More ADA Resources
Service Animals
Service animals are welcome in all buildings on campus and may accompany an individual to any class, meeting, or event on or off campus, if the activity pertains to the curriculum.
- A service animal is defined as "any dog [or miniature horse] that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability."
- Service animals are not required to wear any distinctive symbols, harnesses, or collars. In addition, the law does not dictate the breed or size of dog that may be utilized.
- Students are not required to register with Student Disability Services or otherwise obtain permission to be accompanied by a service animal on campus or in the classroom.
- If it is apparent that an animal is a service animal, university staff and faculty should not ask the individual any questions about the animal's status. If it is unclear if the animal is a service animal, university staff or faculty can ask the individual only two questions:
- Is the animal required because of a disability?
- What task or service has the service animal been trained to perform?
If the individual answers that the animal is required because of a disability and has been trained to perform at least one task, the animal is a service animal, and no other questions may be asked. Individuals should never be asked about their disabilities, nor should they be asked to provide any license, certification, or identification card for the service animal.
If you have questions or are requesting additional information regarding service animals, please contact the UTSA ADA Coordinator by email ada@utsa.edu or Student Disability Services at 210-458-4157 or disability.services@utsa.edu
Event Management
For event planning and disability considerations, the following tools are helpful:
Planning Tips
- Invite your participants to make requests for accommodations on all of your communication (i.e., registration forms, flyers, web pages, e-mails and printed material).
- You can include an accommodation statement on your registration form, flyers, and computer or print advertisements, such as:
- Please list any special dietary requirements
- Please list any special accessibility requirements
- There are standardized symbols that can be used on all conference/meeting promotion, registration forms, information materials, and facility signage. These symbols may be downloaded from the Graphic Artists Guild.
- Planners can arrange for all promotional material to be available in alternative formats, such as Braille, large print, or computer disk.
- In all conference/meeting materials, make participants aware that accommodations can be made for a variety of needs.
For Deaf Interpreter services, Video Remote Interpreting and Captioning services contact Student Disability Services and/or Academic Innovations for appropriate sign language interpreter referrals and captioning referrals.
Additional Resources for Persons with Disabilities
Employment Resource Opportunities for People with Disabilities
Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
Relay Texas
(1-800-RELAY-TX for TDD users; 1-800-RELAY-VV for voice calls) Relay Texas provides comprehensive access to the telephone network by Texans who are telecommunicatively challenged (deaf, deaf-blind, hard-of-hearing or speech-impaired), and to allow hearing persons a way to contact persons with these disabilities.
Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation Services
