Student Guidelines

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
  • View our full Note Taker Accommodation Process and Policy (PDF) for details 
• 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