Something New Just What Is DSPS?

West Hills College Coalinga - DSPS - Volume I, Number 1 - May 2010
Just What Is DSPS?
By William Elliott - Vision Impaired
When I first moved to Coalinga and came to West
Hills College in 2006, I did not know what DSPS was. I
did not even know that I would need the services provided
there. In the end, I came to know of the services existence,
I came to appreciate its value to the college and most of
all its value to the students who come to use it every day,
or like myself, occasionally.
DSPS Lab - A-2 - A typical GS 61 Class focused on
homework from other classes. Instructor Joe Milianta
at top center of picture
Something New
By Joe Milianta
DSPS Instructor
After spending 40 years teaching K-12 and some adult
education, I had a chance to try something new, community college—West Hills Community College to be exact.
The Friday before classes started in August, I was
hired to teach GS-61 and English 70. The only information I had about the classes was the couple of paragraphs I
read in the college catalogue. Over the past semester and a
half and after hundreds of questions, I finally think I have
a handle on what goes on in the DSPS Lab. It was during
the second week on the job that I found out what DSPS
stood for.
After jumping in feet first and never knowing how
deep the ―water‖ was, I have managed to stay afloat. Being a former Special Ed Teacher, I have learned what an
important and necessary place the DSPS Lab is. Until I
started here at WHCC, I didn’t even know such programs
existed at the college level.
A chance to help students learn about computer assisted technology and act as a tutor for a wide area of subjects has been both fun and rewarding. My week starts on
Monday morning and by the time I blink it is Friday. With
such a great job I don’t think I’ll ever be a full-time retiree, and amazingly they pay me to do this.
What is DSPS? Turn to page 2 to learn more
about this special program.
By late 2007, my eyesight had begun to fail enough
that I realized it was affecting my chances of achieving
the completion of my schooling at West Hills. I was then
introduced to DSPS. I found in there a myriad of tools,
practical suggestions and patient advisors who were willing to point the way towards achieving something which,
at times, seemed impossible. I was introduced to Kurzweil
readers which not only read the textbooks for me, but also
sped up my reading speed overall. Then it was pointed out
to me that the college and DSPS could copy my textbooks
onto disks so that I could use Adobe Reader on my home
computer and the service was free.
I received patient advice as to what courses I needed to
take, and despite my protests as to needing more classes
that I liked and less math, in the end, grudgingly at times,
I followed the advice and succeeded in graduating with an
AA degree in Social Sciences in December 2008.
If all the technology were to be taken away though, I
do not think the experience of working towards a goal
with those who share their enthusiasm for education and
their knowledge and advice could be bettered. For fear of
missing someone important by a momentary lapse of
memory I will not name individuals. All who work for
DSPS should receive the highest commendations for their
work and for the service which they provide.

"It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a
word I'm not crazy about using." - Marlee Matlin,
Actress - Hearing Impaired

"It is a lonely existence to be a child with a disability
which no-one can see or understand, you exasperate your
teachers, you disappoint your parents, and worst of all you
know that you are not just stupid." - Susan Hampshire,
British Actress – Dyslexic
A Unique Voice - Volume I, Number 1 - May 2010 - Page 1
West Hills College DSPS
Disabled Students Programs & Services
Every person should have the opportunity to realize his/
her greatest potential. The primary goal of the Disabled Students Programs & Services is to provide equal access for
disabled students to all the educational opportunities available at West Hills College.
Educational Support Services
The office of Disabled Students Services is a campus
resource to both students and faculty. The office provides
educational support services to students with disabilities as
well as consultation services to faculty regarding appropriate
accommodations for students with disabilities. Visit the
DSPS website at www.westhillscollege.com for further information.
Services Provided
The Program provides a variety of services including
reader and note-taker services, specialized tutoring, test
proctoring support, personal disability management counseling and faculty consultation as well as:
Priority registration
Academic counseling
Career/professional counseling
Interpreters for the deaf
Educational testing and diagnosis
Testing accommodations
Adaptive device loans
Books-On-Tape service
A learning disability can make academic life difficult and
frustrating. As a result, students with learning disabilities, if
not assisted, can become frustrated, can lose their selfconfidence and may drop out of school. The West Hills College Disabled Students Programs and Services is here to
provide the needed assistance to learning disabled students
to meet these challenges.
Special Classes Available
Through DSPS
Adaptive Math Skills
Adaptive Reading Skills
Adaptive Content Area Support
Adaptive Learning Strategies
Special Equipment/Resources
Print enlarger/Braille
Tape recorders
Adapted computer hardware devices
Video concerning disability issues
Alpha Smart Recorders
Phonic Ear
Texts on tape
Captioning Equipment
Assistive software applications
Liaison with college programs
DSPS Lab Staff
Alternate media
Crystal Aguilar, Instructor
Assistive Technology
Liaison with Department of Rehabilitation
Special Testing Arrangements
The most frequently requested support service is for the
proctoring of examinations.
This testing assistance serves both the student with disability and the faculty. Working as a liaison between the
students and staff, the students are afforded additional test
time and room location change where applicable.
What Is A Learning Disability?
Laura Ames, Learning Skills Lab Assistant
Keith Brock, High Technology/Access Specialist
Joe Milianta, Instructor
Tom Winters, Counselor
Anyquestions
Come into A-2, find out what we
are all about, and let us help if we
can.
People with a learning disability have average to above
average intellectual ability but may not be achieving to their
fullest potential due to difficulties in storing, retrieving and
expressing information. A learning disability is different
from mental retardation or an
A Unique Voice - Volume I, Number 1 - May 2010 - Page 2
Diary of a Wmpy Kid
by Justin Blake Peaslee
I Can Find the Way Faster
Eng. 89, Crystal Aguilar Instructor
This movie was about a young middle school aged
child who had difficulty with his identity and popularity at school. He learns his lesson when he loses
his best friend because he is trying too hard to be
someone he isn’t. I would recommend this movie for
kids between the ages of 10 and 14 because I believe
they can relate. The movie theater was an excellent
outing for my class and me right before Spring
Break. We greatly appreciate reel time entertainment being in Coalinga.
Picture below retrieved from the Internet:
by Israel Velasquez
Eng. 89, Crystal Aguilar Instructor
I run all the streets.
Faster and faster I must leave.
I have to run faster to go back.
I made a right choice.
I took the right turn.
Right in the streets.
I found my house.
I found my brain.
Redzchannel.com/movie/272135/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid
Two ways to run faster.
I got lots of information someone.
I try to go faster.
I try the right path
And I got a full room.
That was the perfect path.
My brain is lost.
My life is torn.
I’m faster right.
My head lost memory.
To My Girlfriend
By Justin Peaslee,
Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Nina’s eyes are brown.
She makes me smile
When she is around
Alma Arroyo
Eng 89—Crystal Aguilar, Instructor
A Unique Voice - Volume I, Number 1 - May 2010 - Page 3
(continued from page 3)
The DSPS Lab
by Crystal Aguilar
Walk through the door
And what do I see?
Students smiling up at me.
It’s not only work
When there is friendship around
With keyboards clacking
Papers a-flying
We make it through
With just a little crying
Having fun while learning in the
DSPS Lab - English 89
Crystal Aguilar, Instructor
When all’s said and done
Shirley Ibarra’s Fruit Pizza
When the next journey begins
Remember where you started
We will always be your friends.
   
You and Me
by Kyle Jaurequi
Eng. 89, Crystal Aguilar, Instructor
As part of the requirement for English 89 we had to
invent a new type of pizza. We had to wrote the recipe
with instructions and then we voted for one main dish
pizza and one dessert pizza. My pizza, the Fruit Pizza,
won.
Mrs. Aguilar brought the required items so that the
class could prepare the pizza together. We enjoyed this
pizza; it was easy and tasted great.
Recipe:
1 box cherry cheesecake
When I think of you I feel as if I want to
hug or even flirt with you. Trying to be your
boyfriend can be a hard job to do.
Milk
As the days go on, dreaming and thinking of
you makes me feel good. When the time comes
on that special day, I will think of you more
than I already am today. Having you as my
girlfriend has been the most memorable moment in my life, never knowing when love will
strike. Thus, it has struck me well.
Prepare crust and cheesecake according to box directions
When I’m around you I just want to talk
about something that happened or will happen,
even just to mess around with when either you
or I have nothing to do.
By Anonymous
As being your boyfriend there have been
some twists and turns with family and friends,
but we try to get over the problems that happened.
Butter
Sugar
Pineapple
Strawberries
Layer
Graham cracker crust
Cherry pie filling
Cheesecake
Pineapple
Sliced strawberries
Eatery
There is only one restaurant that is my favorite in
Coalinga. It is called Taqueria y Mariscos El 2000. I like
the way they treat their customers. While you wait for
your food they give you some chips to eat. When Taqueria Y Mariscos El 2000 is not open, my friends and I
say to one another it would be nice if there were more
restaurants. It’s a restaurant that has Mexican food and
seafood at affordable prices.
A Unique Voice - Volume I, Number 1 - May 2010 - Page 4
What the DSPS Program Means to Me
by Tawnya Brown
How DSPS Helped Me
By Cindy Blackmon
DSPS has helped me very much. If it wasn’t for DSPS
I wouldn’t have made it to the point of graduation in December. However, plans may change to start another major or transfer to a four year college.
I want to thank all of the staff for their support with the
endeavor. With that said, thank you Tom, Laura, Joe,
Keith, and Crystal.

DSPS/GS 61
This topic is a very important topic. With so many
good qualities it is hard for me to narrow it down.
―Nevertheless, here are a few things that make it important to me!‖
The lab is there for our help. The teachers are here for
our learning. The people come together like a family and
give support.
The lab is important to me for many reasons. These
reasons are as follows: one, the computers in there are to
help us with our work. They help with our reading like
Kurzweil, Inspiration, or internet usage to research for a
term paper. I can also take tests in the lab where it is a
more comfortable atmosphere, so I may get a better score
on my test.
The teachers, to me, are what make this so important.
Teachers in these programs help me so very much with all
my situations, not just school, as a whole to make me better. I do not know if I could have made it through the
classes I have without them. Laura, Joe, Crystal, and even
a few tutors who have given up their time to come help
me when I’m struggling, make it possible for me to succeed. The teachers DO NOT do the work for me but help
me to understand the work in a way I comprehend, so I
can do the work myself. ―And that makes me feel very
proud!‖

The understanding I have of the people in DSPS is of
family. I have felt how we all come together and give
each other support and friendship when we need it. We
may have our days when we are testy and want to be
alone, and then there are days when we need each other
and we are there. I would not change the atmosphere I
have been honored enough to share in these classes.
To sum up this paper, I just want to express the feelings of the paper which are respect, caring, and honor to
be in the DSPS program. It would clearly sadden me if
they were not available anymore. Thank you for these
programs, teachers Joe and Crystal, the super tutor Laura,
the boss/counselor Mr. Winters, the tech like Keith and
last, but far from least, the ones from the past like Dr.
Jeffery. Thank you from a student who would be lost
without you.
(Ed note: When this young lady was a first grader, she
thought she was a failure—even at the early age of 6. The
public school system, at that time, was not prepared for
students such as Tawnya, but her mother knew she would
need help as she, herself, was dyslexic. Tawnya struggled
all the way through school, finally giving up in high
school due to total frustration. When she came to West
Hills because she had heard about the DSPS program, she
was still unsure. Since she began, however, she has discovered that not only is she smart, it is ok to learn in the
way that is best for her. She is currently maintaining a B
average in all completed classes.)

Dyslexia
a brief definition—retrieved from Google. Com, define:
(dyslexic). Margaret S. Livingstone, Ph.D., Professor of
Neurobiology, Dpt. of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical
School defined dyslexia as follows: "Developmental dyslexia is the selective impairment of reading skills despite
normal intelligence, sensory acuity, and instruction.
www.children-special-needs.org/vocvis.html
I was slightly brain damaged at birth, and I want people
like me to see that they shouldn't let a disability get in the
way. I want to raise awareness - I want to turn my disability into ability. —Susan Boyle –Britain’s Got Talent
Winner 2009

Having a disability does not mean a person is disabled.
A Unique Voice - Volume I, Number 1 - May 2010 - Page 5
Test Anxiety? What’s That?
It’s 7:30 in the morning, your earliest class. You stayed
up most of the night with your study group, going over and
over terms such as metamorphosis, Golgi body, anomalies,
organelle, recessive genes. You sit at your desk in Biology
10, looking up at the instructor as he passes out the midterm . Your breathing become irregular when he explains
that there is a time limit of an hour and a half. For biology?
He’s gotta be kitting!
Another happy DSPS student—Elida Ayala

Untitled
by Ismael Gonzalez
Panic sets in. Everything you studied the night before has
left your brain. When the exam leaves your instructor’s hand
and drops onto your desk you cringe. Pain has taken over
the panic. Your stomach begins making strange noises, rumbling and roiling. You can feel the contents trying to get up
your esophagus (wait! that’s a biology term!), into your epiglottis (another one!), past your larynx (whoa!), into your
mouth, past your gums, your lips, resting on what seems to
be air. . .
To seek what we are so far
It’s not too hard to find,
Like opening a book for the first time;
Take one step at a time,
And maybe I will learn something
Ok. So that is a bit extreme, but you feel as if you are
going to puke; you may even want to puke. However, why
go through so much pain, so much emotional agony? Maybe
you are one of those who suffers test anxiety and help is just
a classroom away.
By Kyle Jaurequi - English 89
Take the young lady below. She is a great student, with
five children (six if you count her husband, and she does),
and a full time job. One of her major concerns is test anxiety. As you can see, she is relaxed as she completes her
math homework, because she is in a setting that allows her
the extra time she needs. She also, under warmer conditions,
needs a private ―cubby‖ in which to complete exams. This
is all supplied by one very terrific place on campus: the
DSPS Lab, A-2.
If you are having difficulties in your classes, suspect you
may have a specific disability in a specific area, want to
succeed in college, come on in and talk to our staff. You
never know, you may also qualify to sit on the floor, relax in
front of a warm heater, on a cold day.

Trip Down South
Crate and Barrel: I went to a store called Crate and
Barrel to see what the shop had to offer. This shop has
lots of household items like beds, arm charis, tables,
glassware and so much more. Many people come to visit
the store because of its fast service, little or no checkout
lines to wait in, and clean floors. My uncle, who works at
this store, loves his job because he gets to help customers
shop for their homes.
Swap Meet: This year at the Orange County Swap Meet
there was lots to see. There were house-hold items, toys
for kids, pets for adoption, plants, and a farmer’s market.
Even if you weren’t looking to buy anything, there was
plenty just to look at. My family and I found that this
market had good deals but we enjoyed the RV show the
most. This event comes every weekend with something
new to explore, but this weekend’s events got smaller
because of what’ going on with the economy. No matter
how big or small the swap meet gets, I still enjoy going.
Death of My Grandpa: I couldn’t stay in town for all of
spring vacation because of my grandpa who was dying.
We had to come back home on Wednesday to visit him
during his last few days. We visited with him as much as
we could to pay our respects to him, and on Easter Sunday, by three in the afternoon, he had gone to heaven. He
was a man who enjoyed playing card games with family
and friends, but every now and then played them on
video games, too. It was a sad day for everyone in my
family to see him die
A Unique Voice - Volume I, Number 1 - May 2010 - Page 6
Retrieved from the internet 05/04/10 - RealMentalHealth.com
Famous People with Bipolar Disorder
Buzz Aldrin (astronaut)
Tim Burton (artist, director)
Robert Downey Jr. (actor)
Richardy Dreyfuss (actor)
Ernest Hemingway (writer)
Rep Patrick J. Kennedy (politician)
Abraham Lincoln (president)
Isaac Newston (scientist, mathematician)
Snéad O'Connor (musician)
Jane Pauley (TV Journalist)
Britney Spears (musician)
Ben Stiller (actor)
Jean-Claude Vn Damme (actor) Delonte West (basketball player)
From the desk of:
Tom Winters, DSPS Counselor
Hi!
A Long, and Sometimes Lonely, Road
The Psychiatric Technician Program at West Hills
College Coalinga is one year of extremes for those students who begin and work through three terms, four
months each, of intense theory and pharmacology of
psychiatric information, at the same time fulfilling their
clinicals at various hospitals in the valley and Atascadero. For some, the work can be overwhelming if they
have even the slightest disability such as back problems,
dyslexia, test anxiety, and any number of issues that create barriers. That is where the DSPS program can be of
service to those who qualify, such as the four students, in
the green uniforms, below, who completed their certificate April 22, 2010.
We have had a great year. So many new students
have come into DSPS. We have more than doubled in
size in the past three years! With all of the new faces,
we are concerned about staying in contact with everyone about timelines and services as well as helping you
register for new classes. In one way, this newsletter
represents an effort to stay in contact with you. We are
also talking about other ideas including using Facebook
to communicate with you. Until we get all of our boffo
new ideas in operation, please stop right in if you have
a question about services or registration. Otherwise,
please give me a call at 934-2345 and we can set up an
appointment or just talk over the phone. Beyond that,
good luck on your final exams!
—Tom
The road these four students took (along with 34 of
their classmates), was long and involved, an endless
dedication to finishing what they had begun. With a bit
of help from the DSPS staff, their journey was made a
little easier.
Congratulations (from left to right) Victor, Cat,
Strange lady in red, Jessie, and Nicole! Your hard work
paid off!
Jan and Alesha enjoying happy moments
in the DSPS Lab - A02
A Unique Voice - Volume I, Number 1 - May 2010 - Page 7
Events in May
May 5 –Cinco De Mayo-Quad
Noon - Adelitas Dance Group
April = Autism Awareness
By Nina Perez
According to Google health, ―Autism is a developmental
disorder that appears in the first three years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communications skills (Google 2010). Autism has varying levels, from
high functioning to extremely severe. April was autism
awareness month, and with this in mind, here are some (but
no all) information about the disorder.
Symptoms
Physical - repetitive movements
Communication - develops language slowly or not at all.
Repeats words from commercials, cartoons.
Social interactions - show lack of empathy.
Play-does not like to pretend or use imagination.
Behaviors - Shows aggression, tantrum behaviors,
Non-compliance
Sensory - many find normal noises painful
Treatment
ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) - uses one on one teaching
that reinforces the practice of various skills. The
goal is to get the child close to normal development
tal level.
Medications - Risperidone is a medication used to treat kids
ages 5-16 for their irritability and aggression
Diets - some kids show that with diet, inappropriate charac
tistics will stop or decline
Physical therapy and speech - language therapy: two kinds of
therapy used as part of a program for children with
autism
Cause
Piñatas for kids
11:30 - 1:00 DJ
Mexican Food
ASB Sale
May 15 – 16 Relay For Life
9:00 a.m. May 15th to
9:00 a.m. May 16th
For More Information Call:
559-451-0722
May 21-Last day of classes
May 24-Final exams begin
May 28-Graduation/Commencement
Commencement Speaker:
Ambassador Philip Sanchez
(West Hills College Coalinga
Alumnus, former U.S. Ambassador to Honduras and Columbia)
The cause of autism is still unknown.
Experience
I have experienced this disorder first hand, because my
little sister was diagnosed with autism when she was three.
She is consider high functioning, but needs constant reminders to act appropriate and stop her repetitive behaviors (she
likes to flap her hands and clap while she paces). She attends
the SDC to perform academically to the level of other children her chronological age due to her inattention; she likes to
pretend she is a princess of Hannah Montana. She can be
embarrassing when you take her out in public because you
never know what she will say or do, but it is important for her
to experience things and be taught appropriate interactions
and social grace. I have learned a lot about the disorder Autism because of my sister Annie. I can’t imagine Annie in any
other way than how she is, so full of life, animated, and spontaneous..
The national logo for autism awareness is the puzzle
piece, so if you see someone wearing one, chances are they
know someone who is autistic.
References: Autism (2010). Retrieved 5/4/2010, from
Google Health: http:/www.healthgoogle/autism.com.
A Unique Voice - Volume I, Number 1 - May 2010 - Page 8