College Readiness

Students’ abilities and strengths vary greatly and can affect college success. DSS aims to facilitate college access for students with disabilities and authorizes accommodations to provide equal academic opportunities. While DSS fosters inclusive learning environments, students with disabilities must still meet the college’s academic standards and be able to benefit in the college setting. Generally, students must be able to demonstrate the following skills to benefit in college courses.

1. Know your disability and how it affects you in a classroom.
2. Advocate for yourself. For example, are you able to email professors and schedule appointments by yourself?
3. Know what you need and how to request help.
4. Work independently with few cues and/or minimal assistance.
5. Follow directions and focus for a reasonable period of time.
6. Pay attention to a lecture for 1.5 hours in a setting with distractions.
7. Read (with or without accommodations) and understand what you are reading to benefit from a college-level course.
8. Be able to use or learn to use technology, such as email and online learning platforms such as myGateway and Canvas.
9. Know how to develop a study schedule and stick to it.
10. Balance academic responsibilities with your free time.
11. Have behavior and emotional responses in compliance with the NOCCCD Student Code of Conduct.