Frequently Asked Questions

Each accommodation letter lists the name and email address of the Disability Specialist assigned to work with the student for whom the letter was issued. The assigned Disability Specialist is your best first point of contact in addressing questions and concerns you may have about an individual student’s Letter of Accommodation.

Instructors are not required to provide any disability accommodations in the absence of a Letter of Accommodation (LOA) from DSP. Faculty should refer students to DSP rather than provide informal accommodations. Informal accommodations may not meet a student’s disability-related access needs. 

If a student is not yet active in DSP and has an immediate concern, instructors can provide the same consideration for extenuating circumstances that they would provide for students without disabilities. For instance, if a student breaks their hand the night before your exam and asks you if they can have some extra time because their typing is slower, you have the discretion to allow this adjustment without requiring the student to first complete an intake appointment with DSP. You can then let the student know that what you are providing is not a formal disability accommodation, but simply an adjustment due to their extenuating circumstance, and that if they anticipate requesting future accommodations, they will need to provide you with a Letter of Accommodation from DSP. Students who request intake appointments with DSP can typically schedule an appointment within one to two weeks if they have disability documentation available.

The campus’s Support Portal has information that can assist instructors in supporting students who are navigating extenuating circumstances that are impacting their personal well-being and their performance and engagement in your course.

An accommodation is an adjustment to a practice or policy that removes a barrier that exists based on the impact of an individual’s disability in the context of the practice or policy. Academic accommodations allow for disabled students to have equal access to participate in their academic programs at UC Berkeley. While in elementary and secondary school settings it is permissible for accommodations to change the goals and standards of the curriculum, in the postsecondary setting, instructors are not required to fundamentally alter their course goals or standards in order to implement an accommodation.

If an instructor has a concern about the appropriateness of implementing an accommodation for which a student has been approved, they should contact the Disability Specialist listed at the end of the student’s Letter of Accommodation directly.

AIM stands for Accessible Information Management, and it is the platform that DSP utilizes to store student records and to facilitate the provision of accommodations. While AIM is integrated with the campus’s SIS and CalCentral systems, the platform both allows for student medical information to be retained separately from student academic records, and it also allows for facilitating the accommodation process. Every semester, students need to request their accommodation letters and approved services via AIM, and instructors need to review students’ accommodation letters and submit requests to DSP’s Auxiliary Services offices (including Proctoring) via AIM. 

The instructor of record for a course can authorize proxy access for GSIs in AIM. 

When logged into the AIM Faculty Portal, you will find on the furthest right-hand corner of the page an “Add Instructor” link. Clicking this button will allow you to request to add a GSI to those with instructor access to your course. 

After you submit a request to have a GSI added as a proxy for your course, the person you selected will receive an email that will require them to CalNet authenticate in order for your request to be processed. You can check the status of your request in the section of the AIM Faculty Portal titled “List of Requests for Adding Instructors.”

An illustrated guide for accessing student information in AIM is available that includes directions for creating a list of students with accommodations in your course and for downloading Letters of Accommodation.

Under Construction

Some students use assistive technology on a laptop or tablet to assist them with note taking, while others require screen-reading technology on their laptops or tablets to engage with course materials, including their textbooks, during class. If a disabled student has an accommodation for the use of a laptop or tablet in class for disability-related reasons, the instructor should allow the student to use their technology

When students are using a laptop or tablet as an approved disability accommodation, they should not be required to sit in a particular section of the class, but should be permitted to choose the seat that best meets their own accommodation needs. For instance, a student using a program on their laptop that creates an audio file may need to sit in the front of the class to obtain a clear recording.

In your syllabus, please state that students who need a laptop or other technology should contact the instructor if they believe they require an exception to the course’s no-technology policy. In this way, you can avoid specifically singling out students with disabilities.

Begin by consulting the student’s Letter of Accommodation (LOA). 

DSP is comprised of multiple units, each with its own Supervisor and staff. If you have a question about a specific accommodation, you may find that the LOA provides an email address to directly contact the unit that processes that accommodation. In addition, each LOA concludes with the name and email of the student’s assigned Disability Specialist, who may also be of assistance.

If you have questions or concerns about the logistics of implementing students' proctoring, alternative media, note taking, or communication accommodations, reaching out to those units directly provides the speediest response and support. For quick reference, the Auxiliary Services units’ contact information is:

Proctoring: proctoring@berkeley.edu

Alternative Media: dspamc@berkeley.edu

Note Taking: dspnotes@berkeley.edu

Communication Services: dsp-captioning@berkeley.edu

If after reviewing the LOA and the above information you are still unsure of the best point of contact for your question, you can email dsp@berkeley.edu, and your message will be routed to the appropriate office, typically within one to two working days.

Exam accommodations are a more common accommodation because they accommodate students with many different types of disabilities.  Some examples include: students with learning disabilities or physical disabilities who use assistive technologies may need additional time to read exam questions and produce responses;  students with learning disabilities that impact processing speeds may need more time to process information; students with attention deficits may need both additional time and a reduced distraction environment.

Generally, no. This can be very disruptive to students who need exam accommodations.  The exception would be if the chosen space was no longer appropriate because of unanticipated background noise or disruptions.

Faculty may offer this as an option to students. However, if the student has a documented disability-related need for a make-up exam as verified by the Disability Specialist, then the student has a right to take a make-up exam. The exam may be an alternate exam of the same format and difficulty as the original exam.  The faculty member may also choose to administer the same exam and have the student sign an academic honesty agreement.

When a student's exam is approved you will receive an email thread notifying you of your students' scheduled exams, including all relevant details. You will receive a separate email for each student in one email thread.

University policy prohibits administering any final assessments during RRR week. For further clarification, please consult the Committee on Courses of Instruction (COCI) Handbook, section 2.1.12 Reading, Review, and Recitation (RRR) Week Guidelines

We are unable to proctor online exams at this time. For assistance with online exams, please contact Digital Learning Services or email: bcourseshelp@berkeley.edu

Due to staffing considerations, we are unable to proctor evening exams. All regular-semester exams must end by 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday. All final exams must end no later than 6 pm. Please call our office at (510) 643-4691 or email proctoring@berkeley.edu to discuss your needs.

If a student is late for their exam, they will not be granted any additional time. If they are more than 30 minutes late, they will not be allowed to start their exam unless we get approval from the instructor. We will call the contact number submitted on the proctoring request form for approval.

DSP Proctoring takes academic integrity very seriously. All of our proctors are well trained and are constantly monitoring exams in our testing locations. Students must show a photo ID when they arrive and agree to all conditions before an exam begins. Cell phones and smart watches must be turned off in front of the proctor and stowed away for the duration of the exam. Students are asked to sign in/out when using the bathroom, and proctors are continually walking the floor to deter any potential for cheating. Any suspicious activity is logged and reported to the instructor and may be submitted to the Office of Student Conduct.

Exams must be picked up in person in our office beginning at 8:30 am the day after the exam. Pick-up hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.

To communicate any changes to your exam while the exam is taking place, please call the DSP Proctoring Center at (510) 643-4691. We will notify your students of the changes. Please keep in mind that your students may be located in different buildings, and reaching all of your students may take time.

If an instructor would like us to reschedule a student’s exam, please email our office at proctoring@berkeley.edu. We will be happy to reschedule the exam at the instructor’s request. Please do not have students contact us directly to reschedule an exam. Exams can only be scheduled with faculty approval.

Faculty need to submit a testing agreement for each class for which they are requesting exams. Once the testing agreement is submitted, students will be responsible for requesting and scheduling their own exams through their DSP Student Portal. 

Exams must be delivered to us in one of the following ways:

1.) Email the exam in an attachment to proctoring@berkeley.edu no later than 4:30 PM 2 BUSINESS DAYS prior to the date of the exam. Please include the Department and course number in the subject line.

2.) Upload exams through your Faculty Portal no later than 4:30 PM 2 BUSINESS DAYS prior to the date of the exam.

3.)Hand-delivered in person at the Proctoring Center no later than 4:30 pm one business day before the date of the exam.

Students can only schedule their exams on the dates entered by the instructor in the Testing Agreement. However, the system will allow students to schedule their exams at any time between the hours of 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM for regular-semester exams. If you want your students to schedule their exams at a specific time it is your responsibility to notify your students to schedule their exams at the time determined by you. 

For final exams, students are restricted to scheduling their exams at 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, or 1:30 PM. For final exams, students should schedule their exams at one of the block seatings that overlaps with or is closest to the in-class exam time.  Due to limited seating, DSP Proctoring may move students' requests for final exams to a start time other than requested in order to maximize our seating capacity.

If a student has a legitimate class conflict and has to move their exam to a different date/time, it is the responsibility of the student and instructor to negotiate a new date/time and then inform DSP Proctoring on when to reschedule the exam. The student must first submit their exam request on the date entered by the instructor in the Testing Agreement.

Contact the Disability Specialist listed at the end of the accommodation letter to address any logistical or other concerns you may have. Many concerns can be addressed and resolved directly and informally through timely communication between faculty and DSP.

While students have the right to receive disability accommodations that remove or mitigate barriers to their equal access to participate in their academic programs, instructors are not required to fundamentally alter their course goals or standards in order to accommodate disabled students.

If DSP and the instructor cannot come to agreement regarding the instructor’s concern that implementing a requested accommodation would result  in a fundamental alteration of the course’s goals or standards, then the disagreement will be addressed utilizing the campus’s Fundamental Alteration Process

DSP does not have a deadline by which students can apply for services. Students can be diagnosed with or acquire disabilities at any time, and the process of obtaining disability documentation can also take time. Sometimes students who already have a disability identity will wait to seek services until they have first tried participating at Berkeley without formal accommodations. Students may also find that the impact of their disability has changed during the semester and that they need additional support in accessing their program of study due to this change.

To comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, DSP must conduct intakes and assessments and initiate reasonable accommodations and services for students with disabilities whenever they apply for initial services or request new accommodations. UC Berkeley cannot set limits for when students can request disability accommodations. That said, sometimes it is difficult to accommodate last-minute requests, particularly for exam accommodations and for converting complicated texts into alternative formats. If an instructor has difficulty accommodating a last-minute request, they can reach out to the student’s assigned Disability Specialist, and DSP will assist whenever possible. 

Not every student with a disability attending UC Berkeley is utilizing DSP services. The decision to connect with DSP is an individual choice for students with disabilities. If a disabled student believes that they will require accommodations to have equal access to participate in their academic program at UC Berkeley, they need to take the formal step of applying for accommodations.

Students first apply online to create an account with DSP that will allow DSP to keep their disability records separate from their academic and other campus records. Students are then asked to submit documentation of disability from an appropriate medical provider confirming both the presence of a disability and the impact of that disability. The student then needs to attend an intake appointment with a Disability Specialist. During this meeting, the student and Disability Specialist will identify any barriers to equal access and participation that the student may encounter based on the impact of their disability and the characteristics of the academic environment in which the student is participating. Accommodations are then determined in order to eliminate or mitigate the barriers that have been identified.

As the impact of students’ disabilities and the nature of the requirements of their academic curriculum may change over time, accommodations may be revisited and revised to ensure that they are still appropriate to provide the student with equal access to their academic experience at UC Berkeley.

In 2008, the Americans with Disabilities Act was amended, broadening the definition of disability to include more persons with non-apparent disabilities (for example, chronic health conditions and psychological disabilities). In addition, IDEA, the law that governs K-12 services for students with disabilities, has provided greater opportunity for students with disabilities to excel academically, graduate high school, and successfully matriculate to higher education.

Universities nationwide are continuing to experience growth in the numbers of students who qualify for and apply for disability services. Nationally, an estimated 21% of college students are students with disabilities. At UC Berkeley, DSP serves approximately 12.6% all students, including 14% of undergraduates and 9% of graduate students. DSP currently serves over 5,500 students. It is important to note that as the campus continues to increase enrollments, the number of students with disabilities who require services will continue to increase as well. 

1.   Under “Step 1: Select Class(es),” select the classes for which you wish to use accommodations by checking each course’s corresponding box (see the screenshot above). Remember that accommodations may not be required for all classes, such as fitness classes, seminars or field studies, discussion sections, Berkeley Connect, and English R1A/R1B courses.
2.  Click “Step 2: Continue to Customize Your Accommodations” to begin selecting Notetaking accommodations for each class.
3. Check the box for Notetaking and then click "Submit Your Accommodation Request" when you are done. This will submit your request for accommodations to the DSP office for approval.

Access Your Notes via AIM

Your note-taking request will be processed by DSP's notetaking services. We will recruit, identify, and set up a peer notetaker. Once the request is completed, you receive an email confirmation that says “DSP Notetaker Assigned”
If there is already an assigned notetaker for the course, you’ll receive a different email notifying you of this.
To access your notes log into your student portal, On the left menu, go to “Notetaking Accommodations”

Once you’re in there, you’ll see your courses. Each class that has notes uploaded will say “Notes Available to Download." From there you can download notes for each week of classes.

Notes will be uploaded to your student portal 36 hours after each class. Most requests are completed within 10 business days, but if we have not identified a notetaker, you will be contacted about alternative accommodations. You can find more information on the DSP Process for Class notes.

Check Your Notes on a Regular Basis

After your notetaking requests are completed, course notes will be uploaded to your student portal in AIM after each class. DSP Note-taking services monitor the delivery and upload of notes, but please make sure to let us know if you have any comments, questions, or feedback about the notes/notetaker. It helps to provide specific examples and any information about any reported issues you may be having. We can be contacted at dspnotes@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).

Request Accommodations

1.   Under “Step 1: Select Class(es),” select the classes for which you wish to use accommodations by checking each course’s corresponding box (see the screenshot above). Remember that accommodations may not be required for all classes, such as fitness classes, seminars or field studies, discussion sections, Berkeley Connect, and English R1A/R1B courses.
2.  Click “Step 2: Continue to Customize Your Accommodations” to begin selecting Notetaking accommodations for each class.
3. Check the box for Notetaking and then click "Submit Your Accommodation Request" when you are done. This will submit your request for accommodations to the DSP office for approval.

Yes, Research Teaching and Learning (RTL) provides a thorough set of resources that allows you to bring more of your teaching online. Please visit: https://rtl.berkeley.edu/get-started

If the student is being served by DSP, you will receive a letter of accommodation that specifically describes the accommodations to which a student is entitled to ensure their equal access to your course. If a student requests accommodations on the basis of disability and you have not yet received an accommodation letter, then you should ask the student to log in to their DSP account via the DSP website to request that a letter of accommodation from DSP is sent to you. Once you have been sent the electronic copy of the accommodation letter, you are then required to provide the accommodations described in the letter. If a student has not yet registered for services with DSP, please encourage the student to apply for services, and please avoid providing informal disability accommodations. 

Generally speaking, knowing whether or not a student has autism in your class is not necessary in order to implement supportive communication and teaching strategies that could potentially benefit all students in your course. Examples of such strategies can include designing a course syllabus that is structured with explicit information about course objectives, assignment breakdowns, office hours, and further opportunities for progress monitoring support.  Offering visual content such as powerpoint presentations to all students and/or recordings of direct instruction can make a classroom environment more accessible for all students.  For more information on universal design for learning (UDL) principles in higher education, please refer to the faculty resources page on this site. 

If you suspect that a student may have an autism diagnosis, you may include the Disabled Students’ Program as one of the available services that you offer to the student for further connection and support on campus.  Disability disclosure is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); please avoid asking any student directly if they identify with having a disability.  

With the projected growing population of neurodiverse students entering 4 year universities in the next decade, it is advantageous for campus communities to design a culture that embraces and showcases neurodiversity acceptance and inclusion.  The DSP Autism Services Program, Spectrum Connect, offers a training program for staff, faculty and allies to learn more about autism and best practices for accessibility on campus.  We are seeking to build a community of faculty & staff that can act as advocates and educators for neurodivergent students.  For more information about department training or community building opportunities, please complete the Campus Training Request Form provided on the Autism Spectrum Services main page or reach out to us directly at spectrumconnect@berkeley.edu

With the projected growing population of neurodiverse students entering 4 year universities in the next decade, it is advantageous for campus communities to design a culture that embraces and showcases neurodiversity acceptance and inclusion.  The DSP Autism Services Program, Spectrum Connect, offers a training program for staff, faculty and allies to learn more about autism and best practices for accessibility on campus.  We are seeking to build a community of faculty & staff that can act as advocates and educators for neurodivergent students.  For more information about department training or community building opportunities, please complete the Campus Training Request Form provided on the Autism Spectrum Services main page or reach out to us directly at spectrumconnect@berkeley.edu

As a general guideline, when communicating with a student with autism, it is important to utilize concise and direct language; try to avoid using figurative language or sarcasm.  If a behavior is observed that a faculty or staff member has questions or concerns about, it is recommended to first meet with the student 1:1 to talk about the observed behavior.  This meeting should occur before or after class and/or during office hours if accessible.  Please keep in mind that observed behaviors could be a general misinterpretation or a result of a specific manifestation of disability, so it is important to gain the student’s perspective and insight about the behavior prior to jumping to conclusions.   

Communicating the behavioral expectations for your course in writing can be an effective strategy for making sure that all students understand appropriate conduct and any associated implications for breaching course conduct.   It is important to speak with the student 1:1 to try and identify any root cause of a given behavior.  From there, faculty and staff can work with the student collaboratively to develop a plan for remediating the observed behavior if deemed necessary and appropriate.  During this process, it is encouraged to reach out to the student’s Disability Specialist for further suggestions regarding accessible communication and intervention strategies. 

Autism diagnoses are often characterized by social and communication deficits.  These barriers can make it very challenging for students to engage in the process of finding partners and to communicate effectively when working in pairs or small groups.  It can be helpful to select student groups ahead of time to avoid the potential challenge of group outreach and matching.  Another suggestion would be to meet with the student 1:1 to outline the components of a given lab or project and to identify portions of the assignment that the student can best showcase and contribute their strengths.

 Offering check-ins with all group members to assist with any communication barriers that may arise, can be a proactive tool to prevent and/or remediate communication break-downs .  In addition, it can be beneficial to all class members to model accessible practices for communication and collaborative work. For example, having an assigned note-taker in a group during break out sessions can ensure that all group members have access to the same information discussed during the meeting. Generating visual documents that allocate student-specific roles and project timelines can promote transparency and accessible tools for progress monitoring. Further, building in opportunity for students to express their preferred and most accessible methods of communication will help all students to achieve accessibility in collaborative work settings.   For more tailored suggestions, please reach out to the student’s Disability Specialist.

The student is the best person to answer this question, as every student has their individual communication preferences. In general, direct, written communication has shown to be effective. It is common for students who have autism to identify as visual learners over auditory learners , so providing visual notes, structured outlines, checklists and timelines can be really effective for supportive communication.  When meeting 1:1 with a student, writing down key takeaways from your discussion and sharing them with the student can ensure that the student walks away with clear answers to their questions and prioritized action steps.  Students can also take their own notes and/or use their phone to take a picture of notes recorded during the meeting.  Asking the student to summarize the discussion in a few sentences (written or verbal) can be a helpful strategy when checking for understanding.  A student with autism may take additional time to process questions posed auditorily.  If observed, as a general guideline, try to offer at least 10 seconds for student response before repeating the question or asking if the student requires clarification.   

Generally speaking, knowing whether or not a student has autism in your class is not necessary in order to implement supportive communication and teaching strategies that could potentially benefit all students in your course. Examples of such strategies can include designing a course syllabus that is structured with explicit information about course objectives, assignment breakdowns, office hours, and further opportunities for progress monitoring support.  Offering visual content such as powerpoint presentations to all students and/or recordings of direct instruction can make a classroom environment more accessible for all students.  For more information on universal design for learning (UDL) principles in higher education, please refer to the faculty resources page on this site. 

If you suspect that a student may have an autism diagnosis, you may include the Disabled Students’ Program as one of the available services that you offer to the student for further connection and support on campus.  Disability disclosure is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); please avoid asking any student directly if they identify with having a disability.  

Your exam request will be approved one (1) week before the exam date.

DSP Proctoring does not provide green books, scantrons, calculators, or any other exam materials. Students are responsible for bringing their own exam materials, including scratch paper, erasers, pencils, and pens. Please bring all required material on the day of your exam.

Yes, please make a request for each quiz, midterm and final exam you would like to take with DSP Proctoring.

The seat and its location is assigned based on the accommodation condition and the space availability.

Exams can be canceled via your DSP Student Portal. Select Proctoring on the left-hand side. Select the exam you would like to cancel or reschedule. After you cancel your exam request, have your instructor email proctoring@berkeley.edu with written permission to reschedule your exam.

It is your responsibility to communicate directly with your instructors for all exams.

You must reconcile any exam conflicts with your instructors before you submit any exam requests with DSP Proctoring.

You must also check your final exam schedule in CalCentral at the beginning of the semester to make sure there are no conflicts with other overlapping exams due to extended-time accommodations. If there are such conflicts, you must reconcile those with your instructors before you submit any exam requests

You are required to make a proctoring request at least 1 week before quizzes and midterms and 2 weeks before final exams.

DSP Proctoring does not proctor online/bCourse exams. Please speak with your DSP Specialist and instructor on how best to proceed with online exams. 

Please log on to the DSP Student Portal. Click on the Proctoring tab on the left-hand side. Select the class from the drop-down menut that you would like to request an exam for and fill out the required information.

For more information on how to request proctoring services for your exam click on the following link: https://dsp.berkeley.edu/how-request-your-exams-dsp-proctoring

Yes, so long as each student is provided with their individual accommodations. If you have any questions about specific accommodations for any student, please contact the student’s Disability Specialist for assistance.

The Disabled Students' Program has an online manual for faculty, "Teaching Students with Disabilities." For more general information, consult the Disabled Students' Program website.

Yes. Please visit our online request page for information on the online submission process.

Letters of accommodation are online; there is a faculty login page that will give you access to the information. Please contact the Disabled Students' Program Specialist, 642-0518, who signed the letter or check the DSP FAQ. The main Berkeley policy addressing academic accommodations is the Campus Policy for Accommodating the Academic Needs of Students with Disabilities.

The responsibility of students with disabilities in the exam accommodation process is outlined in "Exam Preparation Tips for Students with Disabilities Using the Campus Proctoring Service". It explains their role in planning for accommodations, securing assistants and equipment they may need, and how the centralized campus proctoring program works.

Requests for midterms should be made two weeks prior to the regularly scheduled exam. For final exams requests should be made before our fall and spring deadline. Our set Final exam deadlines are: Nov. 1 for Fall Semester and April 2 for Spring Semester.

No. Exams need to be delivered to and picked up from 414 MLK Jr. Building by you or a person you designate. It may be possible to make alternate arrangements for the testing site, pickup, and delivery by calling 510-643-4691.

You (not the student) may contact the Campus Proctoring Service (643-4691, proctoring@berkeley.edu) or make an online request, to arrange for centralized proctoring and space for administering the exam. You inform the student where and when to report.

Note-taking services are always provided for lecture courses. If you require notes for a seminar or discussion, please let your specialist know as soon as possible, as these courses require their approval. 

Notetakers are typically not provided for courses such as Field Studies, independent studies, DeCals, Education 198 courses, Berkeley Connect etc. 

If we are unable to find a notetaker 10 business days after your request, your DSP specialist will reach out to you about utilizing alternative accommodations. We utilize a remote notetaking service, NoteTaking Express(link is external) in which you can record your class and then upload the audio. A notetaker will transcribe notes and send them to you within 48 hours. 

DSP policy states that after a note-taker has been assigned, notes will (if available) will be provided retroactively to the first class the student attended or the date of the student's request for notetaking (whichever is later) 

Make sure to notify your disability specialist as soon as possible so we can discontinue note-taking services if needed. 

Promptly submit your request for note-taking services as soon as you enroll in a course during your CalCentral Phase 1 and Phase II enrollment period. As soon as you sign up for your classes, make sure to log into your student account(link is external).
After logging in, make sure you are in the “My Dashboard” tab.

Scroll down to the section titled “Select Accommodations for Your Class” to find your current registered classes with UC Berkeley. If you do not see a course you believe you are registered for, check the “Important Notes” in the yellow box above your classes.

Your note-taking request will be processed by DSP's notetaking services. We will recruit, identify, and set up a peer notetaker. Once the request is completed, you receive an email confirmation that says “DSP Notetaker Assigned”
If there is already an assigned notetaker for the course, you’ll receive a different email notifying you of this.
To access your notes log into your student portal(link is external), On the left menu, go to “Notetaking Accommodations”

Once you’re in there, you’ll see your courses. Each class that has notes uploaded will say “Notes Available to Download." From there you can download notes for each week of classes.

Notes will be uploaded to your student portal 36 hours after each class. Most requests are completed within 10 business days, but if we have not identified a notetaker, you will be contacted about alternative accommodations. You can find more information on the DSP Process for Class notes.

Check Your Notes on a Regular Basis

After your notetaking requests are completed, course notes will be uploaded to your student portal in AIM after each class. DSP Note-taking services monitor the delivery and upload of notes, but please make sure to let us know if you have any comments, questions, or feedback about the notes/notetaker. It helps to provide specific examples and any information about any reported issues you may be having. We can be contacted at dspnotes@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).

Log into your DSP Account and request Note-taking Services

Promptly submit your request for note-taking services as soon as you enroll in a course during your CalCentral Phase 1 and Phase II enrollment period. As soon as you sign up for your classes, make sure to log into your student account.
After logging in, make sure you are in the “My Dashboard” tab.

Scroll down to the section titled “Select Accommodations for Your Class” to find your current registered classes with UC Berkeley. If you do not see a course you believe you are registered for, check the “Important Notes” in the yellow box above your classes.

Accommodations for test takers with disabilities or health-related needs.

GRE(link is external)

MCAT (link is external)

LSAT(link is external)

Cal students registered with the Disabled Student Program can schedule hour-long one-on-one appointments with an experienced Career Counselor(link is external) to support their career exploration, preparation, and job seeking as an employee with a disability.
Berkeley Career Services for Students with Disabilities(link is external)

The leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
Job Accommodation Network(link is external)

A college-to-career program that develops independent job search skills in recently graduated and soon-to-be graduating college students with disabilities.
Center for Independent Living - College to Career(link is external)

A downloadable guide for students with disabilities about getting and making the most of an internship.
NCLD - "Internships: The On-Ramp to Employment"(link is external)

The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) assists Californians with disabilities obtain and retain employment and maximize their ability to live independently.
DOR - Employment Services(link is external)

CAPS offers short-term counseling for academic, career, and personal issues and also offers psychiatry services for circumstances when medication can help with counseling. There is no charge to get started, and all registered students can access services regardless of their insurance plan.
University Health Services - Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)(link is external)

Inclusive Recreation is a collaborative campus commitment to support and advance sports and recreation programs for the 3,000+ Cal community members with disabilities.
UC Berkeley Inclusive Recreational Sports (link is external)

Be Well at Cal is a University Health Services effort to encourage students to take care of themselves in all aspects of their lives.
Be Well @Cal(link is external)

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders.
National Institute on Mental Health(link is external)

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
National Alliance on Mental Illness(link is external)

"Angst" is an IndieFlix Original documentary designed to raise awareness around anxiety.
Angst Documentary(link is external)

Active Minds is the nation’s premier nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults.
Active Minds - Self-Care and Mental Health(link is external)

Archive of individuals with oral histories or personal papers in the Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement collection and organizations with historical records. Bancroft Library - The Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement(link is external)

Contains work on intersectionality, the autistic movement, racial justice, queer and trans experiences, and disability rights.
Lydia X. Z. Brown - Autistic Hoya (link is external)

The Disability History Museum hosts a Library of virtual artifacts, education curricula, and museum exhibits. These programs are designed to foster research and study about the historical experiences of people with disabilities and their communities.
Disability History Museum(link is external)

Sins Invalid is committed to social and economic justice for all people with disabilities.
Sins Invalid - Disability Justice Performance Project(link is external)

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism.
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network(link is external)

An annual disability film festival.
SuperFest Disability Film Festival(link is external)

Blog by Emily Ladau that shares her passion for disability rights and social justice.
Emily Ladau - Words to Wheel By(link is external)

Books and articles and films by disabled, d(D)eaf, chronically ill and neurodivergent majority Black and brown people, many queer and trans, writing about fighting ableism, disabled lives, political struggles, communities and histories, sharing skills and organizing tactics and art, making revolution
Seattle Public Library - Disability Justice Reader(link is external)

Dr. Nick Walker’s notes on neurodiversity, autism, and self-liberation.
Nick Walker's, "Neurodiversity: Some Basic Terms and Definitions"(link is external)

A method to help others experience what life as a chronic pain patient is like with its choices and trade-offs.
Christina Miserandino's "Spoon Theory"(link is external)

Krip-Hop Nation’s mission is to educate the music, media industries and general public about the talents, history, rights and marketability of Hip-Hop artists and other musicians with disabilities.
Krip-Hop Nation(link is external)

An online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture.
Access is Love Campaign(link is external)

A groundbreaking summer camp galvanizes a group of teens with disabilities to help build a movement, forging a new path toward greater equality.
“Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” on Netflix(link is external)

A podcast focused on creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture.
Disability Visibility Podcast(link is external)

Mel Bagg demonstrates her experience with autism. She shows what gets considered thought, intelligence, personhood, language, communication, and what does not.
Mel Bagg's, (link is external)“In My Language”(link is external)

A resource for families and adults living with ADHD and related conditions and the professionals who work with them.
ADDitude Magazine(link is external)

The Disability Studies field explores how to best meet the challenges and alleviate the problems of those with impairments or disabilities, with emphasis on the role of those affected in defining problems and evaluating solutions.Disability Studies at UC Berkeley(link is external)

The Disability Studies Cluster aims to support theoretical and applied research, policy analysis, teaching and community partnership on disability issues at local, national and global levels.
Othering and Belonging Institute (link is external)

Through public education, scholarship and cultural events, the Paul K. Longmore Institute shares disability history and theory, promotes critical thinking and builds a broader community.
Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability(link is external)

Hosts a variety of volunteering, mentoring, and fundraising events throughout the year that help promote acceptance and empower the Berkeley autism community.
Spectrum @Cal(link is external)

Serves as the representative undergraduate voice on mental health, acting as the central liaison between mental health stakeholders, addressing the intersectionalities of mental health.
ASUC Mental Health Commission(link is external)

Promotes disability-empowerment initiatives by advocating for universally accessible spaces/programs and promoting disability as a sociocultural identity.
Student Coalition for Disability Rights(link is external)

A mentoring program that trains high school and college students with learning differences, including dyslexia and ADHD, to mentor similarly-identified middle school students.
Eye to Eye(link is external)

Develops community organizing activities to build a power base among youth with disabilities.
Yo! Disabled and Proud(link is external)

Advocates for student rights, increased accessibility, social and policy change, and aims to provide support and mentorship to local campus disability groups and individual students.
DREAM: Disability Rights, Education, Activism and Mentoring(link is external)

An organized group of students, alumni, community members, and allies who are committed to addressing the decades long disability discrimination culture on UCB campus.  We do not work for the University of California, Berkeley and we keep all information you share with our group confidential.  You do not have to identify as disabled to participate in our group and/or events.  We respect that not all persons with disabilities want to identify as disabled. Facebook Page:  @BerkeleyDisabledStudents.  Berkeley Disabled Students (external email link)

Provides accessible housing to meet the needs of everyone. Berkeley Housing Accomodations(link is external)

Oversees nondiscrimination laws that require housing providers to grant requests for reasonable accommodations and modifications in housing, programs, and activities.
HUD - Housing Rights(link is external)

Helps improve your understanding, recall, and retention of textbook material.SQ3R - Survey, Question, Read, Recall, Review(link is external)

A video tutorial about the SQ3R Reading Method.
SQ3R Video Tutorial(link is external)

A video detailing five methods to begin reading faster.
College Info Geek, "Five Ways to Read Faster"(link is external)

A set of tools within bCourses that helps make course content more accessible.
bCourse Ally - Alternative Formats Tool(link is external)

Automatically convert documents into a range of alternate media including audio books (MP3 and DAISY), e-books (EPUB, EPUB3 and Mobi) and digital Braille. It can also be used to convert inaccessible documents such as image-only PDF files, JPG pictures and Microsoft PowerPoint presentations into more accessible formats.
Sensus Access - Alt Formats Conversion Tool(link is external)

Provides instant access to eTextbooks and a full suite of study tools on any device, both online and offline. Includes numerous accessibility features.
Vital Source eTextbook (link is external)

A system for taking, organizing, and reviewing notes.Cornell Note Taking(link is external)

A note-taking method for iPad users.
The "Box-Method"(link is external)

Advises currently registered Cal students regarding their legal questions, rights, and obligations. UC Berkeley Student Legal Services(link is external)

Works to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)(link is external)

The Learning Scientists make scientific research on learning more accessible to students, teachers, and other educators.The Learning Scientists(link is external)

Study skills guides for students that provide everything you need in order to learn effectively.
Education Corner - Study Skills for Students(link is external)

Tips and tools for  studying, productivity, reading comprehension, and testing.
UNC at Chapel Hill - Academic Tips & Tools(link is external)

This channel is a place to learn strategies about having and living with ADHD.
"How to ADHD" Channel(link is external)

A time management framework that helps improve focus and productivity.
The Pomodoro Technique(link is external)

Helps students build confidence in their writing and enhances their ability to express rich ideas thoughtfully. College Writing Program - Writing Across Berkeley(link is external)

Writing worksheets, resources, and workshops that help students develop their writing skills.
SLC - Writing Worksheets(link is external)

UCB Library guide for citing sources, reading citations, and citation management tools.
UC Berkeley Library - Citing Your Sources(link is external)

Step-by-step instructions detailing how to write a paper from start to finish.
Excelsior Online Writing Lab(link is external)

Assists students in their development as writers.
Purdue Online Writing Lab(link is external)

A writing tool that can be used to locate grammar and punctuation mistakes, spell check, detect plagiarism, and also provides suggestions and feedback on your writing.
Grammarly (link is external)

The UC Berkeley Library provides special assistance to library users with disabilities in their use of the library and its resources. UC Berkeley Library - Disability Resources(link is external)

The Student Learning Center is the premier undergraduate academic support unit at UC Berkeley.
Student Learning Center(link is external)

The Center for Access to Engineering Excellence is open to all Berkeley Engineering students for use as study space. Offers drop-in tutoring services for most engineering core courses.
Center for Access to Engineering Excellence(link is external)

Provides peer-to-peer tutoring for undergraduates in the College of Chemistry.
College of Chemistry Undergraduate Tutoring(link is external)

 A one-stop-shop for academic support, services, and resources for students living in the residence halls.
Residential Life Academic Support(link is external)

Provides disability-related information, resources, and programs in the City of Berkeley.
City of Berkeley - Disability Resources(link is external)

A list of ADHD/LD providers that administer testing.
ADHD/LD Testing Referrals(link is external)

The California Department of Rehabilitation provides services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities.
Department of Rehabilitation(link is external)

The Center for Independent Living provides advocacy and services that increase awareness, collaboration, and opportunity among people with disabilities and the community at large.
Center for Independent Living(link is external)

Ed Roberts Campus is dedicated to fostering collaboration and improving the services and opportunities for people with disabilities. The campus houses the offices of collaborating organizations, fully accessible meeting rooms, a computer/media resource center, a fitness center, a cafe, and a child development center.
Ed Roberts Campus(link is external)

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides education, training, advocacy, and community for blind individuals in California and around the world.
Lighthouse for the Blind(link is external)

Provides seniors and people with disabilities non-medical emergency services and other essential support to enable and enhance independent living.
Easy Does It Services(link is external)

Provides personalized support to enable individuals with disabilities to live in their homes, to work jobs of their choosing, and to participate in all aspects of the community.
East Bay Innovations(link is external)

The Basic Needs Center serves as a space for students to create community and access coordinated basic needs services.
UC Berkeley Basic Needs(link is external)

CalFresh is California's food stamps (SNAP) program.
CalFresh(link is external)

Social Security offers an online disability application you can complete at your convenience.
Social Security Disability Benefits(link is external)

Are you thinking of applying to scholarships to fund your research (or your tuition) and don’t know where to start? This article offers 8 tips to get your planning on the right track.
Tips & Tricks for Scholarship Applications(link is external)

UCB Scholarship Connection helps students looking for extra money to fund their education, research proposal, or community service project.
Berkeley Scholarship Connection(link is external)

Find financial aid and scholarship facts, forms, important deadlines, and other essential information.
Berkeley Prizes and Honors(link is external)

A list of the current national disability scholarships offered by various foundations and organizations.
National Scholarships for Students with Disabilities(link is external)

Student tools and resources for managing money, paying for school, and career planning.
iGrad - Bears for Financial Success(link is external)

If you have a library book that needs conversion, please use the Library's scanning services. You will receive an email with a link to a PDF and a DOCX. If the document you received needs further editing, please feel free to request this file from the Alternative Media Unit of DSP. 

DSP must adhere to copyright guidelines and verify that students own the textbooks they are requesting.  For detailed information please read our Alternative Media Guidelines

If you own a book that needs conversion, whether it is required for a class or not, please request a conversion from DSP's Alternative Media Unit by logging into AIM. You will need to provide a receipt or proof of ownership for any copyrighted materials.

Note: If you have a lot of books that you need converted,  we recommend that you make an appointment with Alt Media staff so that we can prioritize what to convert.

Books/course materials containing clean text (i.e. a novel) take 10-17 business days to process.  Books containing STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), graphs, tables, or poor quality/markups (highlighting, underlining, writing, blurry text) generally take longer than 10 business days.  For detailed information please read our Alternative Media Guidelines

As soon as possible, email us at dspamc@berkeley.edu with your name, the name of the class(es), and the name of the book(s) in those classes so that we can cancel those requests immediately.

To request alternative media each semester, you must log into AIM. Please see instructions on our website about how to request alternative media using AIM.

Please email the Alternative Media Supervisor with details of what is not working for you.  Your format could be adjusted or changed.

There are a few ways to do this. You can check on CalCentral or the Cal Student Store Textbook Lookup. Additionally, you can log into AIM and access the Alternative Media module. See the instructions about how to request alternative media for more information.

Fill out the Alternative Media Notice form as soon as possible.  This will allow us to contact your instructor or course department for book and course material information.  We will email you information as we receive it.

DSP Disability Specialists

Disability Specialists hold daily tabling just outside the front of the DSP office for students on their caseloads. Drop-in hours can be found below.

DSP Specialist Drop-In Calendar

We encourage you to keep in close personal contact with your family throughout your years at Cal. However, DSP cannot normally discuss any information about students' progress at Berkeley with a third party, including parents, guardians, partners, and children. 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.

What is FERPA?

FERPA is the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and is a federal law that was enacted in 1974.  FERPA protects the privacy of student education records by authorizing the release of such records to authorized parties identified in the FERPA release form.

 Why should I care about FERPA?

• If you're a student, it's important for you to understand your rights under FERPA and that you’re aware that the law allows you to release records to parties that you deem appropriate.
• If you're a parent or guardian, you'll need to understand how the law changes once your student enters a post-secondary institution.  If the student wishes for you to have access to their records, the student must initiate a FERPA release form.

What I should know about the Disabled Students’ Program (DSP) FERPA?

• DSP serves the student and values the student-specialist relationship.
• DSP encourages the greatest degree of independence for the student. 
• Notwithstanding a FERPA release, the student must still be the primary point of contact for DSP and be the one responsible for decisions and initiating FERPA release forms.
• DSP respects students' confidentiality. Although the FERPA release authorizes disclosure of certain records associated with a student, it does not include conversations or communications between DSP and the student.

How Do I initiate a FERPA release with DSP?

• Step 1: Request and discuss a FERPA release form from any DSP specialist.
• Step 2:  Sign the release form in the presence of a DSP specialist. To prevent coercion, force, and release of records to unauthorized parties, students must sign the release form in the presence of a DSP specialist.  This can be accomplished during drop-in hours, and any available specialist can be of assistance.
• Step: 3:  The authorized party identified in the FERPA release must request records.  DSP’s obtainment of completed FERPA release forms does not constitute as automatic release of documents. The authorized party must initiate the request before any documents are released. DSP will process the request and release documents to authorized parties.

The relevant campus policies are available online.

The laws that address students' access to K-12 education and to postsecondary education offer different protections to students and result in different accommodations.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act covers public school students with disabilities in the United States from elementary school through high school and focuses on student success. Students with disabilities are provided with the curriculum and accomodations they require to be successful in meeting their individualized goals. In some cases, this means that students with disabilities are meeting different goals than their peers without disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act covers students with disabilities in postescondary settings and focuses on student access. Students with disabilities are provided with accommodations that remove barriers in the academic environment to help ensure that they can participate equally. However, the goals and standards that students with disabilities are required to meet must remain the same as the goals and standards that students without disabilities are required to meet.

Certain accommodations that some students received in high school would typically be considered modifications of course standards in college and would be unlikely to be approved. (i.e. completing only the odd-numbered problems on math homework, having multiple attempts to pass written exams, or having open-book or untimed exams).

You may also find that Berkeley has the ability to offer you accommodations that your high school could not. For instance, you may have had a peer note taker provide you with class notes in high school. At Berkeley, you may find that you are instead approved to utilize technology that will allow you to take notes independently.

In your intake appointment, your Disability Specialist will want to know about your past accommodations as you work together to determine your current appropriate accommodations. If you have questions about why a specific accommodation from high school is not recommended as one of your accommodations in college, be sure to ask your Disability Specialist.

Students have multiple responsibilities in ensuring that they receive their accommodations.

The individual assessment and accommodation process is an ongoing and interactive one. Participate actively in your intake appointment. If the nature or impact of your disability changes, or if your accommodations no longer seem sufficient to provide you with equal access to your courses, let your assigned Disability Specialist know.  You can meet with your Disability Specialist to review your current documentation, schedule, and accommodations.

Once you are active in DSP, you are responsible for requesting your accommodation letters every semester in a timely manner. This provides instructors with the notice of the accommodations you will need for equal access to their courses.

If your instructor does not provide you with a needed accommodation, you are responsible for notifying your assigned Disability Specialist as soon as possible so your Disability Specialist can assist you.

If you have questions or concerns about your accommodations, you are responsible for contacting your Disability Specialist for assistance.

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 the Disability Verification Requirements.

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.

Additional or updated testing is normally requested when the existing testing does not give us enough information to determine appropriate services for you. You may review the specific criteria for the diagnosis of learning disabilities and the determination of appropriate service.

Disability documentation must verify two things: (1) the presence of a diagnosed disability or medical condition and (2) the current impact of the diagnosed disability or medical condition. For detailed information about documentation requirements and for forms that you can give to your medical providers to fill out, see Documentation. 

If you have already sent us documentation 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 email you to request additional information.

No. Services are not provided by DSP automatically. Once you are admitted to UC Berkeley, you will need to apply for accommodations by completing an application, submitting disability documentation, and scheduling an intake appointment. If you are unable to complete the online application, you can also request assistance in person from the receptionist at the DSP office located at 100 Creekside Center.

After applying online, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your application, the name of your Disability Specialist, some useful information for you, and a reminder to call the DSP Reception Desk at 510-642-0518 to make an appointment with your assigned Disability Specialist.