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Information for Newly Admitted
Students
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Welcome to Berkeley. To assist you in
your transition to the university and the services of the
Disabled Students' Program (DSP) we have compiled the
following Q's and A's to common questions asked by entering
students.
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Will I automatically
receive services from DSP if I submit a
"certification of disability" during the admissions
application process?
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No. Services are not provided by DSP
automatically. All students seeking services
through DSP must complete an application, which is
available online on our website,
dsp.berkeley.edu. Just click the
"Apply for the DSP
Program" link and follow the directions.
If you are unable to complete the online
application process, you can also request
assistance in person from the Receptionist at the
DSP office.
After applying online, you will receive an
email confirming receipt of your application, the
name of your disability specialist, some useful
information for you as well as a reminder to call
the DSP Reception Desk to make an appointment with
your assigned disability specialist.
Please note that while it is not necessary
for you to meet with your assigned Specialists
before the beginning of August, anyone planning to
attend Summer Bridge or who wishes to see their
Specialists before or during the CalSO orientation
may make advance appointments to do so.
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What do I have to do in order to prove that I have a
disability?
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If you have already sent us certification but
we conclude that it either is not sufficient to
support a disability diagnosis, or does not give us
the information that we need to plan appropriate
accommodations and services, we will send you a
letter informing you of this fact and requesting
additional materials.
Our website will tell you how to provide
appropriate certification for various kinds of
disabilities: dsp.berkeley.edu/dspCertForms.html.
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Why did you request that I submit to more learning disability
testing?
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Additional or updated testing is normally
requested when the existing testing does not give
us enough information to determine appropriate
services for you. Specific criteria for the
diagnosis of learning disabilities and the
determination of appropriate services are outlined
on our website: dsp.berkeley.edu/UcLd.html.
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If I was eligible for
disability services in high school, will I
automatically be eligible for similar services at
Cal?
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IEP's and 504 Plans are not binding on the
University of California or any organizations
outside of the schools in which they were
developed. Accordingly, you will not automatically
be eligible for specific services or accommodations
simply because you present your high school
Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan.
To determine whether you are eligible for our
services, one of our Disability Specialists will
conduct a comprehensive assessment and evaluation
process that is consistent with established
University of California systemwide practices. The
assessment and evaluation process will include, but
not be limited to, interviews with you as well as a
review of documentation provided by physicians and
other clinicians (for example, clinical
psychologists, audiologists, and optometrists). See
Disability Verification Requirements at:
dsp.berkeley.edu/dspCertForms.html
Please keep in mind that at UC Berkeley,
students with disabilities are eligible to receive
services if they meet the following criteria:
- The students have documented physical,
medical, and/or psychological conditions;
- Their disabilities limit one or more
major life activities; and
- Appropriate professionals have verified
that the students need individualized services,
the absence of which would impede educational
access.
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Why is there a difference
between the services I was offered in high school
and those I am eligible to receive at
Berkeley?
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In general, disability services at UC
Berkeley are intended to provide student access to
educational programs rather than remediation of the
student's disability. For example, extended test
time is an accommodation that promotes access by
giving the student enough time to demonstrate
mastery of course material. Instruction in the
phonics method of reading (not offered at DSP) is
an example of a service designed to remediate
disability.
As part of your comprehensive assessment and
evaluation process, your Disability Specialist will
determine which services are necessary to assure
your full participation in the academic program at
UC Berkeley. Some students require program
modifications, such as a reduced course load. Some
students require auxiliary services, such as
notetakers or laboratory assistants. Many students
require academic adjustments, or modifications in
instructional methods such as electronic textbooks
and class handouts, extended time for examinations,
or substitution of an essay for a class
presentation. In combination, program
modifications, auxiliary services, and academic
adjustments are often referred to as "academic
accommodations."
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What are my
responsibilities for ensuring that I receive the
accommodations I am entitled to?
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The individual assessment and accommodation
process is an interactive one. Consult with your
Disability Specialist if you are uncertain about
the accommmodations or services you believe you are
eligible to receive. Try to participate fully in
the process and exercise all due diligence in
ensuring that the University is aware of your
needs.
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Will you discuss my
progress at Cal with my parents, or answer their
questions if they write or phone?
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We urge you to keep in close personal contact
with your parents throughout your years at Cal.
However, DSP cannot normally discuss any
information about your progress at Berkeley with a
third party, including your parents, unless you
authorize us to do so in writing in advance. The
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
and the University policy regarding the release and
disclosure of student information generally
prohibit DSP from disclosing confidential
information to anyone but the student.
The full text of the campus policy can be
found online: registrar.berkeley.edu/GeneralInfo/ferpa.html
or uga.berkeley.edu/uga/disclosure.stm.
University-wide policies can be found at the
University of California website: www.ucop.edu/ucophome/uwnews/aospol/toc130.html.
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What advice would you give
to the parents of new Cal students with
disabilities?
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Communicate with your sons and daughters on a
regular basis, offering support and understanding.
Encourage them to empower themselves and take
responsibility for their own education and their
own lives. Urge them to contact and meet with their
DSP specialist early and often. The same is true
for meeting with their instructors. The Berkeley
campus is especially rich in resources of all
kinds; new students should be prompted to seek out
these resources and use them to the fullest.
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