Courtesy photo.
CAMARILLO — Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees fully supports and is committed to serving its approximately 31,000 students by making the District the accessibility leader for the State of California and the California Community Colleges System.
Recognizing that succeeding in college is an important step in mobility, independence and career success for students with disabilities, the Board approved a resolution on Access and Accessibility at its August meeting. The resolution coincides with the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“This resolution is an important step for our District in prioritizing accessibility for all our students, in the classroom and when they are accessing information on our websites,” said Chair Bernardo M. Perez. “Accessibility is foundational to our mission and in alignment with the Board of Trustees Strategic Goals.”
The District and its colleges—Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura—have long been compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For students, the Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS), Educational Assistance Centers (EAC) and Accessibility Coordination Center and Educational Support Services (ACCESS) play a crucial role in providing support and an accessible environment. The District is committed to further making information and communication technology (ICT), instructional technology, and student, employee and community communications more accessible.
“As the pandemic has necessitated a shift to virtual learning for the fall 2020 semester, it’s even more important that we look at each student population and provide an equitable learning environment for all,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie.
“This resolution complements the District’s important work in social justice because it includes all students,” added Matthew Spinneberg. Spinneberg, who is legally blind and an inspiration to colleagues districtwide, is the Instructional Assistant in the Assistive Technology Center at Moorpark College. He also provides accessibility training for employees and advises the District on accessibility matters in a professional expert role.
Statewide, there are 797,300 non-institutionalized students with a visual disability in all educational levels, according to the National Federation of the Blind. During the 2017-18 academic year, California Community Colleges served 121,748 Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) students.
About Ventura County Community College District — The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 116-campus California Community College system and serves approximately 31,000 students annually. The District’s three colleges–Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura–offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education, and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities. For more information, please visit vcccd.edu