It's not the disability that defines you; it's how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you with. We have an obligation to the abilities we DO have, not the disability.”
Disability Support Services (DSS), CSU, Chico
Educational Assistant Services Policy
An educational assistant (EA) is an individual employed by Disability Support Services to work on a one-to-one basis with a DSS student for whom a disability related limitation interferes with their ability to meet curriculum requirements. An educational assistant may work in the capacity of class assistant, library assistant, lab assistant, or as otherwise approved by your DSS advisor.
Scribe Services
Students with disabilities who need assistance to produce written material may be provided scribe services. Scribes write material dictated by students for examinations, term papers, and other required writing assignments. You must provide the support service provider with a minimum of five working days’ advance notice to ensure a scribe is available on the date needed.
Students are responsible for all the written material produced by scribes, including content, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling. Scribes will write only what is dictated to them. They are not permitted to answer questions about the content of the dictated material or to provide tutoring services for students. Students are responsible for adjusting their dictation speed to ensure scribes are able to record everything.
Laboratory Assistant Services
Working under the direction of the student, lab assistants perform lab procedures in campus labs that the student may not be able to perform. The student and lab assistant meet with their lab instructors in advance of the class to clarify responsibilities. Students are responsible for directing the lab assistants’ activities. Lab assistants are not responsible for drawing conclusions from lab exercises or assignments.
Research Assistant Services
Under the direction of the student with a disability, research assistants may gather material and read it aloud or copy it for research projects. Students with disabilities are responsible for knowing how to use the library and other research tools. Students with disabilities must be prepared with whatever research materials are needed for their projects.
Reader Services
Reader services are provided for students who have significant difficulty accessing regular printed text. Reader services may be in the form of (1) assistants who actually read materials to the DSS student, or (2) alternative text formats such as books on tape or electronically formatted text.
It is recommended that students requiring alternatives to print be registered with Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D).
If a student needs text in alternative format, it is important for DSS to receive a list of required books as soon as possible. DSS employs readers throughout the entire year, and it is best to have readers working during breaks and the summer so textbooks can be ready when school begins.
See our Policy on Alternate Media.
Electronic reading systems are available for students with disabilities at the Meriam Library ATC Computer Lab. The Open Book Unbound and the Kurzweil 1000 and 3000 Readers scan printed material and articulate it through a voice synthesizer.
Text material can be saved on computer disks or on audiotapes. Electronic reading works well for students needing information quickly, and allows for enhanced independence. DSS strongly encourages the use of these electronic reading systems.
Technical support and training are available through DSS and student computing
Students requesting the services of an educational assistant must be registered with DSS and meet with their DSS advisor each semester for which the service is requested. Once a student determines that an assistant is required they should immediately notify DSS. The hiring of an educational assistant may be delayed due to a late request or the time of the semester during which a request falls.
Once approval is granted, the student must provide his or her DSS advisor with the following information as it relates to the job and curriculum so that an appropriate EA-student match can be made:
- Specific tasks the educational assistant will perform
- Specific skills, if any
- Beginning date
- Ending date
- Job location
- Number of hours student believes will be needed per day, week, or month
The DSS advisor will make the final determination as to the appropriateness of the requests listed above, including allocated hours, days, weeks, and or months. Allocated time may be adjusted as needed at the discretion of the advisor.
DSS makes every attempt to hire assistants with qualifications meeting the requirements of the job.
Students may request that DSS hire an individual with whom they have previously worked or who they know to possess the skills for the job. DSS, however, reserves the right to make the final hiring decision.
DSS will clarify the requirements of the job and will train the EA in the provision of the services. Students are expected to give individual direction pertaining to the job of their assistants.
Should the student experience a problem with their assistant, they may speak directly to him or her. The student may also meet with a DS advisor to work towards a solution.
Educational assistants are provided for academic support (CSU, Chico) curriculum support only. Assistants are not provided for personal need.
DSS reserved the right to discontinue service if any of the above is violated or abused.
Students are given the opportunity to evaluate educational assistants at the end of each semester.