Making Success Accessible for Every Student

Disability Support Services (DSS) classes are noncredit college classes designed for students with mild intellectual disabilities (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Students learn to become more independent and increase personal responsibility skills in school, work, and the community. Classes are designed for a 1:24 teacher/student ratio to give students room to grow.

Each class begins in the fall and finishes at the end of the spring term. Students can begin mid-year if space is available. There is also a separate six-week summer session.

The DSS Core Classes lay the building blocks for an inclusive life, which includes:

  • The skills needed for participating in noncredit and credit college classes
  • Obtaining competitive and integrated employment
  • Living more independently
An event image of disability support services students with their instructor and a city of cypress police officer.

DSS Core Class Focus Areas

  • Career Exploration

    Students get hands-on learning experiences in many career fields, including:

    • Animal Care
    • Childcare
    • Customer Service
    • Digital Marketing
    • Foodservice
    • Retail
  • Interpersonal Skills

    Students build skills to strengthen their relationships with others and to advocate for themselves. 

    Learn more on topics such as:

    • Building social and communication skills
    • Literacy
    • Maintaining safe relationships
    • Self-advocacy at work
  • Independent Living Skills

    Lessons focus on helping students live more self-sufficiently. 

    Classes include:

    • Academic and vocational skill-building
    • How to manage money
    • Maintaining mobility
    • Personal health and wellness

Methods of Instruction:

  • Lecture/class discussion
  • Distance education
  • Role-playing and hands-on demonstration
  • Individualized instruction
  • Field trips into the community
  • Cooperative learning groups
  • Guest speakers
  • Computer-assisted instruction

Special Focus On:

  • Academic and Vocational Success
  • Mobility
  • Personal Health and Wellness
  • Personal Finance
  • Living Independently
  • Relationship Safety
  • Self-Advocacy
  • Literacy
  • Social and Communications Skills
  • Basic Computer Skills

Successful Students Can:

  • Facilitate effective communication in some form
  • Demonstrate measured progress toward vocational, educational, and/or personal goals
  • Adhere to the mutually agreed upon schedule of classes
  • Independently use the restroom and tend to personal care needs or has made arrangements for a personal care attendant
  • Maintain 90% attendance, including arriving to class on time
  • Adhere to Standards of Student Conduct

DSS Certificate Tracks

Track topics represent two 18-week courses. Each locally approved certificate track includes the courses listed below. For example, to earn the Core Skills Certificate, a student must successfully complete two 18-week courses in Self-Advocacy and Social Skills.

NOTE: Additional Certificate Tracks are to be announced once approved.

Core Skills Track

  • Self-Advocacy
  • Social Skills

Community Resources Skills Track

  • Community Resources

Life Skills Track

  • Cooking
  • Living More Independently
  • Banking/Bill Paying

Academic Skills Track

  • Money Skills
  • Reading

Interpersonal Skills Track

  • Relationships
  • Human Sexuality

Computer Skills Track

  • Introduction to Computers
  • Intermediate Computers
  • Photoshop

Employment Skills Track

  • Job Skills
  • Communication on the Job
  • Workplace Skills

Getting Started is Easy!

  1. Choose a Track – All DSS Program classes require core classes on social skills and self-help. Students can also take courses based on their own goals.  
  2. Counseling – Students meet with a DSS counselor to select 1-3 classes that meet their school, work, and/or personal goals.  
  3. Keep in mind: 
    • Students are not supervised during breaks or lunches. 
    • Students are strongly encouraged to only be on campus when necessary.  
    • Classes will be scheduled similarly to credit-based college classes. For example: Monday/Wednesday 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  
    • The North Orange County Community College District funds DSS Program classes.