Educational Assistance Center - FAQ's

Determination of disability is recommended to be performed in one of three ways:

1 - Personal observation by a certificated DSPS staff member in conjunction with the student self-report, may verify the existence of an observable disability.  This procedure should be used to verify conditions that can be readily identified or seen, e.g., quadriplegia, paraplegia, amputation, cerebral palsy, blindness or deafness.  The observed disability and educational limitation(s) of the student must be documented in the student’s file.

2 - Certificated DSPS staff, may verify a student’s disability based on existing documentation from another public or private non-profit agency serving people with disabilities such as Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation, K-12, Independent Living Center, disability specific agency, DMV, Social Security, etc.  Emphasis should be given to the quality of the documentation rather than recency.

3 - If the student's disability cannot be verified based on personal observation or a review of existing documentation, a certificated DSPS staff member, such as a Learning Disabilities Specialist,  Psychologist, or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) may document  the existence of a disability based on their assessment of the student in accordance with their license or certification.

The disabling condition must be documented in the student’s file with a statement of the student’s educational limitation(s).  The name and address of the professional and/or agency verifying the disability should also appear on the document.  This documentation must be in the student’s file along with a statement of the student’s educational limitation(s).

Contact the Ventura College Educational Assistance Center (EAC) at 805-289-6300 for more information regarding evaluation of a learning disability.

There are no extra fees charged for Educational Assistance Center services.  Students with disabilities pay the same registration and other college fees as all student do.

You must provide the EAC with documentation which verifies your disability.  You must meet with your EAC counselor to determine whether extended time on tests is an appropriate accommodation for you based on your disability and individual needs.

Having limited English proficiency skills is not considered a disability. We cannot authorize extra time on tests for you simply on the basis of your language limitations.

Alternate Media is an accommodation for eligible Ventura College students who have a print disability due to vision, learning or mobility limitations. Alternate Media is the process of converting inaccessible content, such as printed textbooks, to an electronic format that is accessible to a student's assistive technology device or software.  It's an accommodation that is evaluated and approved by an Educational Assistance Center (EAC) counselor.  Schedule an appointment with your EAC counselor to determine your eligibility for this accommodation.

If the accommodation has been authorized on your Student Educational Contract and the instructor has been notified through official EAC procedures, it is generally the obligation of the instructor to comply with allowing you to receive that accommodation, unless it creates a fundamental alteration of the academic requirements of the class.  It is best to attempt to discuss the issue with your instructor in a non-confrontational manner so that you learn to improve your own self-advocacy skills.  If you are unsuccessful or too uncomfortable then you can request assistance from your EAC counselor who can speak to the instructor, if appropriate, on your behalf.  If the matter cannot be resolved then it goes through the Grievance Procedure outlined in the college catalog on page 300; Appendix V, Student Rights and Grievances.