The first appointment with The Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is the New Student Meeting. During the initial meeting with staff, SAS policies and procedures are discussed with the student. It is the responsibility of the student to make their needs known and to provide the appropriate documentation to support their requests.

The student is responsible for requesting accommodations letters generated by The Office of Student Accessibility Services to be emailed the instructors. Students are encouraged to meet with their instructors to discuss their testing and other accommodations and to answer any questions the instructors may have.

In the event, the accommodations are not meeting the student’s needs, or the accommodations are not being met by the instructor, it is the student’s responsibility to contact SAS to discuss the situation.

Emotional Support Animals also referred to as companion animals, fall under the direction of FHA/HUD regulations, not ADA. Requests to bring animals to campus to serve as ESAs are handled by The Office of Student Accessibility Services and Residence Life. Students interested in the ESA process at Tarleton State University should contact the SAS to arrange an appointment.

The ESA is not allowed on campus property until official approval is granted. Students who violate this policy will receive communication of the violation and will be penalized as deemed appropriate by the Office of Residential Living and in accordance with this agreement/policy.

A disability is defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Learning is an example of a major life activity

According to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, substantially limiting is defined as being unable to perform a major life activity, or significantly restricted as to the condition, manner, or duration under which a major life activity can be performed, in comparison to the average person or to most people.

According to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a major life activity is defined as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. The ADA Amendment Acts of 2008 expanded this list to also include eating, sleeping, standing, lifting, reading, bending, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. In addition, the ADAAA also includes major bodily functions (e.g., “functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions”).

Appropriate academic accommodations create equal access to education, as long as it doesn’t require a substantial change in an essential element of the curriculum. This is determined by the institution.

In college, students with disabilities are covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and under the Americans with Disabilities Act. IDEA no longer applies. Since this is the case, the legal obligations change. There is no special education in college. Under IDEA, it is the responsibility of the schools to provide services and seek out students with disabilities. Colleges do not have to seek out students with disabilities. It is the student’s responsibility to seek out services through The Office of Student Accessibility Services.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a law administered by the Office of Special Education Programs in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the U.S. Department of Education. This law does not apply to higher education.

The responsibilities of students with disabilities in Higher Education institutions are very different from those of high schools. High schools are required under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) to identify the educational needs of students with a disability and provide free and appropriate education. This responsibility is not required of Higher Education institutions. Higher Education institutions are required to provide appropriate academic accommodations to ensure that a student with a disability is not discriminated against. The student is responsible for disclosing his or her disability to the institution and making specific accommodation requests.

If you suspect you have a disability that is substantially impacting your academic performance, you will need to complete the online accommodation application and provide documentation of that disability to the Office of Student Accessibility Services. This documentation must be supplied by a qualified professional who is licensed or certified to diagnose the disability in question. The Office of Student Accessibility Services will follow up with the student once the information has been reviewed.

Students who are 18 years old or older are legally recognized as adults. In this case, the student is responsible for their own accommodation requests and disability-related decisions. However, parents can be a wonderful source of support.

A student with a disability is responsible for requesting accommodations through The Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS). SAS will not seek students out. A student with a disability is also responsible for providing acceptable documentation of their disability that supports the accommodation requests.