The Cerritos College Disabled Students Programs and Services department provides aid and services to persons with disabilities.
It helps students with accessibility issues such as elevator access and parking assistance. Also it aids students with note taking and with liaisons with the rehabilitation department.
DSPS recently encountered a resurging problem, the lack of books on tape for the visually impaired and those with learning disabilities in their program.
“We have too many students who need the books” Judi Holmes a specialist for DSPS said “The publishers for the most part are not keeping to the law that requires them to provide books for those who need them.” referring to the causes of why DSPS had to resort to resort to student readers.
The student readers included paid and non-paid students to read the much need books.
The law Holmes refers to is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Section 508, that includes the necessity of publishers of a book to provide the accessibility of text on tape.
“They are just not cooperating” Holmes added. The need for books is not new but the implementation of student readers that are paid to read the books on tape might become a luxury very soon, with the looming cuts especially in DSPS.
This semesters DSPS asked for volunteers for the reading of books on tape but because the students need the books quickly after the semester begins as to not fall behind the overwhelming need turned into the compensation for readers. “We needed another way to find the students access to the books.” Holmes said.
DSPS subscribes to Recording For The Blind and Dyslexic witch helps the department with books, but the Institutional membership that DSPS has only provides 25 books. DSPS also refers many students to for assistance in getting the books they need but RFB&D cant always provide the books the students need and the services are for some financially difficult to acquire.
Ultimately we would love to have JAWS or Kurzweil” Holmes also said.
JAWS and Kurzweil are two computer programs that facilitate the transfer of books into easier forms for the students with disabilities.
For now DSPS will have to rely on the kindness of people who volunteer their time and their ability to read and articulate for their needs in putting books on tape, and paid volunteers no matter how contradictory that may sound.
DSPS is always looking for volunteers who wish to help those with disabilities. Next semester the department is sure to need volunteers with the budget cuts that will nearly cut the programs funding in half.
If you would like to volunteer or find out more contact DSPS call (562) 860-2451.
