As a college student with a disability, you likely have certain expectations both for yourself and for your school. You understand that your disability, whether physical, intellectual, or behavioral, will make certain aspects of your college experience more challenging, and you’ll do all you can to rise to those challenges. At the same time, you probably expect your college or university to do its part in making your educational and campus life as manageable as possible.

Students at the University of Texas at Dallas are tackling college life in the heart of one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, which can be both exciting and overwhelming. For students with disabilities, this can pose even greater challenges and, hopefully, greater rewards. UT Dallas offers special accommodations for students with disabilities, working to give equal access and opportunities to these students.

Despite the school’s best efforts, students with disabilities may at times find themselves dissatisfied with the accommodations UT Dallas provides. If you’re a student or the parent of a student in this situation, the Student Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm can help. We have years of experience protecting the rights of students at colleges and universities nationwide. We can intervene with the school on your behalf to ensure that UT Dallas fulfills its responsibilities to students with disabilities and gives you what you need. Call us at 888.535.3686 or fill out our confidential online form to learn more.

Getting Accommodations at UT Dallas

At UT Dallas, the school’s AccessAbility Resource Center (ARC) is the go-to source for accommodation services for students with disabilities. Students must apply with ARC to have access to these services.

Students have to apply online through ARC’s Request for Services form using your school ID number. The form requires your treating professional to complete documentation on your behalf. UT Dallas recommends that students complete this form as early as possible, since it’s the first step to receiving accommodations, including disability accommodations in student housing.

The application includes specific paperwork for a variety of disabilities, including:

  • ADD/ADHD

  • Asperger’s, autism, and persistent depressive disorder

  • Medical, physical, and health conditions

  • Psychiatric or psychological conditions

  • Learning disabilities

  • Verification of a physical or medical disability

  • All other disabilities

After completing the application online, you can request an appointment for an intake meeting. You can also request letters of accommodation for your professors for testing accommodations and then schedule meetings with the professors to discuss those accommodations.

ARC determines appropriate and reasonable accommodations for each student on an individual basis and advises students not to expect the same accommodations they got in high school or at other colleges.

Types of Accommodations at UT Dallas

UT Dallas offers a variety of accommodations to help students with disabilities in both academic work and campus life. The most common accommodations at UT Dallas include note takers, extended time for test taking, printed materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, and the use of assistive technology.

Some of the specific policies on disability-related accommodations include:

Service animals. UT Dallas complies with state laws related to service animals. This means that service animals, including those in training, are allowed in public facilities, and the school can’t require documentation of the animal’s training or certification. Emotional support animals, on the other hand, are generally restricted to residential facilities, including common areas.

Housing and dining. UT Dallas tries to enable students with disabilities to fully participate in the campus living experience as much as possible. Students can request housing and meal plan accommodations online through ARC. ARC provides housing accommodations on a space-available basis. These can include physically altering a room for medical or psychological needs or providing a specific room type that accommodates the student. Meal plan alternatives cater to medically based dietary requirements, not personal food choices or preferences.

Transportation. UT Dallas offers transportation services for students with disabilities. These include accessible parking permits, wheelchair-accessible Comet Cabs, and DART Paratransit Services, which provide curb-to-curb public transportation for students with disabilities.

Accommodated testing. Students with disabilities can request accommodation letters for testing accommodations through the student portal. UT Dallas urges students to submit these requests as early as possible each semester. You’ll then meet with your professors, and they’ll have to complete an Alternative Testing Agreement through the online instructor portal. You can then schedule each exam through the student portal at least 5 days before the test.

These are just a few examples of UT Dallas’s accommodations and protocols for students with disabilities. UT Dallas encourages students to work with ARC to make sure the school can accommodate your specific needs.

If you find yourself struggling to get UT Dallas to provide reasonable and adequate accommodations, the Student Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm can work with the school to make sure they’re fulfilling their obligations to students with disabilities.

UT Dallas Procedures for Addressing Insufficient Accommodations

Trying to get the accommodations you need when your school isn’t cooperating can be extremely frustrating. UT Dallas has specific procedures in place to help you address your grievances if you feel you’re facing disability-related discrimination or aren’t receiving the accommodations or services you need for equal access.

UT Dallas divides complaints into three categories:

  • Physical barriers preventing access

  • Failure to accommodate; attitudinal discrimination; disability-based harassment

  • Policy and procedures preventing access

UT Dallas encourages students to try to resolve their issues directly with the relevant person or department before filing a formal complaint. If this doesn’t work, you should let the ARC director know of your complaints. The director will then investigate the situation and suggest solutions. If you can’t reach a resolution this way, you can discuss the issue with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator in Institutional Compliance, who will advise you of the next steps to file a formal complaint.

If you reach the point where you need to file a formal complaint, you must submit the complaint within 30 calendar days of the incident in question, unless circumstances such as hospitalization or incapacitation prevent you from doing so.

The written complaint must include the category of the complaint and a description of the incident or discrimination. You must also include details and a description of how you tried to resolve the issue directly with the individuals involved, as well as the resolution you’re looking for.

The ADA coordinator will then acknowledge receipt of the complaint within 5 days and initiate an investigation. An investigator will interview the people involved and gather all relevant evidence. You can have an advisor with you during any of these interviews.

The investigator must give his findings to the appropriate school vice president within 30 days, and the two will then meet to discuss the case. Within 10 days of that meeting, the vice president can:

  • Request further investigation.

  • Dismiss the complaint.

  • Conclude that a policy violation occurred and impose disciplinary actions, such as a written reprimand, reassignment, suspension without pay, or termination.

In the case of a complaint against other students for discrimination, the investigator will work with the Dean of Students rather than a school vice president to resolve the matter. Disciplinary actions for other students can include a documented warning, the imposition of conditions, probation, suspension, or dismissal.

Obviously, going through this grievance process while still trying to go to your classes, complete all your assignments, and carry on with your daily college life can be distracting and stressful. That’s why you should turn to the LLF National Law Firm.

The LLF National Law Firm Can Help

The Student Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm has a long and successful track record of working with colleges and universities nationwide to protect students’ rights. As a college student with a disability, you likely want to manage the challenges of your disability in a way that makes you feel independent and self-sufficient. At the same time, it’s in your best interest to know when to turn to professional help.

If you feel that UT Dallas is failing to fulfill its obligations to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for your disability, you don’t need to fight that battle alone. The smart move is to turn to a legal team that knows how to communicate with universities to achieve the desired outcome with the least amount of stress and conflict possible. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team can help you:

  • Identify the specific ways that UT Dallas can help you get equal access.

  • Determine when the school is falling short of its obligations.

  • Collect evidence to support your case when you have to try to reach an informal resolution with the people involved in the dispute.

  • Prepare your formal complaint and make sure it includes all the required information and the strongest evidence to support your argument.

  • Accompany you to interviews with investigators and make sure you have all the information you need to answer their questions.

  • Protect your rights and reach the best resolution possible.

Navigating the complaint process is likely intimidating and nerve-wracking. The LLF National Law Firm can give you the support you need so that you can focus on what matters—getting the best education possible and enjoying your college experience. Call us at 888.535.3686 or complete our online contact form to schedule a consultation.

University of Texas, Dallas

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