Beyond the Cover: ASC and the Disability Awareness Month celebration

Nick Pettis and Allison Arnzen

 

Collage of five people in an online conference for Mt. San Jacinto College's Disability Awareness month virtual event.
Speakers from the Disability Awareness Month virtual event. Top: Amanda Tuyu-Luna and Tyler Christopher. Middle: Lisa Yates. Bottom: Neil Sosa and Sheena McFadden. Credit: Edward Landeros

MENIFEE, Calif. – On October 29, 2020, The Accommodation Service Center celebrated Disability Awareness Month with Beyond the Cover: Living Books, a virtual event with four MSJC students with disabilities sharing their journeys in life hosted by ASC Counselor Lisa Yates.

Living Books is an online initiative that collects the stories of students each year based around a certain theme. The theme for the Fall 2020 semester was Disability Awareness, which focused on the stories of students Tyler Christopher, Sheena McFadden, Neil Sosa, Gavin Toohey, and alumni Amanda Tuyu-Luna.

To view the website or the event, please click the links below:


The ASC

The Accommodation Service Center, formerly known as Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS),  is a service center dedicated to accommodating and assisting students with disabilities at MSJC. The services include test-taking facilitation, note-taker services, and interpreter services for hearing-impaired or deaf students.

Eligibility

To be eligible to obtain support services or instruction, students must verify an impairment which leads to an educational limitation. According to procedures prescribed by the Chancellor, existence of an impairment may be verified. By the appropriate ASC professional staff and as described in the Academic Accommodations Plan, the student’s educational limitations must be identifiable. With each service provided, this must be directly related as consistent to code to qualify.

According to procedures prescribed by the Chancellor, the existence of an impairment can be verified by:

  •  The ASC staff with review by an ASC coordinator
  • Assessment by the ASC staff
  • By reviewing certified documentation provided by appropriate agencies or professionals

Service eligibility must be “directly related” to an educational limitation in compliance with Sections 56000(b) and 56004, Education Code in Title 5.

High-Tech Center

In strides toward equal access within the classroom and on campus, the ASC has technology and equipment available, such as the High-Tech Center (HTC). In the San Jacinto & Menifee Valley Locations, there is a High-Tech Center. Located at both the San Jacinto and Menifee Valley campuses, the HTC provides access to technology, helps improve cognitive skills, and helps in assisting students to the college level academic and vocational classes for those who qualify. Alternate media is available with efforts of universal design to supply accessible formats of instructional materials, textbooks, and college publications for students with disabilities.

“The ASC is on campus for YOU and will make every possible attempt to resolve and assist all students.”
Opportunities with ASC

Non-discrimination is upheld to protect individuals.

The ASC works in connection with opportunities such as scholarships, awards and athletic programs in efforts to meet the needs of all students attending MSJC. The page for student athletes can be found here.

New students may get started in the enrollment process as well as continuing students.

The ASC staff may be reached here.

ASC Availability and Contact information:

San Jacinto Campus (SJC)

Phone: (951) 487-3308

Email: [email protected]

Virtual Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Menifee Valley Campus (MVC)

Phone: (951) 639-5305

Email: [email protected]

ASC Virtual Office Hours:​
Monday – Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Be sure to reach out to the ASC with any questions or concerns on the need of services.