Disability Support Services (DSS)

What is DSS

Disability Support Services (DSS) provides the support services for students with disabilities at Southwestern College mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990 are civil rights legislation implemented to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

Operating under these mandates, DSS provides students who qualify with specialized services to support maximum participation in Southwestern College programs and activities.

DSS Mission

Our mission is to provide you with an inclusive, fully accessible, and engaging educational environment that empowers student success through innovative accommodations, programs, services, training and partnerships with students, educators, and the community.

DSS Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Our SLOs are statements that clearly identify what DSS wants our students to be able to do, or be able to demonstrate, upon completion of a course, an appointment or a service. "Requesting Accommodations" are the DSS SLO's which student's will master if they:

• Students talk to his/her professors and use academic accommodations and services in their classes.
• Students develop and use skills to solve problems.

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How to Apply for DSS Services

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• Be a Southwestern College student with a disability that can be verified.
• Complete a Southwestern College DSS Application (PDF - English); DSS Application (PDF - Spanish).
  Email your completed, signed, and dated DSS Application to swcdssapplication@swccd.edu
• Provide disability documentation to DSS. Your disability documentation may come from your high school or from a health care practitioner or agency.

Recent High School Graduates - Disability Verification Includes:

• A copy of your IEP and Psychological Report; OR
• A copy of your 504 Plan.

Other Applicants: Disablity Verification can be submitted by having a health care professional or agency complete and sign Part "C" of the Disability Verification Form (PDF - English); Disability Verification Form (PDF - Spanish).

Submitting Verification Documents to DSS

If you have a Southwestern College student ID number you can submit documents to DSS via the Document Dropbox for Students, a secure application available through your MySWC Account.

Login to your MySWC Account to electronically submit documents to DSS Student Dropbox (http://go.swccd.edu/dropbox). This link also includes detailed instructions on how to use the dropbox. You can also view instructions in this Student Dropbox instructional video.

When DSS has received your DSS application and disability documentation we will contact you to schedule an appointment with a DSS Specialist. We will discuss appropriate accommodations, support services, and academic programs through an interactive process with you at this appointment.

DSS Can Help You Obtain Your Disability Verification

If you would like, DSS can help you obtain your disability verification.

High School Students: Complete, sign and email the High School Consent to Release Confidential Information Form (PDF) to DSS at swcdssapplication@swccd.edu. DSS will send your release form to your high school and will follow up on the request until your documentation is received.

Other Applicants: If you would like DSS to facilitate the process of obtaining verification from your health care practitioner, complete Parts "A" and "B" of the Disability Verification Form (PDF - English); Disability Verification Form (PDF - Spanish); and email to DSS at swcdssapplication@swccd.edu. DSS will fax your health care practitioner and follow up with them until your documentation is received.

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Request a DSS Appointment

Students already in the DSS program can request an appointment online without having to call the office. Login to your MySWC Account and complete the "Request a DSS Appointment" if you are currently a DSS student and would like DSS to contact you to schedule an appointment. We will call you in one business day or less to schedule your appointment.

You can also send an email to dss@swccd.edu to request an appointment.

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Requesting Authorized Academic Accommodation Forms

Continuing DSS students can use this Request for Authorized Academic Accommodations (PDF) form. Follow the instructions on the form to have your accommodations emailed to you.

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Requesting DSS Records

No information will be released from Southwestern College Disability Support Services (DSS) without a signed Consent to Release Confidential Information (PDF) form on file. Students must complete this form and submit the form to the DSS office at dss@swccd.edu with a current valid photo ID. This release form pertains only to records originated by the Southwestern College Disability Support Services (DSS) office.

Records originated from health care providers, social service agencies and other educational institutions will not be released. We recommend you request these records from their original source.

To obtain disability verification records from an agency or health care practitioner for Southwestern College DSS Services, you must complete and sign the DSS  Verification Form (PDF - English); DSS Verification Form (PDF - Spanish).

To obtain records from another educational institution or previous school you must complete and sign the High School Consent to Release Confidential Information Form (PDF).

Submit these release forms to the DSS Office and we will fax them and follow up with the agencies or institutions you indicate.

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DSS Forms

• Southwestern College Disability Support Services (DSS) Application - English
  Southwestern College Disability Support Services (DSS) Application - Spanish
• Disability Support Services (DSS) General Verification Form - English
  Disability Support Services (DSS) General Verification Form - Spanish
• DSS Request for Academic Authorized Accommodations (AAA) Form
• DSS High School Release Form
• DSS Accessible Furniture Accommodation Request Form
• How to Add Your Signature to a PDF Document

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A.B.L.E. Club

The DSS office is proud to be associated with the Abilities Beyond Limitation through Education (ABLE) Club. This student led club brings awareness to students, staff, faculty and the campus wide community about students with disabilities. The purpose of the club is to bring together students who want to be involved on campus, sharing their compassion to understand and do more for students with disabilities. It is open to everyone regardless of ability or disabilities.

Membership

ABLE Club is open to all students, staff and faculty who want to make a positive impact on disability awareness on campus.

Our Objectives

• To unify students at Southwestern College and to connect, interact and talk about new ideas and personal experiences with other students and faculty
• To offer students a chance to take a more ACTIVE role on issues pertaining to students with disabilities
• To provide DSS (Disability Support Services) and Campus information to all students
• To fund raise for disability equipment, scholarships, and club activities.

Past Events

• Disability Awareness Month Celebration
• Air Cooled Fiesta 1- VI (VW Car Show Fundraiser)
• Access Awards
• New Student Welcome Workshop
• Club Fair
• End of Semester Gathering
• Weekly Meetings

Club Advisors

• Allen Chu
• Robert Valerio

Club Leadership

Co-Club Presidents:

• Rachel Shinkle
• Donald Cunningham

Contact Information

• Email

  
  ableclubswc10@yahoo.com or ableclubswc@gmail.com

• Phone

  
  (619) 482-6512 or VP (619) 207-4480

Meeting Schedule

• Day: Tuesdays
• Time: 12 pm - 1 pm
• Room: TBA

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Access Awards

STUDENT AWARD NOMINATIONS

The SWC Student Access Award recognizes a student who has made a significant difference to life on campus for students with disabilities through involvement and advocacy for access and Universal Design.

The student must meet the following criteria:

• Be a current SWC student
• Minimum 2.0 grade point average
• Letter of recommendation from an SWC faculty or staff member.

SWC FACULTY/STAFF/ADMINISTRATOR AWARD NOMINATION

The SWC Diane Branman Access Award recognizes a SWC faculty, staff, or administrator, outside of Disability Support Services (DSS), who is distinguished by their especially significant contribution to the education of persons with disabilities through Universal Design principles. This award is named for Diane Branman, who was the first DSS counselor at SWC and recently retired after more than thirty years of service devoted to students with disabilities.

Open to all current SWC faculty, staff or administrators outside of the DSS Office. 
Any Southwestern College District stakeholder may submit a nomination. The nominator must submit a nomination form and a letter of recommendation describing how the student has made a significant difference to life on campus for students with disabilities through involvement and advocacy.

2020 Access Awards Nomination Forms

Thank you to local businesses and organizations who have made donations to the Annual Access Awards:

• SWC Foundation
• A.B.L.E. Club
• San Diego Padres
• USS Midway Museum
• Hornblower Cruises and Events
• San Diego Museum of Man
• The Cheesecake Factory
• Filippi's Pizza Grotto
• Coronado Beauty Salon
• La Jolla Playhouse
• Fleet Science Center
• San Diego REPertory Theatre

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• New Student Orientation
• How to Request Accommodations
• How to Request Accommodations for an Online Class
• Speaking with Your Instructor
• Test Accommodations at Southwestern College
• What if an Accommodation is Not Agreed With?
• How to Request Tutoring
• High Tech Center at Southwestern College
• How to Request Alternate Media
• Service & Suspension

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Policies & Procedures

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS FOR RESPONSIBLE USE OF DSS SERVICES

• Service Suspension: I understand that if I am absent from a scheduled appointment or service two (2) times in one semester without contacting DSS at least 24 hours in advance to cancel the service, my services will be suspended until I meet with my DSS Specialist and explain my absences. Contact DSS by phone (Voice) (619) 482-6512, VP (619) 207-4480, or by email dss@swccd.edu
• I will make contact or meet at least once per semester with a DSS professional to review my progress.
• I understand that DSS specialists may need to discuss my education and use of academic accommodations with others who have an educational need to know. 
• Denial of accommodation: If an accommodation is denied, immediately contact your DSS Specialist per SWC procedure
  (5140 – (AP) Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities). You may also, contact the 504 Compliance Officer, the Dean of Student Services, located at the Cesar Chavez Student Services Center, Room 68-109.
• I must follow the Standards of Student Conduct in class and public areas of Southwestern College.

I understand that I must fulfill the above requirements for participation in the DSS program. I have received a copy of this policy on suspension of DSS services, and I understand the consequences of failing to comply with the rules for responsible use of DSS services. I understand I will be notified in writing after the first absence.

SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT POLICIES & PROCEDURES

BP=Board Policy
AP=Administrative Procedure

• 3440 – (BP) Service Animals
• 3440 – (AP) Service Animals
• 4047 – (BP) Textbook Accessibility, Adoptions & Affordability
• 4047 – (AP) Textbook Accessibility, Adoptions & Affordability
• 4105 – (BP) Distance Education
• 4105 – (AP) Distance Education
• 4227 – (BP) Repeatable Courses
• 4227 – (AP) Repeatable Courses
• 5140 – (BP) Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
• 5140 – (AP) Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
• 5145 – (BP) Accessibility of Electronic & Information Technology
• 5145 – (AP) Accessibility of Electronic & Information Technology
• 6365 – (AP) Accessibility of Information Technology

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Resources for Faculty

• DSS Faculty Handbook (PDF)
• Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act
• Americans With Disabilities Act Home Page
• Faculty Questions and Answers: DSS Services (PDF)
• Video Captioning for SWC Faculty (PDF)
• Universal Design in Education (PDF)
• Instructional Methodologies (PDF)
• Faculty Guide to Canvas Accessibility and Accommodations

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Workability

Coming soon!

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