SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY

LOCATION:  1600 Holloway Avenue

                               San Francisco, CA 94132

PHONE:  (415) 338-1111

Managing Director of Disabilities Program and Resource Center:  Nicole Bohn, Nbohn@sfsu.edu

DEMOGRAPHICS:  

 Undergraduates:  29,000

Students with Learning Disabilities: 800

How does SF State bring Awareness to their Program?

On such a large campus, the main avenue for awareness is word of mouth.  The disabilities department makes sure that faculty/deans know the information about their department to pass along to students.  They have outreach seminars with local high schools and community colleges.  All CSU Disability Directors meet twice a year to discuss new learning devices and methods for students.  They provide brochures in their office, Student Services Building, Room 110.  In addition, there is a spring open house for all students and family members, and Q&A sessions with families of students with disabilities take place all year long.  For more information, visit:  http://www.sfsu.edu/~testing/DRC.html

COLLABORATION WITH ADMISSION:

All students are evaluated and accepted under the same admissions requirements and procedures.  Once admitted, each student receives a DPRC form in their admissions packet, educating them on where to go for help and how to report a learning disability.  

RESOURCES OFFERED:

• Tutoring lab
• Writing lab
• Psychiatric Counseling Center
• Extended testing time 
• Private testing environment
• Computer lab
• Note-takers
• Priority Registration
• Convenient seating arrangements

TECHNOLOGY: (see technology page for descriptions)

• Dragon Natural Speaking
• Jaws 
• Zoom Text
• Window Eyes
• Open Book
• Duxbury Braille Translator

ANALYSIS:

San Francisco State University is drastically different from the other schools we've looked at so far in that their undergraduate population is so much larger and older.  The average age of an undergraduate student at SF State is 23.  Because of this, the department assumes more responsibility on the part of the students, and aims to put programs in place that are easy for students to find and use.  They have the largest staff we've looked at so far (6 counselors, 1 test accommodation organizer, 1 transportation director, and 3 counselors specifically for deaf/hard of hearing students), and the largest budget ($1.2 million/year), but still cannot provide the one-on-one attention all students may need.  They depend largely on students to come to them for help or to report a disability.  

SF State is in the process of building a new library, which will be done in three years, and will have more individualized testing rooms and computers for LD students inside.  But with no new money coming in by way of the state budget, the library may take longer than expected, and staffing it could be an issue.  Overall, SF State does a great job of putting programs in place for students to take advantage of themselves while still being available for individual counseling if needed.