[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.