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Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS)

Young smiling student in wheelchair at college campus. Woman holds books, looks at camera. Student with disability enjoys education.
Girl in the school hallway in a wheelchair
Young man with Down syndrome greeting his teacher in school.
Guy in front of his school looking at it holding a backpack

Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) help students with disabilities access college programs and succeed academically by providing accommodations and support services. Eligible students must have a verified disability that creates educational limitations. Services may include assistive technology, alternative formats, counseling, specialized instruction, and priority registration. DSPS is a voluntary program available at all California community colleges, and students must provide documentation and meet with a DSPS professional to receive services. The goal is to ensure full and equal access to the college experience.​

  • After graduation, the IEP is no longer a legal document.​

  • Encourage the student to visit and register with the college’s Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSP&S) office.​

  • In California, colleges and universities don’t use IEPs the same way K–12 schools do. IEPs are required in elementary and high school under the law called IDEA, but colleges follow different laws—like the ADA and Section 504—which still require them to offer reasonable accommodations. Instead of using IEPs, colleges have Disability Services offices that work with students to figure out what support they need. Students need to speak up for themselves, provide documentation (an IEP can help, but it’s not enough on its own), and go through a review process. Accommodations aren’t guaranteed—they’re decided case by case.

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