Join Ximena and Jason on Instagram Live and help them spend $50 on things they don’t need but can’t live without
This Thursday you can go thrifting virtually while staying in bed, or going to the beach, or getting your work done. Ximena and Jason, two of our VC Social contributors, are going treasure hunting in Downtown Ventura’s thrift stores and they’re inviting you to join them on Instagram Live.
What can they get with a $50 budget? Make your suggestions right now by posting replies here on this blog or on the Thrift Store Live Event Instagram post. You can also interact with them live on the day as they search for the gold.
Could it be a unicorn night lamp? A matching cat sweater outfit? A complete collection of Harry Potter books first edition? There are no rules to this game except one–have fun and keep it under $50.
Image of the Educational Assistance Center building
You may have heard of the DSP&S/EAC on Ventura College’s campus but not be familiar with what it is or what they do. I know I wasn’t familiar with this acronym. So, I did a little digging and found a wonderful program that is here to serve the students at Ventura College.
The official name is Disabled Students Programs & Services / Educational Assistance Center (DSP&S/EAC). For short, known as the EAC. The EAC promotes the educational and vocational potential of students with disabilities by supporting each student’s integration into the mainstream of college life.
Recently, I spoke with Patty Wendt, the EAC coordinator, who has been with EAC for 26 years, and has a wealth of information on what the EAC offers Ventura college students.
Goals in serving the student
The EAC serves on average, over 1,200 Ventura College students each year. Their primary goals are:
To provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in the educational activities at Ventura College.
To provide qualified students with disabilities the required services and accommodations to meet their educational needs.
To provide qualified students with disabilities the special classes needed to prepare them for success in the general college classes.
EAC provides services to students with:
Physical disabilities
Deaf and hard of hearing
Blind or have low vision
Learning disabilities
Acquired brain injuries
ADHD
Intellectual disability
Autism Spectrum
Mental health disability
So, what services do they offer?
Priority Registration to students who qualify for services through EAC. This ensures students get access to the classes they need; with the accommodations they need.
Classroom accommodations, such as sitting at the front of the class.
Note taking assistance, if a student doesn’t have the ability to take notes during a class lecture, due to their disability.
Extended test time if a student’s disability may prohibit them from completing a test during the allowed class time.
1:1 tutoring is available if needed, beyond general tutoring assistance
Alternate media formats are available to students, if they need instructional materials in Braille, large print, or auditory formats.
Learning Abilities Program, offering classes such as LS V02 (Reading Comprehension and Problem Solving), LS V07 (Techniques of Problem Solving – Math), and LS V25 (Improving Grammar and Writing Skills), allowing students to gain skills that they can apply in their approach to other college classes.
Assistive Computer Technology (ACT) provides alternatives to interacting with computers. Students who are blind or have low vision can use software tools which verbalize the text content of the screen. There are software tools which magnify the content of the screen. Students also have access to Braille printers with optical character recognition and speech synthesizers.
Innovation Cognitive Achievement network (ICAN)/Journey Overcoming Barriers (JOB) helps studentsbuild essential employment skills, including the “soft skills” that employers desire and value most. It’s not a specific career pathway, but students learn appropriate social skills and optimal workplace behavior, appropriate communication skills for the workplace, as well as computer, personal finance, and technological skills to succeed in the workplace.
Learning Disability (LD) assessments can be arranged to support students who may have an undiagnosed Learning Disability. Current Ventura students with no other qualifying disability can meet with the Learning Disability Specialist for a thorough Intake screening to decide if assessment is appropriate. This will allow you to discover your cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses while also determining eligibility for services. You’ll receive an individual recommendation on how to improve learning, study strategies, and utilize accommodations.
How to apply for Services
You must complete an application to qualify for requested services. In addition to the application, you must also complete the disability verification form. Then you can make an appointment with an EAC counselor either in-person or online. The counselor will complete the Academic Accommodation plan with you which will authorize learning accommodations based on the educational limitations caused by your disability. There is no fee for the services received through EAC. If you don’t have documentation for the disability through a doctor, EAC can provide you with an assessment to see if you qualify for assistance.
There’s a team working with you
The EAC has two counselors, one person managing alternate media formats, one person managing disability testing, and two instructional teachers for EAC Learning Skills courses. You will get the support you need, based on your individual circumstances.
The team is on campus:
M/W/TH from 8am – 5pm
T from 8am – 7pm
F from 8am – 3pm
The EAC office is in the Administration Building (ADM).
If you feel you may benefit from Educational Assistance, you should reach out to the EAC office to see if you qualify for assistance. There is no cost for these services, but you must currently be enrolled and taking classes at Ventura College. You can reach them at 805-289-6300 or email at vecac@vcccd.edu.
For the past 30 years William “Bill” Hendricks has been teaching photography to Ventura College students, helping them hone their skills and learn to see the world through their artist eye. His work has taken him on many adventures around the world, including Cuba, Northern India, and South Korea. His work has been published in titles such as the Cosmopolitan and People Magazine and most recently he completed PROOF, a 15 year project with Cuban writer Orlando Hernandez, set to be released in 2021.
The Mysterious Case of Edwin Drood is coming to Ventura College this December. Brought to you by the VC music department, this musical is one you won’t want to miss!
Brian Hotchkin is co-directing the show along with Brent Wilson and said, “We’re so excited to do this really fun story. It actually got put up here at Ventura College 10 years ago and we had so much we’re bribing it back.”
Hotchkin gave us some insight and let us know the show is actually a play within a play:
“In real life Charles Dickens wrote this mystery novel with a murderer and then Charles Dickens unfortunately died before he could finish it and we never found out who the murderer is. So we’ve taken this unfinished play and in the musical version it’s set as a play within a play and we have a quite looney, wacky theatre company where everyone wants to be the diva star and they’re putting on this unfinished play.”
The show is coming to VC December 3-5 and will be taking place outdoors. Show times to be announced soon.
This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.
In this episode of the VC Social podcast series we are discussing the American college experience, the options we have when it comes to school and what we think college should look like in 2021. This honest conversation amongst classmates will have you questioning… Is everything we’re doing really necessary in today’s professional landscape?
In this week’s episode, hosts Alexander Shaw, Jace McDonald, and Juan Lopez sit down to talk about the music genre known as “punk rock”. Alex and Jace have both listened to punk for a large part of their lives, while Juan is a relative newcomer to the genre, having been given a hand selected playlist of both their favorite songs. Together they sit down to talk about music, passion, and the human condition.
This episode is an informal conversation between four VC Social contributors who share their personal experiences and perspectives on the digital classroom. From Hawaii photoshoots and online yoga to virtual labs and digital pasta–we talk about why we love hybrid learning experiences. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a deeper dive into the future of education.
As college students, we are pulled in 50 different directions. We are either students, students/employees or possibly even students/employees/parents. The more you add to your plate, the less time you have to take a breather and relax.
So… when life gives you a break, what do you do with it? Do you stress yourself out about everything you have coming up? Do you take that break and use it to destress?
Stress is known for its negative effects on the body and the mind and yet here we are, as students, dealing with stress constantly. We weigh out the factors of taking or not taking that hour/two-hour break. We feel guilty if we don’t do something well enough and we beat ourselves up over how much, or how little, we get done. Should we be doing something else with the break we ruin with our stress?
If you resonate with the above, you probably need to destress. Here are five ways to “destress”:
The coastal city of Ventura is known for its beautiful beaches and weather, but there are lots of fun activities that are a must in this sunny town. A huge attraction in Ventura is the famous long wooden Ventura Pier. It is beautiful scenery where you can fish, bike ride, grab a bite to eat, or just walk around. Along with this prominent pier, Ventura is also known for its surf spots. Lots of surfers love the waves that come in this beach town, and one of the biggest attractions is at Surfers Point. Adding onto the outdoorsy activities, the Ventura to Ojai paved bike path is a great way to get your exercise in while enjoying such beautiful scenery. The San Buenaventura city hall is also a captivating historical agricultural building to see. If you are looking for some yummy food, it is a must that you visit Tony’s Pizzaria, Aloha Steakhouse, and Cafe Noveau. Ventura is a fun and laid back city where you can always find amazing attractions and activities to do.
College is an exciting time to meet new people and go out to have fun. House parties and going to bars is part of college life. But while out with friends, follow these safety tips to keep you and your friends safe:
1. Always have a buddy system in place with someone you trust. You are automatically a less desirable target if you’re not alone.
2. Avoid alleys and other poorly lit, closed spaces that might allow an attacker the advantage of surprise.
3. A distracted person is an easy target. Put your phone away while walking. If you’re occupied with your phone, your eyes, mind, and hands are not aware of your surroundings.
4. Listen to the sounds around you. Be aware of footsteps, rustling bushes, and approaching cars.
5. Walk with purpose and project confidence. Look up, forward and keep a steady pace. Attackers are more likely to victimize someone who looks lost or timid.
Kristin Smart – 1996
Kristin Smart is an unfortunate example of what happens when friends don’t stick together until they arrive home safely. Kristin was a first-year college student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo back in 1996. She had attended a party off campus and eventually walked back to her dorm with a few friends and an unknown guy who was also at the party. The guy, Paul Flores, had creeped out people at the party, aggressively hitting on several girls. Paul insisted on walking back to campus with the group. When they got near Kristin’s dorm, the friends continued to their dorms and left her with the ‘creepy guy’. Kristin disappeared that night and has never been found.
The Your Own Backyard podcast by Chris Lambert, includes many interviews of people who knew Kristin, who knew or had encounters with the suspect Paul Flores, and others who are part of the ongoing investigation. It becomes clear throughout the podcast, that several women had unpleasant encounters with Paul Flores either when they were alone with him or even in a group setting. The case has picked up steam and as new evidence has been uncovered, there was a pre-trial hearing in September to determine that Paul Flores and his father (accessory after the fact) are both going to stand trial for Kristen’s disappearance.
The bottom line is, use the buddy system when out with friends. Don’t leave a friend alone at a party to find their own way home. Don’t walk alone at night. If you’re taking a night class, use the buddy system with someone in your class when walking to the campus parking lot. 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Remember, sticking with a friend is for their safety – and yours.
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