Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

Students interested in this accommodation must be registered with SAS and meet with a SAS counselor during their Welcome Meeting or schedule an appointment with a SAS counselor to discuss the need for this accommodation if it has not been previously authorized.

During this conversation, you and the SAS counselor will discuss how your disability impacts access to classroom communication and instructional content and determine whether interpreting or real-time captioning may be an appropriate accommodation.

Accommodatioons are authorized based on a review of documentation by a SAS counselor during a scheduled appointment.

Documentation should include:

• An audiogram from a licensed audiologist or medical doctor verifying hearing loss.

To support timely coordination of services:

• Continuing students must meet with SAS each semester to request services.
  
  
• Students who need interpreters or captioners are encouraged to use Priority Registration, when available.

Requesting Services

• Shortly after Priority Registration, meet with a SAS counselor to request services for the upcoming semester.
  
  
• Requesting early helps increase the likelihood that services will be in place at the start of classes.

To ensure continuity and minimize disruptions:

Changes or Absences

• If your schedule changes or you will miss a class, please notify SAS as soon as possible at (760) 795-6658 or sas@miracosta.edu. At least 48 hours’ notice is strongly encouraged, when feasible.

Attendance and Timeliness

• Interpreters or captioners will wait 15 minutes for your arrival.
  
  
• If you have not arrived and SAS has not been notified, they may leave.
  
  
• If you miss three classes without notice, services may be paused.

• A meeting with the SAS Faculty Coordinator (or designee) will be required before services resume.

These expectations help maintain reliable access and coordination for all students using the service.

• SAS may contract with external agencies to provide interpreters and captioners.
  
  
• Providers assigned to your class have met professional standards established by those agencies.

Please note:

• Provider selection is managed by the agency.
  
  
• SAS cannot guarantee specific or preferred interpreters or captioners for every session.

Communication support services are designed to be:

• Consistent and reliable, when scheduled in advance.
  
  
• Responsive to your communication preferences.
  
  
• Flexible, with adjustments made as needed in partnership with SAS.

Your feedback is important! If something is not working well, you are encouraged to contact SAS so that adjustments can be explored.

If you have questions, need to update your schedule, or experience any concerns, SAS is here to support you. Please contact SAS at (760) 795‑6658 or sas@miracosta.edu.

Communication and Coordination

SAS coordinates interpreters and real‑time captioners to support student access to classroom communication. Faculty may see interpreters or captioners present in class or working remotely.

Faculty can support effective communication access by:

• Speaking at a natural pace and allow for brief interpretation lag.
  
  
• Repeating or rephrasing student comments or questions when possible.
  
  
• Being prepared to provide SAS with access to instructional materials, slides, specialized terminology, and presentation content in advance for SAS to share with sign language interpreters.
  
  
• Maintaining a clear line of sight for students using visual communication supports (reading lips).
  
  
• Being responsive to coordination needs related to interpreting, captioning, and accessible instructional materials (ex. locating a chair for sign language interpreters to use).

Faculty partnership matters. Your collaboration helps create an accessible learning environment where students who are Deaf or hard of hearing can fully engage with course content, classroom discussions, and academic activities.

Captioning and Accessible Instructional Materials

Accurate captioning of instructional videos and multimedia content is an essential component of accessibility for many students who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Faculty should ensure that required or optional videos and multimedia resources are accurately captioned.

SAS Can Help!
For information, instructions, and resources related to captioning instructional materials, please visit the SAS Captioning FAQ.

If you need assistance identifying captioning resources or addressing accessibility concerns related to course media, please contact SAS for guidance and support.

Questions or Consultation

Faculty who have questions or concerns regarding implementation of this accommodations are encouraged to contact the SAS counselor listed on the student's accommodation form or SAS for consultation and support at (760) 795-6658 or sas@miracosta.edu.