Student FAQ
General
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How can Student Accessibility Services (SAS) help me?
Each student is unique, so the answer to this question is different for each person. You, in consultation with the Counselor, will discuss and agree on accommodations for which you appear to qualify. Some of the most common services are listed on our website at www.utrgv.edu/accessibility. -
Can I visit SAS even if I don’t have documentation with me?
Yes. SAS encourages you to contact the Office whether or not you have documentation of a disability on hand. We recognize that third party documentation can be difficult to obtain, and we don’t want to create unnecessary barriers. However, any external documentation you can provide, such as IEP/504 plans, recent evaluations, hospital reports, and letters from doctors, psychologists, the VA or Social Security, etc., can be helpful. -
How can I find out if I qualify for support from SAS?
The best way to find out if you qualify is to visit the office. Online or distant students can begin by writing or calling. (See link to contact us page.) You will then be able to have a conversation with one of the Counselors about your goals and about barriers you have had in school or that you expect in college.3 -
How will my professors know what accommodations I need?
Upon your request each semester, we will provide you with Letters of Accommodation for you to use to introduce yourself to your professors. The form lists the accommodations for which you are eligible. The professor will sign the form and you will return it to SAS. -
When should I pick up my Letters of Accommodation?
We recommend you pick up your letters at or just before the beginning of each semester so that you can talk to your professors as soon as possible. Although there is no deadline for picking up Letters of Accommodation from SAS, be aware that accommodations can take time to implement and are not retroactive. -
If I register with SAS, will my information be kept confidential?
Yes, the fact that you are registered with SAS is a private matter and does not appear on any of your official college records. However, when you talk to your professor about your accommodations, he or she will become aware that you qualify for these services. The Letter of Accommodation states that the information on it is to be kept confidential. -
Can you help students with disabilities in online classes?
Yes. If you have a disability and plan to take UTRGV courses online or at an extension site, we encourage you to contact SAS. Don’t worry about whether you have documentation at first. Our first priority is to get to know you. Just contact us in the way most convenient to you. (If you are in the Rio Grande Valley, we prefer to meet with you personally, in either Edinburg or Brownsville.) -
I have a disability but don’t need accommodations. Am I required to register with SAS?
It is entirely your choice whether to register with Student Accessibility Services. However, even if you don’t need accommodations, there can be an advantage to doing so. Students with disabilities are protected from discrimination by federal laws, and they often sign up just in case they have a need for services or support in a future semester. -
Is there financial aid for students with disabilities?
Financial aid programs such as Pell grants and student loans are available to students with disabilities just as they are to other students. There are no special scholarship or grant programs. However, Texas residents who are legally blind or substantially deaf and meet certain other requirements can apply for a tuition waiver. Also, some students apply for and receive help from the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS).
Services
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Does UTRGV provide tutoring?
Yes, offices on campus such as the Learning Assistance Center, the ASPIRE program (Brownsville only) and some academic departments do provide tutoring services. Online tutoring is available as well. SAS can help you find the tutoring resources you need. -
Does SAS offer testing for learning disabilities?
Although we can screen students to detect signs of specific learning disabilities, we don’t have the resources to conduct actual testing. Instead, we often refer students to professionals in the community such as educational diagnosticians. -
Does SAS offer testing for ADD/ADHD?
We can do a brief screening and provide some basic information. However, to determine if a person has ADD/ADHD, a doctor or other health professional needs to be involved and will likely use a number of different tools, i.e., a checklist of symptoms, information from you about past and present problems, or a medical exam to rule out other conditions. For more information, visit http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_diagnosis.htm. -
I have to miss class sometimes because of my condition. Is there an accommodation for absences?
It depends. (This accommodation is necessary because some students have chronic health problems which occasionally cause them to be absent from class, whether for doctor’s appointments or because of a flare-up of symptoms.) Faculty set their own attendance policies, but SAS can help you request some flexibility in the policy. The amount of flexibility depends on the nature of the class and whether class participation is a factor in the final grade. Visit or call the office for more information. -
I need more time on tests. How can I arrange for that?
If extended test time—usually time and a half--is one of your approved accommodations, you must first notify your instructor by asking him/her to sign your Letter of Accommodation. Once you return the signed form to SAS, you will be cleared to take tests with extra time that semester. YOU are required to schedule your exams 5 business days in advance. To do so, complete a test request form online at www.utrgv.edu/accessibility or at the SAS office. SAS will contact your professor, have the test ready for you at the designated time, and return it to the professor afterwards. (Note that in some cases you may be able to get the extra time you need in the classroom.) -
Where can I take tests with extra time or in a distraction-reduced setting?
SAS has testing rooms in both Brownsville (Cortez 129) and Edinburg (UCTR 108) where students take tests with accommodations. You will need to make a reservation for each test by contacting us five (5) business days in advance. Reservations can be made in person, online, by phone, or by e-mail. Call 956-665-7005 (Edinburg) or 956-882-7374 (Brownsville) or complete the test request form at www.utrgv.edu/accessibility. -
What are alternate format textbooks?
Traditional textbooks are printed on paper. Alternate format versions of the same books may be digital (e-books), recorded (human-narrated), or Braille, for example. In order to listen to a digital book or e-book, you will need to download a screen reading program on your computer. (Basic screen readers are available at no cost on the internet. Some students buy screen readers for added quality and convenience.) -
Who is eligible to get textbooks in alternate format through SAS?
Students who have significant problems reading print often meet the eligibility requirements. For example, students with dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, legal blindness, and limited dexterity may benefit from this accommodation. -
How can I get books in an alternate format such as digital, audio, or Braille?
Students can request alternate format books through SAS. If alternate format books are an approved accommodation in your case, we will do our best to secure your specific textbooks from one of our sources. In most cases, you will need a receipt showing that you purchased (or rented) the book before we can order it. In some rare circumstances, the book binding must be cut off and the pages scanned at our office. These processes can be time-consuming, so you are advised to request the books at least two weeks before you need them. -
Can you help students who can’t use regular classroom furniture?
Yes. We understand that some students cannot use or are very uncomfortable using the seating in some classrooms. SAS does make classroom furniture arrangements upon request for those who register with the Office. Whether you use a wheelchair, have a back condition, or simply can’t fit in the standard furniture, we will do what we can to help. -
I am Deaf/Hard of Hearing and need captioned videos. Can you help?
Yes. We can contact your professors to find out if they plan to use videos and if they are captioned. For more information, send an e-mail to ability@utrgv.edu. Include your name and ID#. We will contact your professors individually.