Students already registered with DSPS are encouraged to follow the following steps every semester to ensure they are receiving accommodations in a timely manner.

Semester Checklist for Success

1. Send Your Letter(s) of Accommodations

Students must send their letters to their respective professors at the beginning of every semester if they will require accommodations for that course. DSPS recommends you start sending your letters one week in advance of the semester.

To do so, please visit DSPS Online Student Services Portal.

Students have the right now to utilize their approved DSPS accommodations; however, the student should be aware that accommodations are not meant to be retroactive and any academic difficulties that come as a result may not be reversible.

2. Request Your Alternate Media Accommodations

Students with qualifying disabilities who are unable to read or interpret standard printed material may have classroom materials converted into alternative formats. This includes Braille, audiotape, e-text, and large print.

Students approved for alternate media as a reasonable accommodation must make their requests as soon as possible each semester by scheduling an appointment with Carl Garner, Adaptive Computer Specialist or call (562) 938-4922.

At the time of the appointment, students will review and submit their Alternate Media Request Form. Please have form filled out prior to the start of your appointment, unless you require assistance to review or complete the form.

Note: To fill out the Alternate Media Request Form, students will need to know the following information:

• Course Name
• Course Professor
• Required Textbook or Required Readings

Tips for Students

• Students are recommended to contact their Instructor to obtain the class syllabus and any other required class materials upon registering for classes during priority registration.
• Students are recommended to contact request that their Instructor work with the Adaptive Computer Specialist to make sure that information is given in advance in order to prepare the format.

Alternate Media Policy

LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE provides alternative format for students who are eligible for this service. In order to maintain the integrity of the service offered and comply with the law, the following rules apply to students who use LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE Alternative Media.

1. The student must currently be registered at LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, and enrolled in classes for the current semester.
2. The student must be registered with DSPS and maintain a confidential file with valid disability verification. Student’s disability(s) shall be verified by a competent authority.
3. The student must own a physical copy of the textbook or possess other material they are requesting in an alternative format. Books must be new or in “like new” condition (no highlighting or handwriting).
4. The material provided to LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE for the purpose of conversion to alternative format will be disassembled and returned to the student in its altered condition.
5. LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE will not be held responsible for any damage to the materials that occur as a result of conversion to an alternative format.
6. The student will not copy or reproduce any material provided by LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, nor allow anyone else to do so. Misuse of this material will represent a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and will result in disciplinary action.
7. Alternative Media provided by LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE must be returned at the end of the semester that it was on loan. Students who do not return the borrowed alternative media by the end of the semester will have a HOLD placed on their records until the material is returned.
8. Students preferring to retain the alternative media are to provide the LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE with NEW disks comparable to those provided by the LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
9. Students will be provided with one alternative format copy for each material required for academic use.
10. This media is copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed in a format other than a specialized format exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities. Any further reproduction or distribution in a format other than a specialized format is an infringement.

Alternate Media Timelines

Examples of the usual parameters are as follows (based on requested submitted 3 weeks prior to the start of class):

• A handout without graphics may take 1-2 business days to convert to alternate media
• A complete textbook may take 1 to 8 weeks to convert to alternate media
• A chapter of a textbook may take 1 to 10 days to convert to alternate media.
  • Chapters may be provided to students on a “rolling basis”- Rolling basis: only sections of the book are produced based on their use in class per course syllabus. Sections are produced throughout the year based on need.
• A novel may take 1 to 8 weeks to convert to alternate media.
• A chapter of a novel may take 1 to 10 days to convert to alternate media.
• A worksheet may take 1 to 5 days to convert to alternate media
• A 3-page exam may take 2 to 4 days to complete.
• Specialized text
  • Math, science, foreign language and other subjects may take longer to produce. DSPS office will turn around requests of specialized textbooks as soon as possible.

3. Request for a Note Taker

Please note, in some online class formats the need for a note-taker may be mitigated by the structure of the course or lecture. In addition, there may be instances where note-taking is not an appropriate accommodation. Please consult with a DSPS counselor to determine the appropriateness of note-taking.

Students, with the support of DSPS staff or by him/herself, will log in to Clockwork and send the accommodation letter to instructors.

Students will then log in to the Course Notes section and change the default setting to “Yes, I need a note-taker” for those classes in which a note-taker is needed.

If Students do not want to remain anonymous, they are encouraged to advocate note-taking for themselves by:

• Asking the instructor to make the request for them
• Asking a friend in their class
• Asking someone they sit next to in class

Once the note taker is identified it is the instructor’s and/or student’s responsibility to refer note taker to the computer labs at Pacific Coast Campus (PCC) and Liberal Arts Campus (LAC) to complete note taker application on clockwork. Instructor may also obtain note taker volunteer(s)’s email (s) and provide email(s) to DSPS office. 

Once the volunteer note-taker has applied, student should login to the Course Notes portal and select the note taker.

It may take 2-3 weeks to secure a note taker and some requests may not be filled.  In the case of the following:

• there are no volunteer note takers after 2 weeks of student’s request
• notes are not received in a timely manner
• notes are received inconsistently
• notes are unsatisfactory

Student will need to contact Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) office for alternate accommodation.  

4. Request for Interpreters

Students shall email finalized class schedules to Stephanie Bonales or call (562) 353- 4217 (VP number) or (562) 938-4918 at least 3 weeks before the start of the semester. If changes are made to class schedules after they have been submitted to the office of the Coordinator, it could cause a disruption in services. If schedule changes are made during the first week of the semester, all efforts shall be made to provide Interpreters for any additions or changes. However, services for any last-minute changes shall not be guaranteed.

Attendance and Timeliness

If a Student communicates with the office of the Coordinator that he/she is running late, then the Interpreter(s) will be asked to wait. An expected arrival time of the Student must be included in the email. If no notification of student’s tardiness is provided to the Coordinator, the Interpreter(s) will be reassigned. If the Interpreter is late, please allow 5 minutes after the posted start time of class before contacting the Coordinator. If the interpreter is consistently late, not clear or if you have additional concerns, the Student shall inform the office of the Coordinator so corrective action may be taken. After 3 No-Shows to a class, Student’s interpreting services will be suspended until Student comes in to the office for an appointment with a Counselor.

Requesting Interpreters for Academic related activities

Students shall email service requests to the office of the Coordinator a minimum of 24 hours in advance, if possible.

Service requests must contain the following information to be considered complete:

• Name of Event
• Date of Event
• Start Time
• End Time
• Location

5. Request for Testing Appointments

If you are currently approved for extended time, you will need to first send your letter of accommodation to your respective instructor to request this accommodation.

For fully online courses, students do not need to schedule to test with DSP&S. Instructors are responsible for providing extended time to students and will serve as the coordinator for testing accommodations. Before your exam, reach out to your instructor: 1) Ask how much time the class is being given to complete the exam, and 2) Clarify your extended time has been applied. Please note, in most cases, you will test with your instructor. However, if your instructor has reached out to DSP&S requesting assistance with proctoring the exam, our office will coordinate these efforts and will be in contact with you. If your extended time has not been applied or you are experiencing significant difficulty taking exams on remote platforms, please contact:

• dsps-staff@lbcc.edu or 562-938-4558
• dspstest@lbcc.edu or 562-938-4831

Students enrolled in on-campus courses who are approved for extended testing time and are interested in completing their exams in person at one of our office’s testing spaces are advised to immediately schedule their exams for the entire semester. Bring or have ready your syllabus so that all exams for the semester can be scheduled in advance. To schedule a testing appointment at the DSP&S Testing Office, students can either:

• Visiting the DSP&S Student Portal and selecting the “Schedule a Test” icon
• Contacting the DSP&S Test Office at dspstest@lbcc.edu or 562-938-4831
• Visiting the DSP&S Test Office in person