Communication to Students During COVID-19
Due to developments concerning coronavirus (COVID-19), DSPS will continue to provide counseling appointments remotely for students through phone calls and web/video conferencing via Zoom. To enable Zoom conferencing for counseling appointments, please make sure you have access to your
Citrus College email account. Department hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.
Attention New Applicants
- All interested individuals are encouraged to apply to DSPS -
Getting Started.
- Students must complete the DSPS application online and upload their disability documentation to the application.
- Please call (626) 914-8675 or email
dsps@citruscollege.edu to schedule an appointment with the DSPS specialist if you need assistance with the application.
- It is also recommended for high school students and recent high school graduates to
review the New Student Information to learn more about what to expect in college.
- Student requests for a pregnancy accommodation should contact Brenda Fink, Title IX coordinator, at
bfink@citruscollege.edu, (626) 914-8830. The Title IX office is in the human resources office, located in the first floor of the Administration Building.
Continuing Students
- Ensure you have your 2021-22 Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) to present to your instructors when requesting accommodations.
- Appointments for advisement, discussion of accommodations, update file/priority registration, reduced course load for EOPS or Promise program, or alternative media requests may be scheduled by calling the DSPS office at (626) 914-8675 or email
dsps@citruscollege.edu. Be sure to include your full name, student ID number and Citrus College email.
- For priority registration deadlines, please review the
priority registration page.
DSPS students requesting accommodations are responsible for providing their DSPS
Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) to their instructors via email. The AAP outlines each student's approved accommodations. This form is emailed to the student after they meet with a DSPS counselor to review accommodations.
Please note: The AAP is sent to students electronically. Keep your AAP in a safe place as you may need it to request accommodations for subsequent terms.
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Update File/Priority Registration
For continuing DSPS students:
In this appointment, students obtain their Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) for the new school year, which covers summer term up through the end of spring semester. The AAP is an important form for students to show their instructor(s) when requesting accommodations. Additionally, eligibility for priority registration is determined in this same appointment. View the winter/spring priority registration dates for deadlines. Please contact DSPS at (626) 914-8675 or email dsps@citruscollege.edu to schedule your "Update File/Priority Registration" appointment.
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Adapted Testing
In the event that instructors need to deliver exams online, students are responsible to contact the instructor via email to request extended time, along with presenting their Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP). Reasonable notice must be given to the instructor when making such request. Instructors have been provided information with how to make adjustments to the timer on Canvas.
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Reader/Scribe
Reader for online exams can be accessed through screen reading programs. If you have reader as an accommodation, you may schedule an appointment with the alternate media specialist, Laks Floriano at
lfloriano@citruscollege.edu, for training. Scribe services are determined on a case-by-case basis. Please schedule an appointment with a DSPS counselor to review your circumstances.
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Notetaking Assistance
If you have an approved accommodation for note taking assistance, notify your instructor via email along with presenting your Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) to request access to any PowerPoint, lecture notes or recordings of lecture. If you have questions regarding ways of accessing notes, please schedule an appointment with a DSPS counselor.
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Interpreters
The ASL interpreter specialist will be in contact with students who have an interpreter as an accommodation and their instructors to coordinate service delivery.
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Alternate Media and Assistive Technology
The alternate media specialist has contacted all who have checked out a smart pen or audio recorder via their Citrus College email account. Check your email for updates. Students who need additional e-text or smart pen training, have an e-text or other alternate media request, or who have questions about online accessibility may schedule an appointment with Laks Floriano at
lfloriano@citruscollege.edu.
Given these unprecedented circumstances, students are encouraged to make an appointment with a DSPS counselor if guidance regarding academic progress in current classes is needed. Students may also contact DSPS with questions regarding the provision of approved accommodations. The DSPS team is committed to working with our students to problem-solve through different accommodation situations during this challenging and uncertain time. We are learning from these situations to help us evaluate and possibly implement additional measures as they emerge.
DSPS Contact Information
dsps@citruscollege.edu
(626) 914-8675
If you prefer, feel free to contact your counselor directly with any questions. Counselors are available during regular business hours on the following days below. Please note, counselors respond to emails only during their scheduled work days.
- Financial Assistance
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CARES Emergency Financial Aid Grants
The Coronavirus Aide Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Higher Education Relief Fund (HEERF) provides funding to institutions to distribute emergency financial aid grants to students whose lives have been disrupted and are facing financial challenges. Learn more about the student eligibility requirements for CARES and HEERF.
- Programs and Services Assistance
- Technology On-Campus
- Withdrawals
- Off-Site Web-Based Resources: Assistive Learning Technologies
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Ally Quick Start for Students and
Alternative Formats
Available to all students using Canvas, this program allows students to select a file in their course to be made in a different format, such as ePub, Audio, or BeeLine Reader. -
Freedom Scientific: JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion
These programs assist blind and low vision individuals with access to reading information on the internet or any digital documents in Microsoft Word or PDFs. Free license through June 30 with any email address, or free for a full year with a qualified school email. -
Kurzweil 3000
Online software with text to speech reading capability and a variety of study tools to assist with writing and reading comprehension. Free 90-day trial to all during the COVID-19 crisis. -
Otter Voice Meeting Notes
A free app that can help students with note taking by recording class lectures and presentations and converting that information into text. The free basic version allows up to 600 minutes per month. The premium version is $8.33 per month is for 6,000 minutes. Students may receive 50% off the regular subscription price by using their school email address upon sign-up.
- Off-Site Web-Based Resources: Coping Strategies and Your Mental Health
- Off-Site Web-Based Resources: Learning Online/Remotely
- Off-Site Web-Based Resources: Los Angeles County and California State
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Department of Rehabilitation
The DOR works in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities.
Work Together: Department services are designed to help you formulate and achieve your employment goal. Working together as a team, you and your counselor will develop a plan to determine the steps necessary for you to reach your goal.
Eligibility: Individuals with a disability who require services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment, or to live more independently.
The Department of Rehabilitation has many resources and may be able to assist you with tuition, books and supplies, clothing and uniforms for work, technology, counseling and guidance, and many other services at no cost to you (free).
Contact
Rocio Chavez at Department of Rehabilitation to see if you are eligible.
Rocio.Chavez@dor.ca.gov
(626) 856-8742
State of California Department of Rehabilitation
El Monte Branch Office
9300 Flair Dr., Ste. 105
El Monte, CA 91731
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Regional Center
At Citrus College, we are committed to providing students with disabilities an accessible educational environment that allows each student the opportunity to reach their academic goals and participate in a full range of campus programs and activities.
Once we receive verification of a student's disability, we provide support services to compensate for disability-related educational limitations. Such support services are essential components of the educational program as they help students with disabilities realize their educational potential in the mainstreamed academic programs.
Don't delay, book an appointment with a DSPS counselor. Please call our office at (626) 914-8675 to inquire about appointments for each semester.
