DISH

Section Two: Using Disability Services and Accommodations

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services

 Quick Links:

General / College-Wide Accommodations and Services

Instructional / Classroom Accommodations and Services

  • Academic Adjustments
  • Accommodation Consultation

Alternate Media Services:

  • Description and Types
  • Steps to Obtain
  • Guidelines
  • Assistive Technology
  • Attendance and Absence Issues
  • Book Loans and Scholarships
  • Course Substitution / Waiver
  • Deaf or Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS)
  • Real-Time Captioning
  • Sign Language Interpreter
  • Captioned Media
  • Assistive Listening Devices
  • Instructor Consultation / Liaison
  • Note-Taking Assistance
  • Recording Lectures
  • Seat Reservation / Preferential Seating
  • Reader Services / In-Class Assistants
  • Test Accommodation Services
  • Steps
  • Guidelines
  • Tutoring Services (DSS) 

Legal Aspects

  • Legal Basics - Disability in Higher Education
  • Student Rights and Responsibilities
  • Student Code of Conduct
  • Confidentiality and Student Records
  • Disability Support Programs and Services Evaluation
  • Suspension of DSPS Services

Concerns and Complaints

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services

Deaf and hard of hearing students work with the Disability Support Services (DSS) Counselor and the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) Supervisor to receive academic support, to schedule quarterly classes, and to arrange auxiliary services to access De Anza College educational programs.

Sign Language Interpreting and Real-Time Captioning Services

Sign language interpreters and real time captioners provide communication access for:

  • classes and lab lectures
  • required class-related activities, such as on-campus group work and field trips
  • instructor conferences
  • tutorial sessions
  • appointments on campus for necessary college business, such as Admissions and Records and Fianancial Aid

Effort is made to match interpreter style with student needs. Interpreters and captioners follow the Code of Ethics.  If you have questions or concerns on how to use an interpreter/captioner, ask the Deaf Hard of Hearing Services Supervisor.  If a problem develops with your interpreter/captioner, or you have a concern about your services, tell the Deaf Hard of Hearing Services Supervisor as soon as possible.  You can also talk to your DSS Counselor.  If your interpreter or captioner has concerns, they may ask for help from the DHHS Supervisor and/or from the DSS Counselor.

Students are asked to fill evaluation forms at the end of each quarter. These  help to improve the services.

Steps to arrange for Interpreters or Real Time Captioners

For classes and labs
  1. Every quarter meet with your DSS Counselor to choose classes for the next quarter, preferably during the priority registration period that takes place a month before registration.
  2. Student is required to complete and to submit the Quarterly Request online at http://deanza.edu/dsps/dhhs/forstudents.html preferably right after you complete the registration on your assigned date and time.
  3. Every year students must read and sign the Student Responsibilities (pdf): Utilizing Interpreting/Captioning Services form that reviews the DHHS procedures that students must adhere to.
For required out-of-class activities
  • All out-of-class activities requests must be turned in to DHHS five (5) workdays before the out-of-class activity or the request may not be filled
  • Student is responsible to complete and to submit the Quarterly Request form http://deanza.edu/dsps/dhhs/forstudents.html and to email the DHHS Supervisor at least one week in advance for the out-of-class activity
  • Service requests for all out-of-class activities must be turned in to DHHS five (5) workdays ahead or request may not be filled

NOTE: For a campus activity that is not a class requirements, student is required to talk directly with the DHHS supervisor who will advise them on how to request services for other events.  For example, a student club event.

For final exams
  1. Unless arrangements have been made to receive services for the final exam day, all regular class interpreting/captioning services will end on the last scheduled class session before the final exam date.
  1. For final exam day services:
  • Student is responsible to email the DHHS Supervisor at least one week in advance to request services for the final exam day.

Important -- Interpreters and captioners will attend the final exam sessions ONLY if these special arrangements have been made ahead of time.

NOTE:  For a campus activity that is not a class requirements, talk to the DHHS supervisor who will advise you on how to request services.

Policy on Interpreting/Captioning Services

 General Provisions

Interpreting and Captioning Services are provided to students who:

  • Who have completed the intake process with the DSS Counselor, and
  • Are officially enrolled in the class

Important -- It is highly recommended that DHHS students meet with their DSS Counselor during the priority registration period and register for classes at their assigned day and time of priority registration

  • Interpreters and captioners are assigned in order of student registrations.
  • Priority registration appointments happen at least one month before students are able to register for their classes
  • The priority registration period dates are
  • Emailed to students at their email address, listed on MyPortal.
  • Important, student is responsible to update their currrent email address on MyPortal
    • Posted on the DSS Home page and in the DSS News and Announcements 
    • Posted in the DSS office in RSS 141

Effort is made to honor the student’s preference mode of communication; however, when required, a comparable service or other alternatives may be offered to meet access needs.

Service delays may:

  • Happen if a
    • Student registers late in the quarter, after the DSS priority registration period
  • Student registers after the quarter begins
    • Student changes class schedule after registration or during the quarter
  • Student changes their class schedule after registration without updating their Quarterly Request Form at http://deanza.edu/dsps/dhhs/forstudents.html or notifying the DHHS Supervisor of the change.
  • All changes to class schedule during the quarter must be reported to the DHHS Supervisor and to the DSS Counselor

Changes in class schedule during the quarter should be reported to the DHHS supervisor. 

  • Student is responsible to notify the DHHS Supervisor and the DSS Counselor when they drop or withdraw from a class before and during the quarter.
  • Students are highly encouraged to connect with their DSS Counselor before dropping or withdrawing from a class.
  • If not reported, absences in classes dropped or withdrawn from may count as student no-shows.

In order to ensure services for the next quarter, it is highly recommended that students complete the Quarterly Request Form for Interpreting / Captioning services, immediately after they have registered for their classes or as soon as they register for their classes.

Late Policies

Interpreters/captioners Waiting Periods for students to arrive are as follows:

  • 15 minutes for a one-hour class
  • 20 minutes for a two-hour class
  • 30 minutes for a class lasting three hours or more

Arriving late could mean missing important announcements at the beginning of class. It is the student's responsibility to ask the instructor what information was missed, preferably after class with the support of the interpreter/captioner.

DHHS is not contacted ahead of the class meeting time the service provider will leave after the Waiting Period and a “no show” may be recorded.

Notification requirements for students who will be late:

    • Let the DHHS Supervisor know by email at deafservices@fhda.edu and provide the Supervisor with an estimated time of when you expect to arrive to class

If a service provider has not arrived after ten minutes,

    • Write a short explanation to the teacher and
    • Inform DHHS
    • DHHS will assign a substitute if possible
Student Responsibilities & Notification Requirement Policies

NOTE:  Interpreters and captioners are professionals who commit their time to the hours they are scheduled.

Students are required to notify DHHS when they will miss class.

  • Contact the DHHS supervisor by one of the following methods:
    • Email:  Deafservices@fhda.edu
    • DHHS (V): 408.864.8755
    • Drop a note at DHHS in LCW 110 or the DSS reception office in RSS 141(Map)
  • Absence Notification
  • Planned Absences:  Students who plan to be absent for class for any reason should inform DHHS as soon as they have decided not to attend.
  • Unplanned Absences:  Contact the DHHS supervisor as soon as possible, preferably before the class meeting.
  • First Day of Quarter Absences: Inform DHHS prior to the start time for the class or the interpreter/captioner may be transferred to another class.
No Show Penalties

If you are absent without notification, the absence will be counted as a “no show.”

Consequences of No-Shows

  • 1st No-Show
    • Student receives a written reminder of the notification requirements from DHHS.
  • 2nd No-Show
    •  The student receives a written notice and needs to meet with the DSS counselor or LD Specialist on the day and time shown on the second notice.
  • 3rd No-Show:
    • The student will be informed, in writing, of suspension of service and will be required to scheduled to meet with the Dean of the DSPS Division to further discuss and clarify DSPS expectations.
  • 4th No-Show:
    • The student's services are terminated for the remainder of the quarter.  If the student wants to reinstate services or appeal the suspension, they should review the Suspension of Services process, FHDA District Board - Administrative Procedure AP-5076.

Note-taking Assistance

Notetakers are arranged in the same way that students with other disabilities arrange them. (See DISH Section 2, "Notetaking")

Captioned Media

De Anza has an on-going program to closed caption instructional videos and media. Online Education courses delivered by video or recorded for future instructional use are also captioned, including live broadcast and web streamed courses.  The Online Education Course schedule marks those courses that are already captioned.

Steps to Request a Captioned Media

Students do not need to initiate requests.

  • Deaf Services works with the instructors of classes that Deaf & Hard of Hearing students have enrolled in to make available, if possible, captioned versions of video and media to be shown in class. 

An interpreter or transcript may be offered, if necessary, as a substitute for a captioned version.

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices may be borrowed from the DSS program for use on campus only.
The Deaf Services supervisor can demonstrate the use of these devices to people who are not familiar with them. Some large lecture classrooms are also equipped with in-place assisted listening systems.

Steps to Borrow an Assistive Listening Device
  • Complete the DSS Disability Verification and intake process
  • Register with your DSS Counselor or LD Specialist for classes, preferably during the priority registration period
  • Submit a Services Request form
  • Complete an Equipment Loan form
  • Follow the guidelines listed on the Loan Form for pick-up and drop-off of the device
  • If you do not follow Loan Form instructions,
    • You may be required to meet with the DSS Counselor or LD Specialist, and the DHHS supervisor
    • Your services may be suspended.
Policy on Assistive Listening Devices
  • They are to be used on campus only
  • Removing them from campus for any reason
    • Will result in suspending your services for the remainder of the quarter
    • To appeal for reinstatement of services, you will be need to follow the College Grievance Procedure. (See DISH Section 2, Legal Aspects, "Suspension of Services")

Communication Resources

  • E-mail
    • Students are encouraged to use e-mail for communication needs
    • Addresses for divisions, departments, programs, faculty and staff are listed on the De Anza website or from the DSS office
Back to Top