Student Services I:
Students with Disabilities & other
Special Populations
Fall 2013 Community College Counselor Conference
Overview
 Services for Students with
Disabilities
 Special Populations
Challenges for Transfer Students
 Sometimes transferring to a larger institution
 Academic work becomes more demanding
 Universal design principles place
accommodations across the campus
 Students assume that policies, procedures, and
practices will be the same or similar to their
previous institution
Things for Students to Consider
 Disability documentation requirements of the
campus – will the current documentation be
sufficient?
 Have prerequisite classes been met –
substitutions and/or waivers are not always
beneficial later?
 Does the campus have other support services
needed?
Accommodations – Case by Case
Accommodations are determined by the student’s functional
limitations and the academic standards for each class.
 Extended time to take
exams
 A reader and/or scribe
for exams
 Notetaking
 Alternative media
(Braille, e-text, audio)
 Assistive technology
 Peer mentoring &
academic coaching
 Tape recording of
classes
 Accessible classroom
furniture
 Career preparation
services
Key Messages to Students
 There are differences in what accommodations
are given and how they are applied.
 Make contact with Disability Services early
(so students will know what to expect – informed choice)
 Register with Disability Services as soon as
accepted (early class registration)
 Do not reveal disability information during
application process
Additional Information About Services
for Student with Disabilities
 CSUMentor site:
– www.csumentor.edu/faq/disabilities.asp
 California State University site:
– www.calstate.edu/SAS/disabilities.shtml
 Individual campus department websites
Special Populations
 AB-540 Student Requirements
– Attended a high school in California for three or more years
– Graduated from a CA high school or attained the equivalent of a
high school diploma, (Passed the GED or CA High School
Proficiency Exam)
– Register or be currently enrolled in one of the three state
institutions of higher learning
– File an affidavit with the college or university stating that he or
she has applied to legalize his or her legal status or will do so as
soon as he or she is eligible to do so
– All information provided by student will be kept confidential by
the college or university
Special Populations
 AB-540 Student Eligibility
– Any student, except a person in non-immigrant status,
who meets the specific requirements shall be exempt from
paying nonresident tuition at all public colleges and
universities in California
 Any student means U.S. citizen, legal resident and
undocumented person
– An undocumented person is a non-citizen who entered the U.S. without
legal immigration status or who stayed after the period he/she was
authorized to be in the U.S.
Special Populations
 AB-540 Student Eligibility
 Non-immigrant status means visa holders [e.g., tourist (B
visa) or student (F or J visa)]
 Under AB 1899, students with T (Human trafficking survivors)
or U (survivors of serious crimes) nonimmigrant status who
meet the other criteria of AB 540 are eligible for in-state
tuition, fee waivers, scholarships, institutional and state
financial aid
Special Populations
 AB-540 Admission Application Process
– Encouraged to apply for admission during the priority filing
period (Oct. 1- Nov 30)
– The SSN area should be left blank on the Admission Application
 May use the granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
number
– The Residency questions should be answered according to their
personal residency situation
 If an undocumented student is charged non-resident tuition
but the student knows they meet the AB 540 guidelines,
please have the student contact the campus and turn in a
California NonresidentTuition Exemption Request Form
otherwise known as an AB 540 Affidavit
Special Populations
 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA)
– It allows students to work on campus
– It does not establish California residency
– It does not make students eligible for federal financial aid
(no FASFA)
– It does not prevent students from applying for California
Dream Act financial aid (apply through CalDreamAct.org)
– It does not change any AB-540 requirements or eligibility
QUESTIONS!
www.calstate.edu