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Purpose of Student Accessibility Services

  • Assist in the development of reasonable accommodations for students
  • Provide services and accommodations to students with disabilities
  • Work closely with faculty and staff in an advisory capacity
  • Provide equal access for individuals with disabilities

Qualified Individual

  • Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity, has record of such impairment, and/or is regarded as having such an impairment
  • Has approved accommodations issued by Student Accessibility Services after a complete review of appropriate documentation and a discussion with a staff member of Student Accessibility Services
  • Is otherwise qualified to attend UT

Confidentiality

  • Disability documentation and the nature of the disability is private between Student Accessibility Services staff and the student, unless the student chooses to reveal it
  • Any explicit or implicit inference to a particular student and the disability is inappropriate

Eligibility Verification

  • Determined on an individual basis based on discussion between the student and a staff member from Student Accessibility Services
  • Documentation requirements are based upon the best practices and guidelines of the national organizations AHEAD and ETS
  • Self-disclosure by student to Student Accessibility Services
  • Verification by another institution does not necessarily guarantee eligibility for services at UT
  • IEPs alone are NOT sufficient documentation
  • Documentation must be received in a timely manner to allow for thorough review of documentation and establishment of services
  • Accommodations are not retroactive. Accommodations can only be applied to situations from the time of approval, moving forward

Access to Academic Services

  • Reasonable accommodations will be made based on an individual’s disability and the impact(s) of their disability on the academic environment
  • Requests that will fundamentally alter the integrity or standards of a course or major will not be honored
  • Accommodations are made to allow equal access to opportunities given to all students; however, success cannot be guaranteed

Student Responsibilities

  • Identify themselves to Student Accessibility Services
  • Provide appropriate documentation and request accommodations in a timely manner
  • Meet with a staff member in Student Accessibility Services to discuss their request
  • Assume personal responsibility by meeting with faculty and staff and requesting help when needed
  • Inform Student Accessibility Services in a timely manner should any problem with accommodations arise

Student Accessibility Services Responsibilities

  • Work with the student, staff and faculty to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations to allow equal access for students with disabilities
  • Provide students with a central location to resolve disability issues
  • Provide assistance with academic skills, such as organization, time management and study skills
  • Serve in an advisory capacity for students with disabilities
  • Maintain student privacy

Examples of Academic Accommodations Provided

  • Extended time on tests
  • Distraction-reduced test environment
  • Note taker in class
  • Use of a computer for note taking, written assignments and tests
  • Access to the instructor's lecture notes
  • Permission to audio record class lecture
  • Special seating in the classroom
  • Adaptive equipment/assistive technology
  • Test Scribe and/or Test Reader
  • Enlarged print
  • Attendance leniency

Contact Information

Student Accessibility and Academic Support
Student Accessibility Services
Academic Success Center, 2nd Floor, Technology Building 
(813) 257-3266
accessibility.services@ut.edu

Website: Student Accessibility Services