Contract Currents

Faculty Voices

COPE-ing

On most campuses, Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) are all in one office that serves students with all kinds of disabilities. However, here at Cabrillo, the Learning Skills Program (LSP), which serves students with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD), has always had a separate office from DSPS, which serves students with physical, psychological, and developmental disabilities. Why this separation occurred is lost in the mists of time, even to me (and I’ve been with the LSP since 1980). But this summer, the separation ended. After the DSPS budget was cut by 45% in 2008, we needed to unite to conserve our resources. Also, the STEM grant took over the old DSPS office in the 800 building, and they had to move.

So we are pleased to announce that this June, the entire DSPS office moved up to join the LSP in the Learning Resources Center (LRC) at the back of the library building. Now our combined offices are in the lobby of the LRC, in front of room 1073, where the LSP office used to be. Counselors Beth McKinnon and Joe Napolitano (who is also director of DSPS), along with LD specialists Sheryl Kern-Jones, Vicki Stanley, and Debra Spencer, have offices in rooms 1065 to 1069. Nikki Oneto, DSPS program coordinator, and Alta Northcutt, DSPS program specialist, occupy the main office in the lobby.

Stephanie Stainback, the new alternate media specialist, has her office in room 1073. Judy Jackson, LIA, is back for 10 hours a week (reduced from 30) in the Sir Richard Griffiths Learning Lab, room 1072, where she offers tutorials and assistive technology. Troy Godfrey, the campus test proctor, is nearby in the Proctoring Center, room 1071. Also nearby are the Reading Center, the Writing Center, the Tutorials Center, and the Math Learning Center.

DSPS is where students with any kind of verifiable disability can bring their documentation and receive services to help them succeed in their mainstream classes. DSPS is also where instructors may refer students who are struggling in their classes and who may need assessment for LD. Students may also refer themselves. Although we have a wait list for LD assessment, we encourage and welcome new students and referrals.  

Thus, in spite of losing almost half our budget, we continue providing services to students with disabilities. Since we have lost several adjunct LD specialists and counselors, one full-time program specialist (Cathy Brogoitti, who retired after her position was eliminated), and 20 hours of our lab LIA, students may need to wait a little longer for services. But thanks to team spirit (and the ADA), we and the services are still here, serving Cabrillo students.