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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 Rachel DeChristofaro (rdechristofaro@dvc.edu) if you have general questions or call 925-969-2185 and leave a message.

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

Applying for Services

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
  • Social Security Office 

Please email documentation to Rachel DeChristofaro.

Step 3

Meet with a DSS counselor.

For appointments, counseling schedule, and drop-ins please email Rachel DeChristofaro.

For High School Seniors class of 2022

More information will be posted in spring 2022 about DSS outreach to local high schools and application procedures for students expecting to graduate in spring and planning to enroll at DVC in fall 2022. For now, you may view Information for Incoming Freshman in 2021.

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.

For extended (extra) testing time (for use by students already approved by DSS)

Online Exams & Quizzes Testing Accommodation Form

Please email Ron Tenty at rtenty@dvc.edu 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. Please email Yeni if you wish to schedule a time. Only in person exams will be accommodated. Two to five days business days of notice to DSS is necessary. 

Note taking services

Note Taking Services  offers shared notes and tools to develop students' ability to take notes independently. Note taking will remain available for online classes. Please contact Jonathan Cattarin at jcattarin@dvc.edu with questions. For services, please complete a Notetaker request 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 and smart pens, or software for reading your text books, such as Kurzweil, contact Rose Desmond rdesmond@dvc.edu.  For more information on the smart pen, watch this Smart pen tutorial.

Alternate media services

Alternate Media Services will continue to convert textbook and classroom materials into alternate formats. Turnaround of classroom material may be delayed by the high demand. Students who are blind or with low vision will get top priority. This includes testing materials.  Please contact Rose Desmond at RDesmond@dvc.edu if you have questions or content that you need converted. Alternate Media Services Contract

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

Counseling

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.

DSS is also answering brief counseling questions through drop in appointments, which allow 15 minutes per student. To request the zoom link for drop in counseling, please email Rachel RDeChristofaro@dvc.edu.

When they sign in for drop in, students 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 reply as soon as possible.

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.

To request a counseling appointment or learn about drop in times, please email Rachel DeChristofaro RDeChristofaro@dvc.edu.

For general counseling information, visit DVC Counseling services.

Organization, Prioritization, and Time Management

DSS offers training to students with organization, prioritization, and time management of their coursework. This training in executive functioning is available to students one on one as needed up to once per week. However, students must be referred to the service by a DSS counselor. Please email Rachel RDeChristofaro@dvc.edu for a counseling appointment.

Tutoring

DSS tutors are available to answer questions Monday through Thursday Aug 23, to Dec. 9,  9 am - 3 pm
To receive services, students will need to request access to Zoom.
Please email one of our tutors at their DVC email addresses to request access:

High tech center and computer questions

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 2022 classes will be held on November 15 and 16. New DSS students must submit documentation of their disability and meet with a counselor by the Thursday prior to the first day of early registration to qualify (Nov. 14). Those completing an application after that date will be eligible for priority registration in Summer 2022.

Note: DSS office hours are now in-person and remote.

In-person Fall hours
Dates Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
September 6 - Dec 17
  		9 am - 3 pm 9 am - 3 pm 9 am - 3 pm 9 am - 3 pm Closed
Remote services
Dates Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday          
September 6 - Dec 17 8 am - 5 pm 8 am - 5 pm 8 am - 5 pm 8 am - 5 pm 8 am - 3 pm

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