NVC DSPS/LS Support

NV students talk about how Disability Support Programs and Services has helped them in reaching their educational goals.

[Soft music playing in the background]

[Angelina Borges] Hi, my name is Angelina Borges.

[Courtney Holston] My name is Courtney Holston.

[Shellye Ferguson] My name is Shellye Ferguson.

[Sarah Krupa] My name is Sarah Krupa.

[Xavier Bianchi] My name is Xavier Bianchi.

[Marc Anthony Amiscua] Hi, [soft laugh] my name is Marc Anthony Amiscua.

[Pascual Sanchez] My name is Pascual Sanchez.

[Angelina Borges] DSPS has helped me

grow as a student and

has helped me accomplish things

that I have never been able to accomplish in school.

I have always struggled in school

and DSPS has helped me

with testing and tutoring

and has given me the tools I need to succeed.

[Shellye Ferguson] They provided my accommodations for my classes,

counseling services, tutoring services;

those are the primary ways.

[Xavier Bianchi] I’ve been trained also on Kurzweil

which I enjoy and use frequently.

The staff, the technical support has been amazing.

We have to include here our study area here

that we have here specifically DSPS with, computers

that needs, with, private tutoring.

The list goes on and on

but is exceptional

and it is what helps me to be successful now.

At Napa Valley College

I was able to have a 4.0 last semester

as an example, so wonderful.

[Marc Anthony Amiscua] DSPS has definitely helped me

in probably more ways than one,

especially personally wise, knowing that,

I thought I that was just slow

and I didn’t know, that I actually even had a disability,

of some sort.

And in regards to that

it definitely has helped me

to be a lot more confident

in knowing that it’s ok,

at the pace that I am going,

and who I am personally wise

and that, that the disability doesn’t have to define me.

[Pascual Sanchez] DSPS, has helped me with,

tutoring in math.

I haven’t really taken any,

English courses yet

because I have been avoiding it but (laughing)

I should be taking some more English classes.

I did start off

with a couple English classes

when I first started.

[Angelina Borges] The Testing and Tutoring center has helped me

with tests by giving me extra time

and a space where it is quiet

and I feel that has help me

the most because I have a hard time focusing on tests.

So that helped me with my grades

and just succeeding where I struggle.

[Shellye Ferguson] Captions for videos pertaining to my classes.

Interpreters for my classes obviously because I’m deaf.

[Sarah Krupa]- Specifically one-on-one tutoring

with the tutors that have experience with people

and their specific disabilities;

has been very important

and also learning a little bit more

about how I learn,

specifically how I learn.

I learn really well with tactile,

writing things down,

visually using colors,

just lots of tricks that have

made my experience a lot, a lot easier.

[Xavier Bianchi] Being able to have time and-a-half on a test,

being able to leave the classroom,

go to the Testing and Tutoring Center

where I am in a private enclosed space with no distractions,

no noise, is immensely important

because it has been able to help me cope with lack of concentration.

Certain ADHD issues,

as far as being easily distracted

also, you know just the, I was,

I have suffered from traumatic brain injury

so I have a hard time with short term memory loss,

it is something I battle every day

and the tutoring and redundancy of that,

has helped me overcome those short term memory loss and issues.

Marc Anthony Amiscua] A Smart Pen

and what that does

in terms of a Smart Pen is being able to,

write, while the pen is actually recording the lecture.

I am able to record the notes on paper.

So what that means is that later on

when I am able to study,

and do the assignments

I’m able to, listen to,

what the professor had talked about during class

and during the lecture,

as it connects to the notes I have put down.

Especially if the notes are being

or the pace of the class

if a little bit fast

especially in the terms of lectures.

I’m able to fill in the blanks

that I, kind of missing

in the notes that I’ve taken during class.

[Pascual Sanchez] I’ve also had recordings

where I can record inside a class,

record lectures, there’s accommodations for that.

There’s also been,

programs on,

where I can apply for a program online

where it reads the book to me

while I’m reaching the book as well,

it’s called Learning Services I think it’s called,

or Learning Ally,

there you go.

Learning Ally it reads the book to you

while you’re reading off the book

and there’s also a few other programs.

Kurzweil as well that I’ve been using

that helps out a lot.

[Courtney Holston] Counseling services helped me,

figure out, what I need to take

and to get to that main goal.

[Sarah Krupa] They have enhanced my progress,

in a number of ways.

I would say that,

without their services

I wouldn’t be where I am at right now.

It’s been a very encouraging

to have an entire team

behind me,

from tutoring,

to counseling supporting me through.

[Marc Anthony Amiscua] DSPS staff,

have helped me personally wise,

with a lot more self-confidence and,

in regards to any sort of tutorials or help,

in figuring out what to do in the future;

how to go kind of with the pace that works out best,

academically wise here at Napa Valley College

gearing towards my future.

especially going towards teaching,

I want to become a teacher,

and, being able to get that one step closer,

for academic goals

in regards to transferring

but also getting my associates too as well.

[Pascal Sanchez] It’s helped me focus on where I need,

keep record of what classes

to keep taking next;

instead of me just choosing all these classes.

Not knowing where to go

but my counselor sets my,

my goal towards my goal

which is architecture and engineering;

which is where I want to head to.

[Angelina Borges] To transfer, mainly focus

and looking into Mills College.

So at the moment

that is my goal right now.

[Courtney Holston] I’m working towards my AAT degree,

in studio arts and

then I’m looking to transfer

to possibly Sac, Sacramento State

for a, liberal arts degree.

[Shellye Ferguson] I’m want to transfer,

I’m getting a transfer degree actually in psychology

and obviously I want this to lead to a better job in my future.

[Sarah Krupa] An associate’s degree in Administration of Justice

which is Criminal Justice.

I plan to graduate this spring

and, I’m currently interning with Napa County,

Napa County Probation specifically.

I’d like to be a counselor at the juvenile hall

and I’m hoping that the internship

leads me that way,

where I can also work towards my BA.

[Xavier Bianchi] I plan to transfer to a four year university

and hopefully move on from that university

to pursue a master’s degree as well.

[Marc Anthony Amiscua] Get my associates degree

and most likely my associates degree

in mathematics and natural sciences,

gearing towards transferring to a four year college

or a program,

toward liberal arts studies.

[Pascal Sanchez] Just to transfer to Fullerton

within, just as soon

as I get my prerequisites which I feel

is going to take me a long time but one step at a time.