|
Policies
I. Mission,
Access, and Services
| A. |
Mission: The mission of Disability Support Services (DSS) is to provide
students equal access to all educational, social, and recreational
programs through the coordination of services and reasonable accommodations,
consultation and advocacy. DSS strives to provide services that will
encourage students to become as independent and self-reliant as possible. |
| B. |
Access: Students learn about DSS through a variety of avenues. Some of these
include: |
| |
1. DSS brochure
2. Internet
3. E-mail
4. Orientation
5. Outreach days
6. The University of Texas at Tyler catalog
7. Registration advertisements
8. Student newspaper
9. Faculty and staff referrals. |
| C. |
Population
Served: DSS offers services to all eligible (see Eligibility
for Services) currently enrolled students at the University of Texas
at Tyler. |
II.
Description of Services
Academic accommodations and other services are addressed and provided on
an individual basis determined by documented need. Some of the services
available to qualified students are:
| A. |
Letter
listing approved accommodations for students to provide to faculty |
| B. |
Extended time,
readers, or scribes for in class coursework and examinations |
| C. |
Volunteer note
takers |
| D. |
Interpreters
for the deaf |
| E. |
Supportive counseling |
| F. |
Accessibility
information |
G.
|
Tape-recorded
text |
| H. |
Registration assistance |
| I. |
Referral to other
campus and community resources |
| J. |
Consultation with
faculty and staff regarding on-campus situations which constitute an
accommodation challenge |
| K. |
Sponsored student
support group |
| L. |
Computer software
equipment technologically designed for individuals with specific disabilities |
| M. |
Some equipment
is available for checkout according to approved accommodations. Failure
to return resources in good working condition may result in referral
for disciplinary action including withholding grades and transcripts
until item is returned or payment for replacement of item is received. |
III.
Eligibility for Services
| A. |
A
student who would like to be considered for disability support services
must request services themselves through the Student Services Office.
The student requesting services should obtain an information packet
and make an appointment with the disability support services (DSS) counselor
at least four weeks prior to the beginning of the semester. The information
packet includes an Application for Disability Support Services, Disability
Support Services Policies and Procedures, and other information as related
to services. The packet is available in the Student Services offices
and on the University of Texas at Tyler Student Services Web page. |
| B. |
During the initial
appointment with the DSS counselor, the student will provide the DSS
counselor the completed Application For Disability Support Services
and disability verification information that includes: |
| |
| 1. |
Specific
diagnostic statement identifying the disability, date of the current
diagnostic evaluation, and the date of the original diagnosis; |
| 2. |
Complete
educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the
disability for which accommodations are being requested; |
| 3. |
A description
of all test instruments used in the evaluation report and relevant
subtest scores used to document the stated disability. (This does
not apply to physical or sensory disabilities that are considered
permanent or unchanging;) |
| 4. |
Statement
as to permanency of each condition/disability; |
| 5. |
Information
on how each condition/disability affects the individual with regard
to physical, emotional, or cognitive limitations and the severity
and limitations within the classroom environment; |
| 6. |
Treatments,
medications, assistive devices, services currently prescribed
or in use; |
| 7. |
Described
and justified specific recommendations for accommodations such
as extra time for testing, note taking assistance, auxiliary aids,
etc.; |
| 8. |
Credentials
of the diagnosing professional indicating that the evaluator is
qualified to make the diagnosis (include information about license
or certification and area of specialization); |
| 9. |
Correspondence
that is typed or printed on the evaluator’s official letterhead. |
|
| C. |
Verification information
must be from an appropriate qualified professional who has particular
expertise in the area of the condition/disability. (More specific information
regarding verification for learning disabilities and attention deficit/hyperactivity
disorder are listed in the attachments to this document). |
| D. |
The DSS counselor
will review verification material once it has been received and combine
it with interview information received from the student and expertise
of the DSS counselor to decide upon appropriate accommodation. |
IV.
Accommodation Procedures
| A. |
Once
eligibility has been determined by the Support Services counselor and
accommodation(s) decided upon, a Special Accommodation Request is completed
and provided to the student. The Special Accommodation Request is completed
each succeeding semester that the student requests disability support
services. |
| B. |
The student must
request disability support services at least 15 days prior to the beginning
of each succeeding semester to assure accommodation(s) are received
the first week of class. |
| C. |
A copy of the
student’s registration must accompany the request for services. |
| D. |
The student should
provide the Special Accommodation Request to the appropriate faculty
member. The student should discuss with the faculty member relevant
information that will assist in providing the approved accommodation. |
| E. |
The faculty member
will assure that the student receives the approved accommodation(s). |
| F. |
The Disability
Support Services counselor is available to the student and faculty member
for consultation. |
V.
Grievance Procedures
| A. |
Complaints
concerning disability support services shall be filed in writing to
the disability support services counselor. |
| B. |
Access: Students
learn about DSS through a variety of avenues. Some of these include: |
| C. |
A written decision
will be mailed to the complainant within ten (10) |
VI.
Evaluation of Client Services
| A. |
Students
applying for Disability Support Services will receive a Satisfaction Survey
with their initial packet of information. At any time during a student’s
interactions with Disability Support Services, the Satisfaction Survey
may be completed and dropped off in the Student Services Office or mailed
(no postage required). |
| B. |
Satisfaction Surveys
are also made available in the counseling reception area during regular
business hours for anyone utilizing services offered through Disability
Support Services or the Student Counseling Center. |
| C. |
Information from
these surveys will be used to improve the services offered through Disability
Support Services. |
Adapted
from Educational Testing Service Disability Guidelines for Documentation,
Princeton, New Jersey, 2001)
|
