Los Medanos College students, who are pregnant during the semester, are provided accommodations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Every pregnant and/or student parent should know that Title IX regulations require that pregnant and parenting students have equal access to education and career goals.
Title IX prohibits discriminations on the basis of sex-including pregnancy, parenting and all related conditions in federally funded education programs and activities, such as LMC.
This means that schools must give all students who might be, are or have been pregnant the same access to school programs and educational opportunities that other students have. Professors or administrators should not tell students they have to drop out of class or change their educational plans due to pregnancy.
Under Title IX, a school must excuse a student’s absence because of pregnancy or childbirth for as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences medically necessary. When a student returns to school, she must be allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before her medical leave began.
LMC’s Disabled Students Program & Services Program (DSP&S) provides specialized classes and support services to students with disabilities to allow them to fully participate in and benefit from courses at the college.
Although there are no accommodations written specifically for pregnant students at LMC, DSP&S Program Coordinator and Learning Specialist Ginny Richards ensures expecting mothers will be supported through DSP&S.
“We get a lot of students who are pregnant during the semester and most of them pretty much advocate for themselves. We are here for them if they need anything but we highly encourage our students to keep open communication with their professors as well.” Richards said.
Since its inception in 1974, LMC’s DSP&S has grown to serve a large number of students with disabilities. DSP&S currently serves 10% of the overall LMC student population.
According to the DSP&S online handbook, their primary goal is to help students achieve their educational goals while becoming independent learners. The handbook also provides information on various disabilities, definitions and emergency procedures while suggesting classroom accommodations that can be made in the teaching environment or in a teaching style.
It is the mission of DSP&S to facilitate access for disabled students with learning, physical, or psychological disabilities to the educational programs, student services, and activities of Los Medanos College.
For more information about DSP&S, contact DSP&S Program Coordinator and Learning Specialist Ginny Richards at 473-7470. The DSP&S office is located in Room CC2-254. DSP&S Administrative Assistant Sylvia Benzler can also be reached at 473-7471.