:

  • Planning/Prioritizing 
  • Organization 
  • Initiation 
  • Working Memory 
  • Self-Monitoring

Workshops days and time with zoom link will be posted on Canvas under DSS tile.

Tutoring

DSS tutors will be available online and in person this summer from Tuesday through Thursday, June 12 - July 20,  9 am - 3 pm. Tutors meet in BWL 210 or online. 


To receive online services, students will need to request access to Zoom.
Please email one of our tutors at their DVC email addresses to request access or find the zoom line on the DSS canvas page.:

High tech center and computer questions

During summer, the DSS high tech center will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. from June 12 - July 20. During fall and spring terms, students with questions about Assistive technology (i.e. Kurzweil, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, etc.) and/or computer use (i.e. email, Canvas, Insite, word processing, PowerPoint, etc.), can contact dsshightechcenter@dvc.edu, or call 925-322-1176 to schedule an appointment.  Please refer to the list of available services offered by the High Tech Center for more information.

Priority registration

Priority registration for Spring 2024 classes will be held starting November 13. New DSS students must have submitted documentation of their disability and met with a counselor by the Thursday prior to the first day of early registration to qualify (Nov. 9). Those completing an application after that date will be eligible for priority registration in Summer 2024.

To learn more about the new Visual Schedule Builder, watch this video.
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Note: DSS office hours are now in-person and remote.

In-person Summer hours
Dates Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
 May 22 - Aug. 3 9 am -5 pm 9 am -5 pm 9 am - 5 pm 9 am - 5 pm Closed-
Remote services
Dates Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday          
May 22 - Aug. 3 8 am - 6pm 8 am - 6pm 8 am - 6pm 8 am - 6pm

Closed

Contact Disability Support Services

DSS Office Telephone 925-969-2182

Manager: David Hagerty  
Telephone: 925-969-2176 
Email: DHagerty@dvc.edu 
Office location: SSC-248 campus map