Academic Accommodations

The Special Programs and Services for Students with Disabilities office provides a range of academic accommodations that are individually tailored to address the specific needs of students with documented  disabilities. Academic accommodations are designed to provide equal access to instruction and campus activities by addressing barriers related to a student’s disability, while at the same time maintaining the integrity of academic programs. These accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis through an interactive process between the student and a DSPS counselor. 

Below is an overview of the types of accommodations that may be approved based on individual needs and documentation. 

If you're a student with a disability planning to enroll in classes at Coastline, we encourage you to connect with DSPS early in the process. You can get started by contacting our office or applying for services.

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• Classroom Accommodations
  • Note-taking: Students who are unable to effectively take notes due to a documented disability may be eligible for note-taking support. Students approved for this accommodation are encouraged to continue taking their own notes and use the provided notes as a supplemental tool for review and improvement. 

  • Audio recording of lectures: Permission to record lectures using a digital device or approved application to support students who benefit from repeated exposure to course content due to processing or memory-related challenges. 

  • Preferred seating: Reserved seating in the classroom (front of class, near exit row) based on sensory, psychological, attention, and/or medical needs. 

  • Accessible furniture: Arranging for alternative chairs/desks based on physical and/or medical needs. 
• Testing Accommodations
  • Extended time: Additional time for quizzes, tests, and exams based on documented need. This supports students who need more time due to physical limitations, medical challenges, slower reading/writing speeds, cognitive processing difficulties, and/or psychiatric conditions. 

  • Distraction-reduced environment: Support for students whose disabilities impact concentration and focus by minimizing environmental stimuli present in the standard classroom setting.  Students who require fewer environmental distractions have the ability to take their exam in a quieter location outside the classroom to minimize distractions. This setting supports students with disabilities that impact concentration and focus. 

  • Proctored exams: For students who require a distraction-reduced environment, we offer proctored testing sessions coordinated through our office to ensure exam integrity while meeting accommodation needs. Live-proctoring is available both on-campus and virtually depending on the course format and student circumstances. 

  • Assistive Technology: Use of screen readers, text-to-speech software, or other approved technology during exams. These tools support access to exam content. 

  • Scribe/reader services: A trained staff member (Exam Proctor) may be available to read exam content aloud or to write down student responses verbatim when the student is unable to do so due to a disability. 
• Course Material Accessibility
  Conversion of textbooks and instructional materials into accessible formats such as digital text, large print, braille, audio. These formats support students with disabilities that make traditional print inaccessible. 
• Assistive Technology
  • Screen readers: Converts digital text into synthesized speech, which assists students with visual impairments. We offer JAWS as a screen reading tool to students. 

  • Text-to-speech: Converts digital text into synthesized speech/spoken words, which assists students with reading, attention, and other cognitive processing challenges. We offer Kurzweil 3000 as a text-to-speech program.  

  • Speech-to-text: Converts spoken words into written text, which assists students who have disability-related writing limitations. We offer Dragon and Otter.AI as speech-to-text programs. 

  • Note-taking: Tools that allow students to record and transcribe audio while taking notes. We offer Otter.AI and Notability as note-taking programs. 

  • Alternative Input Devices: Includes adaptive keyboards or mice, trackballs, joysticks, or switches for students who cannot use standard computer hardware due to mobility/physical impairments. 
• Communication Access
  • American Sign Language Interpreting: Professional sign language interpreters assist with facilitating communication in real-time for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing during lectures, labs, discussions, and campus events.  

  • Real-time captioning: Live captioning service for lectures or events. Captions are displayed on a screen for the student to read during class. 
• Other Accommodations
  • Priority registration: Early enrollment to help ensure access to accessible course materials. 

  • Breaks during class or exams: Flexibility for students who require periodic breaks due to various disability-related limitations. 

  • Reduced course load: A reduced course load may be appropriate for students whose disability impacts their ability to manage a full academic schedule due to medical, cognitive, physical, or psychological factors. This means that students with this accommodation are allowed to take fewer units per semester than typically required without it negatively impacting their eligibility for certain campus services or programs.