Sul Ross State University

SRSU Disability Services

General Information and Procedures

General Information

Sul Ross State University supports equal employment and educational opportunities for all persons. No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored by Sul Ross State University on any basis prohibited by applicable law, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability.

The university is committed to equal access in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Career/Life Center Coordinator has the responsibility to assist students with disabilities in gaining opportunities for full participation in programs, services and activities.

The Career/Life Center is located in University Center, Room 211-C. Mailing address is Box C-171, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas 79832. The phone number is (432) 832-8178 and the fax is (432) 837-8724.

Services Available

Services available to all SRSU students include consultation, information and referral as well as personal counseling and academic advising. A student is eligible for disability services if he or she has been admitted to Sul Ross State University and has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Qualified students with disabilities who need academic adjustments, auxiliary aids or services or other accommodations to ensure equal access must register with the Career/Life Center Coordinator. It is the student's responsibility to bring disability documentation with them to an appointment with the Coordinator and to discuss their individual needs at this time.

Each request is considered on an individualized, case-by-case basis. As considerable time may be involved in obtaining complete and adequate documentation and arranging for qualified service providers, both prospective and current students should request services in a timely manner, well in advance of the anticipated need.

Documentation of Status

Recent disability documentation from appropriate qualified professionals must be provided by the student to establish current functional limitations and the impact of the disability. Any recommendations for specific accommodations may be helpful in making determinations and these will be considered as part of the documentation review process.

Documentation of disability status and other related information is considered highly confidential and is kept in secure, locked files in the Coordinator's office. This information is handled with the same level of confidentiality as other medical records and is maintained in files separate from a student's educational record.

Accommodations

Both acadenmic and non-academic accommodation requests are received by Disability Services (Career/Life Center). Requests involving a non-academic accommodation such as university housing, etc. will be processed through the appropriate department. Academic accommodations for which a student is eligible are outlined in letters to faculty members.

It is the responsibility of the student to hand-deliver these letters and arrange to discuss their accommodations with faculty members. If requested, the coordinator is available to facilitate communication between students and faculty members regarding accommodations by meeting with the student and the faculty member. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the coordinator in a timely manner if accommodations are not effective or if any additional accommodatioins are requested.

In compliance with applicable laws, unless Sul Ross State University can demonstrate that an academic requirement is essential component of a degree or program, the university will make reasonable adjustments to requirements to ensure that the requirements do not discriminate against qualified students with disabilities.

A student with a disability may request a course substitution or a modification of a degree or program requirement through the following process.

Contact Information

The student's first point of contact for assistance with this process should be the Career/Life Center Coordinator.The student should submit:

1. A written request for the modification explaining his/her difficulties in the relevant areas and reasons for requesting the modification.

2. Information about the results of previous efforts in the relevant area (transcripts, etc.).

3. Submit comprehensive documentation of the disability and the specific aspects of the disability which impair the student's ability to learn or perform in the area in which the student is requesting the modification.

The Career/Life Center Coordinator will meet with the student, review the documentation and prepare a recommendation on the request.

If a student feels that he/she has been discriminated against based on disability, it is recommended that the student first attempt to resolve the issue with the individual or group suspected of discrimination. If this procedure is non-productive, a second step may be to seek assistance from the Career/Life Center. Students may also file with the approppriate University officer for ADA/504 Compliance, according to the student grievance procedure.