Cypress College Celebrates Disabilities Awareness Month

by Cari Jorgensen on October 1, 2018

By Celeste Phelps, Director, Disability Support Services

Cypress College is celebrating Disabilities Awareness Month during the month of October! It’s a perfect time to learn about laws that protect people with disabilities, to improve attitudes and eliminate stereotypes, to separate people from their disabilities, and to appreciate the great and small contributions people with disabilities make.

In honor of Disabilities Awareness Month:

• Show your support! Wear a purple ribbon!
• Visit the DSS Open House!
  • Thursday, October 25, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
  • CCCPLX-100, Disability Support Services Office
• Spend time reading the Disabilities Awareness Lawn Signs.
• Visit the DSS Resource Table throughout October.
• Attend the DSS Mini Workshop Series in November.
  • Workshop #1: Caption This! Creating Captioned Videos
    • Date: Monday, November 5, 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
  • Workshop #2: Managing Difficult Student Behavior in the College Classroom
    • Date: Wednesday, November 7, 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
  • Workshop #3: What’s Kurzweil? Using Kurzweil to Support Universal Design Learning (UDL)
    • Date: Tuesday, November 13, 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Disability History and DSS information

In 1971, Cypress College’s Roosevelt Center opened its doors to provide equal access to Cypress College students with disabilities. Shortly after, in 1973, the Rehabilitation Act was passed, and for the first time in history, civil rights of people with disabilities were protected by law. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) followed and was passed in 1990. It ensured the equal treatment and equal access of people with disabilities to employment opportunities and to public accommodations. In 2006, Cypress College’s Roosevelt Center joined the California Community College Chancellor’s Office by changing its name to Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S). Finally, in 2015, Cypress College promoted students “first” language by transforming its program name from Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) to Disability Support Services (DSS).

DSS provides accommodations, adjustments, and services to students with disabilities to ensure equitable access to college programs and facilities. DSS is committed to providing student opportunities that will maximize their potential for success in achieving their individual, educational, and career goals.