Services for Students with Disabilities (DSS) provides services to students with disabilities to ensure accessibility to university programs. DSS offers accommodations counseling, evaluation referral, disability-related information, adaptive technology counseling and equipment, and interpreter services for academically related purposes. DSS does not offer disability evaluation and/or testing, tutoring, personal expenses, attendants or scholarships.

A disability is defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Learning is an example of a major life activity. If you have a mental or physical condition, a history of such a condition, or a condition which may be considered by others as substantially limiting, you may have a legally defined disability.

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.

Appropriate academic adjustments create an 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. Such modifications may include an adjustment in the amount of time allowed to complete a degree, substitution of degree requirements, and adaptation of the manner in which specific courses are conducted.

Students with disabilities must apply to TAMUK through the regular admissions procedure. There are no special admissions procedures. A student may, however, apply to Educational Testing Services for provision of accommodations when taking standardized tests such as the SAT. Contact Educational Testing Services for further information.

If you suspect you have a disability that is impacting your academic performance, you will need to provide documentation of that disability to the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (DSS). This documentation must be supplied by a qualified professional who is licensed or certified to diagnose the disability in question. An appointment should be scheduled withe the DSS Coordinator in the DSS Office to review the documentation and the need for services. Students with disabilities must also register with Services for Students with Disabilities. Clients of DSS must register with DSS every semester that they are enrolled.

Acceptable documentation should reflect the following:

1. A specific diagnosis (including level of security).
2. The specific findings in support of this diagnosis including relevant history, tests administered, test results and an interpretation of those test results.
3. A description of the student's functional limitations as they are directly related to the stated disabilities.
4. Specific recommendations for academic accommodations for both the curriculum and testing, including an expression of why these specific accommodations are needed.
5. The evaluator's name, address, telephone number (in the event our office needs to contact the evaluator) and professional credential relevant to the diagnosis.
6. The documentation must be on letterhead, typed, dated, and signed.

Academic accommodations include, but are not limited to, extended testing time, interpreters, note takers, scribes, reader services (e.g., books on tape), registration assistance, and adaptive technology services.

DSS is a resource for information including, but not limited to, tutoring services, study skills, time management, community resources, disability awareness, and various university services.

The IEP is a valuable resource of information, but it cannot be used as documentation of the disability.

Students who are 18 years old or older are legally recognized as adults. In this case, the student is responsible for his/her own accommodation requests and disability-related decisions. However, students are encouraged to have an open dialogue with their parents. Parents can be a wonderful source of support.

Students with physical disabilities are encouraged to register with DSS every semester so that the DSS coordinator can help them with access to buildings and others university activities. DSS maintains a current listing of all building accessibility information.

If you have a TRC counselor in you home town, your are encouraged to have your counselor contact TRC in Kingsville at the Texas A&M-Kingsville University campus so that services can be provided through the local office. The number to the Texas A&M-Kingsville TRC office is (361) 592-5156.

If you have a TCB counselor in you home town, you are encouraged to have your home counselor contact DSS to provide information about your accessibility needs. If you don’t have a hometown TCB counselor, contact TCB in Corpus Christi, Texas. The telephone number is (361) 289-1128 or you may also call 1-800-687-7015.

Students who are legally blind (20/200 corrected in better eye or field of view no larger than 15 degrees) can receive a waiver which will cover virtually all educational expenses at a Texas state educational institution. Students who are not legally blind but have 20/70 corrected or better vision or field of view no larger than 30 degrees may also receive financial support and services.

Adaptive Technology is the use of technology to provide equal access to information. ATS offers adaptive support services for students with disabilities such as, textbook scanning, adaptive software, and many other adaptive technology services.

If you think you may benefit from a technology accommodation, ask DSS staff or the Coordinator for information. A full-time professional staff member can advise you on technologies that may work for you. Even better, if you qualify for disability services, the equipment and software you need may be provided at no charge.

In order to take advantage of extended services such as scanning, etc., you need to register with the DSS office located in the Life Services and Wellness Building at 1210 Retama Drive Room 125, EVERY SEMESTER you wish to use the services. From there, you will be given an appointment with the DSS Coordinator or an DSS Staff member.