Full classroom of community college students listening to a lecture.

Accommodations and Services

Mission College facilitates equal access through reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. We arrange accommodations on an individual basis for each eligible student with a disability during the intake/eligibility process.


How to Request Accommodations and Services

Sending Your Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) to your Instructors

The Mission College Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) is a confidential document outlining a student’s accommodation or adjustments approved to support the student in a course. Students can view their approved accomodations anytime, through the DSPS Service portal, AIM, after their DSPS Intake. Please see DSPS for any questions or support viewing approved accomodations. 

DSPS students are responsible for sending their AAP to their instructors for each course for each semester. Students can notify their instructors of their accommodations by emailing their Academic Accommodation Plan to their instructors at least 1 week before the semester starts.  

NOTE: Accommodations are not retroactive. While students can apply for or send their accommodations anytime during the semester, please keep in mind accommodations begin only after you have completed the DSPS New Student Intake process AND students have sent out a copy of their AAP to their instuctors. 

Below is a video demonstration of how to send your accommodations our online DSPS portal AIM.

Testing

Students with approved testing accomodations may take their exams in the DSPS during DSPS office hours. Students are responsible for scheduling their exams with DSPS at least 3 buisness days before their exam. NOTE: Students can book their exams out for the entire semester. 

Students can schedule their exam on the DSPS Service Portal, AIM. See below exam instuctions. Students may also use a paper copy of our Testing Accomodation Request (TAR) Form. Please contact DSPS for any questions or support. 

Alternative Media and Assistive Technology
Alternate Media

Alternate Media provides access to textbooks and other course materials in an accessible format, such as electronic text (e-text), audio, large print, and Braille (including Tactile Graphics).  

Students who have met with a DSPS Counselor or Advisor and qualify for alternate media should contact the Alternate Media Specialist as early as possible to discuss needs.   

Request Process

  1. To request an alternate format, the student must submit the Alternate Format Request form.
  2. Unless not required (e.g., no-cost textbooks), the student is expected to submit their book receipts using the DSPS Upload FIle formas part of the request process.  
Alternate Media Delivery Times

If the student has been approved for the accommodation of alternate media for the current or upcoming academic term, the alternate media is generally provided within 7 to 10 business days from the date the student makes the request using the above process.

The best reasonable effort will be made toward a timely delivery of alternate media. However, delivery times may be longer if there is a delay in obtaining publisher permission, or if the transfer to alternate media is complicated. Delivery times in these cases will be made on a case-by-case basis:

  • Formats such as Braille, Tactile Graphics, Audio, or Large Print requiring extensive reformatting.
  • Source material that is of poor quality and must be extensively reproduced.
  • Subject matters such as STEM and Modern Languages and Linguistics.

Alternate media may be delivered in installments.  If so, the Alternate Media Specialist will work closely with the student and faculty.

If students request an alternate format for recommended (not required) reading, these requests are handled at a lower priority than required reading, and the above timelines will not apply.   

Assistive Technology

The DSPS Office, Room CC-240 on the second floor of the Campus Center Building, offers DSPS students accessible computers and distraction reduced study spaces for completing assignments and studying.

Assistive Technology available in the DSPS computer lab, and as approved accommodations in classrooms, includes:

  • 24” and 27” monitor.
  • Adapted mouse and keyboard.
  • Touchscreen monitor.
  • Screen reader.
  • Screen Magnification Software.
  • Closed Circuit TVs (CCTVs).
  • Text to speech software.
  • Scanners.
  • Speech Recognition Software.
  • iPad and Android tablets (loans as available).
  • Digital recorders/Livescribe Echo Smartpens (loans as available with approved accomodations). 

If you have any questions about alternate media, please contact Mary Ann Medrano at [email protected].

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Mission College DSPS offers in person and virtual ASL Interpreting and Captioning services. To request services for a class, campus appointment (ex: counseling or tutoring), or an event please contact Uriel Huizache at [email protected].

Please include: Your Name and student ID, Event Location, Time, and any other details you would like us to know.

Furniture

If you have been approved for adaptive furniture, please complete your AAP request through the DSPS Service portal, AIM, to get the process started. DSPS will work with students once they have put their request in to coordinate furinture requests. For any questions about furniture please contact DSPS. 

DSPS Tutoring

DSPS offers drop in tutoring in person at Campus Center 240, for student with approved tutoring accommodations. Please contact DSPS for subjects and tutor avalibilty. 

DSPS Resources
Resources for Students and Families

Food, financial, technology, counseling, mental health, and other kinds of assistance are available atMissionCollege.edu/BasicNeeds.

Success Programs at Mission

Mission College offers a range of programs that provide connection, support, guidance, and fun. Each program is different, with a particular focus on your student success.

All Disabilities 
Attention Deficit Disorders
Autism: Neurodiversity Pathways Program
Books and Literacy
Blind/Low Vision
Brain Injury
Deafness
Learning Disabilities
Mental Health
Phone Numbers
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
  • Alameda County (24 hour crisis line): 1-800-309-2131.
  • Santa Clara County: 1-855-278-4204.                              

Scholarships