About the Disabled Students' Residence Program

General Info

The Disabled Students Residence Program (DSRP) is a unit of the Disabled Students' Program at the University of California at Berkeley (UCB). It is co-sponsored by UCB and the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). The program assists those students who have a disability and need assistance with independent living skills. Historically, the program has served students with severe physical disabilities and will continue to do so. The program has expanded to also include students with other disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, who need assistance with independent living skills.

Eligibility Requirements
An Opportunity
Independent Living for Academic and Vocational Success
Facilities
Staff
Personal Attendants
Medical Care
Cost

Eligibility Requirements

• Students must arrive as clients of the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). Students are strongly encouraged to apply for DOR services as soon as possible to be considered for DSRP services.
• Academic admission to UCB (the staff of the Disabled Students' Program can advise).
• Stable and good physical and mental health, to permit regular attendance in classes.
• Suitable mobility for this partly hilly campus; a motorized or power assist chair is usually a necessity.

An Opportunity

DSRP is an exciting opportunity for physically disabled students to participate academically at a major university while at the same time developing the skills and confidence needed to live and work independently.

As participants of DSRP, students encounter the challenges and rewards of directing their own lives as they become involved in the campus community and prepare vocationally for their future.

Independent Living for Academic and Vocational Success

The skills attained from DSRP Phase 1 and Phase 2 participation are intended to help students graduate from the university and enter the work force. Cal Transitions (also funded by DOR) provides the placement of internships and employment for DSRP students.

Students with physical disabilities will learn to coordinate their medical care and their attendant care needs by learning to hire, train and manage their own attendant staff. At the end of the first semester students will be expected to use their own attendant staff instead of the DSRP Special Assistants for routine personal care.

An important element of managing attendant care staff is managing the paperwork involved with hiring and paying attendant staff and maintaining a good relationship with In Home Support Services (IHSS). IHSS is a county program that provides funding for attendant care needs.

In recognition of the amount of time it takes learning these skills, students in DSRP are advised to take a reduced course load during their first year at UCB.

Facilities

DSRP has fully accessible rooms reserved in the UCB Residence Halls. Students in the program have private dormitory rooms in buildings shared with the general UCB student population. These buildings are co-ed.

Staff

DSRP Staff, called Special Assistants (S.A.’s) help students in the program learn the skills they need to become successfully independent by teaching time management organizational skills, helping students set short and long term goals, and self-advocacy and socialization skills.

For students with severe physical disabilities:
Until the students have a staff of personal attendants in place, the DSRP staff of Special Assistants (SAs) assists students with their personal care needs. SAs will be available to assist students as long as there is a need for attendant care coverage; however, the DSRP does not guarantee 24 hour, seven days a week coverage. SAs have extensive experience working with people with disabilities. They are available to help the students hire and train personal attendants by providing tips on interview techniques, and by demonstrating routines, transfers, bowel and bladder procedures etc.

Throughout the year, the SAs perform tasks difficult to arrange with an attendant, such as overnight repositioning. In the event a student's attendant is absent, or should an unforeseen need arise, SAs provide back-up assistance.

Once students are settled, their underlying goal should always be to cover attendant care needs with outside staff. DSRP staff should be used as a last resort. DSRP staff work with students to devise the best system to minimize their need for attendant services. The staff acts as a resource, linking students to community and campus services and events.

Personal Attendants

Each student hires attendants for routine assistance. Prospective attendants are available through the Disabled Students' Program's Attendant Referral service. Students may use these referrals or choose to recruit attendants independently. Whichever method is utilized, the students conduct the interviews and decide whom they hire. Most students apply for Alameda County IHSS to pay their attendants' salaries. As of 2008, the average salary for an attendant is $11.00 per hour.

The DSRP staff members, however, are UCB employees. They function primarily to assist students in training personal attendants and strive to ensure that students never miss a class for lack of assistance.

Medical Care

The DSRP is not a medical program. Students assume full responsibility for their health and medical care. For medical needs, students are entitled to use the campus health service, utilizing the Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP), though most also select a private doctor shortly after their arrival.

If students are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through Social Security, they will also be eligible for Medi-Cal insurance, which covers many medical expenses (SSI/Medi-Cal is needed to qualify for IHSS under most circumstances).

DSRP staff can assist students in navigating the difficult and, often confusing task of coordinating services. This assistance allows students to become familiar with how to manage their care needs, while taking some of the pressure off them so they can focus on academic/vocational goals.

The University Health Services operate from the Tang center (located only blocks away from the DSRP). California Children's Services (CCS) operates an office from the Tang center, which works with the DSRP to coordinate medical services as well as to fulfill the durable equipment needs of our students (provided they are under 21 and California residents). At the beginning of each year all DSRP students meet with a Treatment Team board from Tang to address any medical or mental health needs students may need during the year.

Cost

For students who are eligible, the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) may provide assistance with student fees and books. The Coordinator of DSRP can provide more information about DOR.

Student Financial Aid is an additional source of assistance. SSI is another source of financial help and is often used to pay the cost of room and board. Upon arrival at UCB, eligible students can apply to Alameda County for IHSS funds to pay attendants' salaries. The DSRP Coordinator can help students navigate these options.