Information for Students
Eligibility for Services
Federal law defines a disability as "any mental or physical condition
that substantially limits an individual's ability to perform one or
more major life activities." Major life activities include learning,
working, walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, and attending to matters
of personal care. The physical or mental impairment must be serious
enough to substantially limit functioning in at least one major life
activity. Disabilities may include:
- Physical disabilities
- Learning disabilities
- Visual or hearing impairments
- Chronic diseases or medical conditions
- Neurological impairments
- Communication disorders
- Psychological disabilities
- Attention Deficit Disorder
Students with disabilities requesting services and accommodations at
UTSA must complete the following steps:
- Apply and be accepted for admission to UTSA through the regular
admission process. Information on the admission process can be obtained
from the UTSA Office of Admissions. UTSA does not discriminate on
the basis of disability in the recruitment and admission of students.
Students with disabilities must satisfy the same requirements and
follow the same process for admission as every other student.
- Provide current and comprehensive documentation that includes a
diagnosis of the disability and describes the functional limitations
the student experiences in an academic environment. Individualized
Educational Plans (IEP's) and Section 504 plans, while often valuable
sources of information, do not constitute acceptable documentation
of disability for higher education. For more information about documentation
guidelines at UTSA, see below.
- Schedule an appointment with DS after being admitted to UTSA to
discuss needs and to register for services.
Printable versions of the UTSA documentation guidelines are available
for download in both html and Adobe portable document format (PDF).
In order to read and print the PDF versions, you may need to download
and install the free Acrobat
Reader.
Documentation of Physical Disabilities
(PDF)
(HTML)
Documentation of Learning Disabilities
(PDF) (HTML)
Documentation of Psychological Disabilities/ADHD
(PDF)
(HTML)
Documentation of Hearing Impairments
(PDF)
(HTML)
Confidentiality and Release of Information
Disability Services (DS) is committed to ensuring that all information
and communication concerning a student's disability is maintained as
confidential. Disability-related information is collected and maintained
on separate forms and kept in secure files with access limited to authorized
DS staff. Information regarding a disability may be shared with UTSA
faculty and staff only on a limited basis and only for the purposes
of ensuring appropriate accommodation, providing a service or benefit
to the student, or performing a task related to the student's education
or student discipline.
Information in DS student files is protected by the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
DS is prohibited from releasing information concerning a student's
disability to individuals or agencies outside the University without
written authorization of the student. A student may request that DS
disclose disability-related information to persons or agencies outside
the University by signing an Authorization to Release Records and Information
form. Before giving such authorization, the student should understand
the purpose of the release and to whom the information is being released.
A student's file may be released to comply with a court order or subpoena.
A student has the right to review his/her own file with reasonable
notification to the DS director.
Campus Accessibility
Accessibility Map
The accessibility map for the UTSA 1604 campus can be found here (PDF). This map indicates the location of the Via Trans stop, bus stop, accessible parking, and other resources for students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities.
Accessible Parking
To park in disabled spaces on the UTSA campus students must:
- Obtain a state issued disabled license plate or placard/hangtag from the Office of the County Tax Assessor Collector.
- Purchase the least expensive UTSA student parking permit and display with the disabled hangtag or license plate.
State issued disabled permits are the only acceptable evidence of disability.
For more information, contact Parking and Transportation Services at (210) 458-7275 or visit: the UTSA Parking and Transportation Services website.
Housing
Accessible housing is available at the 1604 campus through UTSA
Housing.
Academic Accommodations
Academic accommodations are services that provide equal educational
opportunities for students with disabilities. They are provided on an
individual basis and determined by documented need. DS will work with
students to identify needed services, accommodations, and equipment.
Accommodations available to students include the following:
Letters to Faculty
At the beginning of every semester students registered with DS may
request a letter for each of their classes that verifies disability
and appropriate accommodations. The student hand delivers the letter
to the instructor, giving the student an opportunity to discuss the
nature of the disability and any needs related to that class. DS professional
staff are available to the instructor for consultation if needed.
A Class Schedule form needs to be completed each semester to request that letters be created. The form may be completed in the DS Office or on the Class Schedule form page on the DS website
Test Accommodations
Test accommodations are provided on a case-by-case basis determined
by documented need. Test accommodations available to eligible students
include:
- Quiet room for exams
- Large print, CCTV, or Braille exam
- Extended testing time - DS determines the amount of extended time
based on the nature and severity of the student's disability and the
requirements of the test. For the majority of students, time-and-a-half
the regular test time is provided. Unlimited time for exams is not
considered a reasonable accommodation in higher education.
- Reader for exams
- Scribe for exams
- Computer for essay exams
Test accommodation may be provided by the course instructor, his/her
designee, or DS. To arrange test accommodation with DS, students must:
- Contact DS five business days in advance. Provide the course
name and number, instructor's name, date and time of the test, and
type of accommodation needed.
- Schedule the test for the same day and time as the rest of the class.
Students must obtain permission from the instructor to take tests
with DS on an alternate day or time.
- Arrive promptly at the DS office at the time the test is scheduled.
If a student is late, the time will be deducted from the extended
test time. An exception will be made in case of illness or delays
resulting from problems with VIAtrans.
- Bring a pen, pencil, Scantron, blue book, calculator, and/or whatever
other materials are needed to complete the test.
- DS will provide a proctor for exams. The proctor will administer
the exam according to directions provided by the instructor and ensure
that appropriate accommodations are made. The use of books and/or
notes during exams is generally not considered a reasonable accommodation
for a disability. Students must have permission from the instructor
to use books or notes during tests administered by DS.
- Students who must cancel or postpone a test are responsible for
contacting the instructor and notifying DS to reschedule.
Note-taking Services
UTSA relies upon a volunteer program for note-takers. Instructors identify
a student volunteer from whom the student with a disability
can obtain a copy of class notes. Note-takers can obtain carbonless
paper from DS or have their notes photocopied. Students may pick up
notes from the DS office or directly from the note-taker.
Instructors are asked not to identify students with disabilities when
a note-taker is requested. However, students are strongly encouraged
to identify themselves to their note-takers to facilitate communication.
Students should discuss any problems regarding the notes or note-taker
with the instructor and DS.
Alternative Print Formats
Disability Services (DS) provides textbooks and other materials in
an alternative format as an accommodation for students who cannot read
standard print effectively because of a visual impairment or other disability.
Textbook/print conversion is a time-intensive process, especially for
technical subject matter, and can require several weeks or even months
to complete. To ensure availability of alternative text from the first
day of class, students are advised to register early and submit requests
to DS well in advance of the start of the semester. DS cannot guarantee
timely accommodation for late requests, but will make every effort to
accommodate on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date
the request is submitted. In converting printed text to an alternate
format, DS will consider the student's request for a preferred medium,
the date the material is submitted to DS, the volume and quality of
the printed material, and the expected date of return in making the
decision as to which medium to utilize in converting the material.
When requesting text in an alternative format, the student is responsible
for providing all materials to DS. The student agrees not to copy or
distribute any alternate format text, nor allow anyone else to do so.
All alternative format materials must be returned to DS at the end of
each semester.
Accessible Formats
- RFB&D CDs- students with personal memberships in Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) are responsible for acquiring and returning their own RFB&D audio-recorded texts. Students who are utilizing UTSA's institutional membership to access RFB&D CDs should register early for classes and request an Order Form for Recorded Text from DS. DS will order CDs from RFB&D based on the information provided by the student.
RFB&D will record textbooks not currently available in its audio library upon request. These special orders require six to nine months to process. Students must purchase one copy of each required text, and DS will provide the second copy required by RFB&D to provide this service. The student must acquire appropriate equipment (e.g., RFB&D compatible CD player) as necessary. DS can assist students in purchasing or obtaining equipment on loan.
- Electronic text (E-text) - DS will scan the material electronically and provide to the student as an e-mail attachment, on diskette or CD (compact disc). All files will be scanned and saved in a Word document format. The high-speed scanning process requires that the bindings be removed from the book. DS will rebind the material with plastic comb binding before returning to the student. Since the book has been taken apart, there is virtually no resale value. The student has the option of providing DS with quality Xeroxed copies of the text instead of having the bindings removed from the book.
- Braille - Students can request text materials such as a course syllabus, class handouts, and tests in Braille. Sometimes these materials can be acquired from the instructor already in electronic format, e.g., Word document saved in a diskette. Providing the document to DS in a diskette simplifies the process for converting text to Braille. However, if only a hard copy of the document is available, DS will scan the material and convert it to Braille. DS can convert text to Braille for some short documents on campus. These requests usually take two to three days to process. Requests for lengthy documents such as textbooks or specialized subjects such as math or music must be made well in advance as these materials are sent to outside sources to Braille.
Registration Assistance
Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their academic
advisors for assistance in selecting courses prior to registration.
Following academic advising, DS can assist students in completing the
registration process. Students with a disability-related need to register
earlier than their regularly scheduled time should discuss their needs
with DS.
Interpreter Services
Disability Services (DS) will provide interpreter services for classes,
related academic requirements, and non-academic out-of-class activities
sponsored by the University. Interpreter services are in high demand
and the availability of qualified interpreters is limited. Providing
interpreter services requires advance planning and cooperation from
the student to ensure that effective services are provided in a timely
and cost effective manner.
If you need to request an interpreter for an University event please
contact the Interpreter Coordinator at least three business days in
advance.
Beatrice Amaro-Chavez,
Interpreter Coordinator
(210) 458-7757
beatrice.chavez@utsa.edu
Enrollment
New students must schedule an appointment with the DS director and
interpreter coordinator to discuss needs, register for services, and
provide documentation of disability and resultant need for interpreter
services. New students are urged to register at least three weeks before
the beginning of a new semester to better ensure that an interpreter
is available.
Ongoing students are strongly encouraged to use priority registration
and finalize their schedules far in advance of the first class day to
better ensure availability of qualified interpreters. Switching sections
or making schedule changes may result in delay of services because of
scheduling problems. The interpreter coordinator will assist students
in scheduling classes to ensure maximum benefit from minimum interpreter
time.
UTSA Policies Concerning Interpreters
Special Request for an Interpreter
To request an interpreter for a meeting or special event, you must fill
out the "Special Request for Interpreter" form and submit
it to the interpreter coordinator. The form is available below or in
the DS Interpreter office.
The request should be submitted at least 3 business days prior to the
meeting or special event. Any request received with less than 3 business
days notice will be considered a "last minute request". We
will make every effort to fill that request, but cannot guarantee interpreter
availability.
Requests may be submitted by the following means:
- In Person-Completed forms may be submitted in person at the UTSA 1604 Campus in room MS 2.03.18.
- Fax-Completed forms can be faxed to Beatrice at (210) 458-4980.
- Email-Only the Microsoft Word format form can be submitted by email. Submit completed request forms to beatrice.chavez@utsa.edu.
Special Request for Interpreter form-PDF
(The free Acrobat Reader is required to view/print this form)
Special Request for Interpreter form-Microsoft Word
(Microsoft Word is required to view/complete/print this form.)
Please provide detailed information about the appointment, including
date, starting time, ending time, location, person you are meeting,
and type of appointment.
All interpreting done outside of class time must be requested through
the interpreter coordinator.
Cancellations
Students are responsible for notifying DS 24 hours in advance if they
will not be in class. If a class is missed three times without 24 hours
notice, interpreter services will be suspended until the student has
met with the Interpreter Coordinator of DS. An exception will be made
in cases where failure to provide timely notice was beyond the student's
control.
No Show Policy
The No-Show policy provides for three absences per class, per semester.
This gives you a chance to miss class due to emergency or illness. A
No-show is any cancellation given with less than 24-hours notice. If
a student does not show up at the beginning of class, the interpreter
will wait for 15 minutes before leaving. This will be counted as a No-show
even if the student shows up for the class after the interpreter leaves.
1st No-Show: FREE. We understand that conflicts can arise at the last
minute.
2nd No-Show: REMINDER.
3rd No-Show: HOLD. Interpreter services for that specific class will
be suspended until you meet with the DS director and interpreter coordinator
to reinstate services.
You will be notified in writing when you have a HOLD for interpreter
services. Contact the DS office immediately to schedule a meeting. At
that meeting we will discus the policy and allow you the opportunity
to explain your situation. Special circumstances, such as serious illness
or family emergency, will be taken into consideration. After the meeting
services may be reinstated for that class. If you have questions about
the No-show policy, please feel free to meet with the interpreter coordinator.
Roles and Responsibilities of Interpreter
Role of the Interpreter
The interpreter's role is to facilitate communication between the hearing
impaired student and the hearing persons in his/her educational environment.
Interpreter services are provided to give you the same opportunity to
realize your academic potential, based on your own abilities and efforts,
as is provided to your hearing classmates. Please remember that the
interpreter is not to serve as an instructor, note-taker, tutor, counselor,
or advisor. In class, if you do not understand something that was said
or feel that you have missed something, ask the instructor to repeat
it or explain it. The interpreter is not responsible for retaining or
repeating information you miss.
Interpreter's Ethics
UTSA interpreters follow a strict code of ethics, which ensures that
all information is confidential. Interpreters may not participate in
class, socialize with you or other students while on the hob, or discuss
your grades or progress with anyone.
Interpreters are expected to be on time for class. If an interpreter
does not show up for class, please wait ten minutes before contacting
DS Interpreter office. A replacement will be sent if one is available.
Monitoring of Services
The interpreter coordinator is responsible for assigning interpreters
based on professional knowledge of your communication needs and the
skills of the interpreter. The coordinator may monitor the classroom
situation occasionally throughout the semester to ensure that the assignment
continues to be appropriate for you and the interpreter.
Feel free to communicate directly with your interpreters if you are
having difficulty understanding their communication style. If you are
not satisfied with the interpreter service or if the interpreter wishes
to be replaced, the interpreter coordinator should be contacted so that
appropriate action can be taken.
At the end of each semester, students will be asked to evaluate interpreter
services. This information assists DS in its efforts to provide quality
services. Your feedback is important to us, so please let the interpreter
coordinator know if you have questions or concerns about interpreter
services.
Captioning Services
Captioning is an accommodation that provides equal access to classroom information for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, especially those who do not use sign language as their primary mode of communication. The captionist uses a laptop computer to type the words of the instructor and other students as they are being spoken, and the student reads the text on the computer screen. The captioned text represents very closely what was said in class and includes all important content.
The captionist will copy the text of the class onto a USB drive provided by the student. The student can print a copy of the notes in any of UTSA’s student computer labs.
Eligibility for Captioning Services
New students must schedule an appointment with the Disability Services (DS) director and interpreter coordinator to discuss needs, register for services, and provide documentation of a hearing loss and resultant need for captioning services. Accommodation decisions are determined on a case-by-case basis by the director and interpreter coordinator in consultation with a certified audiologist, when appropriate. The following are considered in determining if captioning is a reasonable accommodation:
- Results of an audiological evaluation documenting the nature and severity of the hearing loss.
- The student’s ability to benefit from accommodations such as preferential seating and amplification with an FM system.
- The student’s previous experience using sign or oral interpreters. Captioning is generally not considered appropriate for students whose primary mode of communication is American Sign Language (ASL).
- The student’s English literacy skills must be sufficient to allow for reading and comprehension of the text of the lecture.
- The nature of the class – captioning is primarily used for lecture classes, especially those with technical or specialized vocabulary.
All students are urged to utilize priority registration and register at least three weeks before the beginning of a new semester to better ensure that a captionist is available. Switching sections or making last-minute schedule changes may result in a delay of services due to scheduling conflicts and captionist availability.
Student Responsibilities
- Participate actively in class by voicing for yourself or typing your comments/questions on the laptop. The captionist will read aloud what has been typed.
- You are responsible for taking notes from the chalkboard or overhead.
- Captioned notes are not guaranteed to have 100% correct grammar or spelling. If there are vocabulary words you are responsible for, it is strongly suggested that you double-check the spelling in a dictionary.
- Notes from captioning are for your personal use ONLY and may not be copied or shared with other students without permission from the instructor.
- Inform the captionist if you are having difficulty with the text display or notes. Feel free to suggest ways to adjust the use of captioning to better meet your needs.
- Captioning is not a substitute for class attendance or paying attention in class. The captionist will begin typing when you arrive in class. If you do not show up at the beginning of class, the captionist will wait fifteen minutes before leaving.
Cancellations
If you know you will not be attending a class, contact the interpreter coordinator (458-7757) or DS office (458-4157) immediately. You can use Relay Texas to leave a message for DS 24 hours a day. We ask that you provide notice of cancellation at least 24 hours in advance so that we can cancel the captionist and ensure that captioning services are not wasted when students do not attend class.
No-Show Policy
The No-Show policy provides for three absences per class, per semester. This gives you a chance to miss class due to emergency or illness. A No-Show is any cancellation given with less than 24-hours notice. If a student does not show up at the beginning of class, the captionist will wait for 15 minutes before leaving. This will be counted as a No-Show even if the student shows up for the class after the captionist leaves.
1st no-Show: FREE. We understand that conflicts can arise at the last minute.
2nd No-Show: REMINDER. We will send a reminder that you have two No-Shows for that class.
3rd No-Show: HOLD. Captioning services for that class will be suspended until you meet with the the DS director and interpreter coordinator to reinstate services.
You will be notified in writing when you have a HOLD for captioning services. Contact the DS office immediately to schedule a meeting. At this meeting we will discuss the policy and allow you an opportunity to explain your situation. Special circumstances, such as serious illness or family emergency, will be taken into consideration. After the meeting services may be reinstated for that class. If you have questions about the No-Show policy, please contact the interpreter coordinator.
Monitoring of Services
The interpreter coordinator is responsible for assigning captionists and may monitor the classroom situation occasionally throughout the semester to ensure that the assignment continues to be appropriate for you and the captionist. Your feedback is important to us, so be sure to let the interpreter coordinator know if you have questions, concerns, or suggestions for improving captioning services.
Other Services
Counseling and Advocacy Services
DS professional staff are available to advise students with any disability-related
concern. Supportive counseling is provided to assist students in developing
and applying effective learning strategies and self-advocacy skills.
DS can also refer students to additional counseling resources on campus
or in the community.
Library and Bookstore Assistance
DS can assist students in accessing items in the library or bookstore.
Students are responsible for scheduling assistance in advance.
Classroom Furniture
Students who require a table or special chair in a classroom should
contact the DS coordinator at the campus where the furniture is needed.
Placement of a table and reserved sign will be discussed when a request
is made for a reserved table/desk/chair.
Other Services as Requested
If a student needs a service not described on this website, and if
it is within the bounds of reasonable accommodation, DS will make every
effort to provide that service. Students are responsible for making
their needs known to DS, providing appropriate documentation, and submitting
requests in a timely manner.
UTSA does not provide personal attendants, individually prescibed devices,
readers for personal use or study, or other personal devices or services.
DS can refer students to appropriate resources in the community.
Technological Resources
Increasingly, higher education employs technology in delivering academic
programs and services. UTSA is part of this exciting computer/internet
based technological trend.
At UTSA (both in the 1604 and downtown campus), the following technologies
are available in the Adaptive Technology section of the student computing
labs:
- Voice recognition (Dragon Naturally Speaking)
- Screen reader (JAWS and Window Eyes)
- Text scanning with Optical Character Recognition
- Adaptive mouse (glide point, track ball)
- Zoom text
- CCTV
- Braille embossing
These hardware and software technologies are for exclusive use by DS-registered
students.
An adaptive technology specialist is available to familiarize students
on the use of these technologies. To make an appointment for familiarization
and training on the use of these equipment, including the use of course
related technologies such as Web-CT and internet access, call the adaptive
technology specialist at 458-4558.
In the 1604 campus, the student computing labs are located in MS 1.03.06
and BB 2.01.20. In the downtown campus, the computing lab is in FS 2.404.
Other Resources
Assistive devices available in the DS office include:
- Motorized scooters (Amigos)
- Teletypewriter (TTY)
- Audio enhancement systems
- Four-track cassette tape player
- Franklin Spelling Ace
- Large-print dictionary
Attendance and Disability
Students most likely to request modified attendance policies are those with health-related disabilities that flare up episodically. This might include students with lupus or fibromyalgia, sickle cell anemia, seizure disorders, cancer, migraines, and conditions requiring dialysis. Students with psychological disabilities who are experiencing an exacerbation of symptoms may also request modification of attendance policies.
Federal law requires colleges and universities to consider reasonable modification of attendance policies if required to accommodate a student’s disability. In making this determination, two questions must be answered:
- Does the student have a documented disability that directly affects his/her ability to attend class on a regular basis? Disability Services will make this determination based on a review of documentation from the student’s physician or psychologist and provide verification in a letter the student presents to the instructor.
- Is attendance an essential part of the class? Would modification of attendance policies result in a fundamental alteration of the curriculum? Faculty make this determination in consultation with Disability Services.
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has provided the following guidelines to assess if attendance is an essential part of a class:
- Is there classroom interaction between the instructor and students and among students?
- Do student contributions constitute a significant component of the learning process?
- Does the fundamental nature of the course rely on student participation as an essential method for learning?
- To what degree does a student’s failure to attend constitute a significant loss to the educational experience of other students in the class?
- What do the course description and syllabus say?
- Which method is used to calculate the final grade?
- What are the classroom practices and policies regarding attendance?
Disability Services recommends that students with a disability-related need for flexibility in attendance meet with their instructors to discuss the extent to which modification in attendance policies may be reasonable for a particular class. The student and instructor should have a clear understanding of what accommodation can be made for disability-related absences. In cases where attendance is an essential part of the class, a medical or mental health withdrawal may be considered a reasonable accommodation if absences become excessive.
Disability Services is available to consult with faculty on issues concerning disability and attendance. For more information, contact Lorraine Harrison or Travis Irby at the 1604 campus (458-4157) or Beverly Brown at the downtown campus (458-2945).
Grievance Procedure
Students with complaints about any service, accommodation, or equipment
provided by DS should make every attempt to resolve their concerns with
DS professional staff. If these attempts do not result in a satisfactory
resolution of the problem, a formal grievance procedure is available
to the student. More information about the grievance procedure can be
found here.
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