Berkeley City College's Programs & Services for Students with Disabilities operates under mandates set forth in Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and Title V of the California Code of Regulations.   These laws and regulations govern:

• Who can be served.
• The types of services that can be offered.
• The procedures required to determine if a student qualifies for services.

Mission

Our mission is to provide accommodations and assistance to students with disabilities that facilitate their achieving their educational goals.  We are committed to ensuring that students receive equal access to all programs and services. To that end, we seek to balance the student's right to access with our obligation to protect the integrity of our college's programs and services.

Students with disabilities attending Berkeley City College and enrolling in mainstream classes are expected to meet course goals as outlined in the class syllabus. PSSD services provided depend on:

• The individual student’s verified disability
• His/her educational limitations
• Course requirements

A review of each student’s progress is conducted on semester-by-semester basis. This review ensures that the student is making measurable progress toward his/her stated goal and that the PSSD services are appropriate to the student’s educational needs.

Eligibility for Services

Students receiving services through PSSD must have verification of disability from a physician or other approved professional in one or more of the following areas:

• Mobility, visual, hearing, or speech disability
• Learning disability
• Acquired brain injury
• Developmental delayed learner
• Psychological disability

• Other chronic or health-related limitations that adversely affect
  educational performance

Steps to Receiving Services from the PSSD Program

• Complete the Admissions Application for Peralta Community College.

• Schedule a date for Assessment and Orientation by calling atl 981-2804 for an appointment. Inform the Assessment office if you need an accommodation.

• Provide Verification of Disability from an agency, physician, psychologist, LD Specialist or other licensed professional to the PSSD office. Documentation must be current. You may obtain the Verification of Disability Form in Room 261. The Verification of Disability Form and the Verification of Psychological Disability Form must be signed and dated.

• Complete the financial aid/fee waiver forms if applicable.

• Obtain Vocational Rehabilitation Plan, placement test scores and transcripts from other schools if applicable.

• Schedule an appointment with a PSSD counselor or Learning Disabilities Specialist in Room 261 or call 981-2812.

A Checklist for Requesting Services is a form that will guide you through the procedures for becoming a student in the PSSD program.

Accommodations

To enable our students with disabilities to fully integrate into our college program, we offer the following supportive services that are arranged through the PSSD counselor and based on a review of a student's particular needs, his course selection and educational goals. Guidance and counseling is provided throughout a student's enrollment. The services include priority registration, progress reports, notetakers, tutoring, readers, specialized equipment, interpreters, real-time captioning, testing accommodations and alternate media. To assist in this process, the  Checklist for Students Requesting Accommodations is available.

Office Hours

The PSSD office, Room 261,  is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; Monday through Friday. Students interested in PSSD services should come to the office or call (510) 981-2812 or (510) 981-2813 to make an appointment with a counselor. The TTY number for deaf and hard of hearing students is (510) 981-2814. The California Relay Service should be used for leaving messages during evening or weekend hours.

Students are encouraged to make an appointment early in the pre-registration period so that the PSSD staff can arrange the required support services for the first day of classes.

Additional Information

• Emergency Evacuation Information is important for students with disabilities. Students are encouraged to read about the strategies for evacuation and fill out the Self-Identification for Persons with Disabilities Questionnaire. This form enables students  to describe the specific type of assistance they may need during a building evacuation. The Self-Identification Questionnaire is voluntary.

• Programs & Services for Students with Disabilities Student Handbook is a comprehensive guide for students in the PSSD program. It outlines the procedures for obtaining services and the services offered.

• Programs & Services for Students with Disabilities Faculty Handbook is a guide for the faculty working with students with disabilities. It provides a summary of the services offered and faculty interaction.

Staff

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