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About Disability Support Services (DSS)
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(PDF)| ◊ History and Description ◊ | ◊ Eligibility and Enrollment ◊ |
| ◊ Accommodations and Services ◊ | ◊ Related Programs ◊ |
History and Description
Did You Know?
The mission is to assist students with disabilities to participate fully in De Anza College's classes, programs, services as they pursue personal, vocational and educational goals.
De Anza was an "early adopter" of support programs for college students with disabilities in California. The DSS program was established in 1973.
- Evolving over the years, it has addressed the needs of an increasingly more diverse population of students with disabilities. It has continuously enhanced its academic supports to increase educational achievement.
- Today, more than 1600 students enroll annually. Attention to individual needs encourages students to set and pursue challenging goals.
What Does the Program Do?
As a comprehensive program, Disability Support Services (DSS)
- provides an array of legally mandated accommodations and supportive services
- for students with a wide variety of disabilities
- who are enrolled in De Anza's vocational certificate, degree and university transfer programs.
Services may start with a student's initial contact at De Anza and then continue through his or her transition to work, the university or other community options. This approach offers an on-going point of contact providing disability management counseling, a broad array of accommodations and coordination to increase access to campus resources.
As part of the Disability Support Programs and Services Division, DSS assists the college to comply with legal mandates related to access and equal opportunity for persons with disabilities, such as applicable requirements in the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, Title 5 of the California Community College Code of Regulations and Section 504 and 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act.
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How does DSS Help Students?
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The student with a verified disability works individually with a DSS counselor. Together, they
What Accommodations and Services are Available to Students?Recommendations may include, depending on the nature of the disability and its impact:
A comprehensive list and descriptions of other services and accommodations DSS provides can be found at: For a complete guide to the DSS program, including policies and procedures, refer to the Disability Information Student Handbook (DISH). |
DSS services are:
Confidential
Voluntary
NOT recorded on the official De Anza College |
Who is Eligible?
Students who have any verified disability, except a specific learning disability, that
- has been documented by an appropriate licensed professional specialist
- meets the criteria of impairing a major life activity and
- causes an educational limitation in the college setting.
In most cases, documentation must be provided on De Anza College's Disability Verification Form and must be dated within one year.
For specific information on eligibility requirements and the terms used here, see Disability Definitions and Documentation.
Students with specific learning disabilities are assisted through the Educational Diagnostic Center program.
How Does a Student Apply for Services?
Before services or accommodations can be started, a currently enrolled or prospective De Anza student who wants to receive accommodations or take special classes as a result of an eligible disability must complete the following:
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- provide completed disability documentation to DSS
- meet with a DSS counselor for an Intake appointment
- complete DSS program paperwork and college enrollment requirements
For specific information and steps, see Apply for Services.
Related Programs
DSS is one of four programs that comprise De Anza's Disability Support Programs and Services Division. These programs offer additional services and classes and may address the needs and goals of students with other types of disabilities.
