Students New to Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
Eligibility for Services
To receive services from UTRGV Student Accessibility Services (SAS), the student, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), must have a physical or mental disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities. These disabilities can include, but are not limited to learning, hearing, visual, psychiatric, psychological, health and physical disabilities. Students who experience a broken bone, severe injury, or undergo surgery may be eligible for temporary services. Temporary services are provided for weeks, months or the remainder of the semester, depending on the severity of the impairment.
Applying for services
Students new to SAS must log in to the mySAS portal via www.utrgv.edu/mySAS to complete the New Student Application online and upload disability-related documentation to support the accommodation request. Students are required to use UTRGV credentials (university email and password) to log in. For assistance navigating mySAS, contact SAS or refer to self-guided tutorials located at https://www.utrgv.edu/accessibility/students/mysas/index.htm
Upon receipt of the completed application and supporting documentation, SAS will contact the student to schedule an appointment with a SAS Access Coordinator for an initial interactive intake interview. Distance learners may participate in intake or review appointments via Zoom, Teams, phone, or other virtual meeting technology.
In mySAS , students new to SAS will be able to request accommodations. Students returning to SAS will be able to:
- Request accommodations from SAS each semester.
- Choose from approved accommodations for each class.
- Send accommodation letters to instructors.
- Submit initial or additional documentation.
The Interactive Process
During the intake interview, the SAS Access Coordinator will gather information about the student’s disability, functional limitations associated with the disability, and any academic concerns. The intake process can include the gathering of data, including the student’s educational history and other relevant factors. Most importantly, this is the time to discuss barriers to access that the student might be experiencing or anticipating in the classroom or other academic experiences.
- What accommodations, if any, does the student believe he/she needs for equal access?
- What adjustments have worked in the past?
- What does the SAS staff member suggest?
- Is the accommodation needed in all courses?
- The conversation may yield one or more accommodation recommendations that will be reviewed and finalized during the next meeting of the Departmental Review Committee (DRC).
Please note: If additional disability documentation is needed, the student’s application will remain active for up to 30 days (in accordance with UTRGV Handbook of Operating Policies, section ADM 03-200) while the student makes efforts to obtain documentation. If required documentation is not received within 30 days, the student’s request for accommodations will be canceled. However, the student can reapply at any time.
Registering for Services
To register for services, students must first complete the New Student Registration form online at www.utrgv.edu/mysas. Upon receipt of the completed form, SAS will contact the student to schedule an appointment with a SAS staff member for an initial intake interview. Distance learners may be interviewed via Skype, phone, or other technology.
During the intake interview, the SAS counselor will gather information about the student’s disability, functional limitations associated with the disability, and any academic concerns. The intake process can include the gathering of data, including the student’s educational history and other relevant factors. Most importantly, this is the time to discuss barriers to access that the student might be experiencing or anticipating in the classroom or other academic experiences.
- What accommodations, if any, does the student believe he/she needs for equal access?
- What adjustments have worked in the past?
- What does the SAS staff member suggest?
- Is the accommodation needed in all courses?
- The conversation may yield one or more accommodation recommendations that will be reviewed and finalized during the next meeting of the Departmental Review Committee (DRC).
Please note: If additional disability documentation is needed, the student’s file can be held for up to 30 days (in accordance with UTRGV Handbook of Operating Policies, section ADM 03-200) while the student makes efforts to obtain documentation. If required documentation is not received within 30 days, the student’s request for accommodations will be canceled. However, the student can reapply at any time.
Documentation Requirements
Please see Documentation Guidelines
Departmental Review Committee (DRC)
The DRC, which meets weekly, is composed of SAS staff members and, when appropriate, staff or faculty from other departments. To prepare for the meeting, the SAS counselor compiles a DRC summary listing each new registrant’s diagnosis and provisional accommodations and noting documentation status. The committee’s role is to become acquainted with each student’s intake summary, to suggest changes/additions to the recommended accommodations if necessary, and to make supplementary recommendations.
Once the committee reviews the summary and recommendations are considered, approved accommodations are entered by the SAS Counselor into mySAS . Accommodation letters can then be generated by the student in mySAS. Once final approval is provided by SAS staff, accommodation letters are distributed via mySAS and emailed to each instructor.
Once instructors receive the student’s accommodation letter, accommodations are valid and implementation may begin. Accommodations are not retroactive. Good communication between student, faculty, and SAS can ensure that the accommodations process goes smoothly.