Disability Services

Disability Services provides in class accommodations for students with varying degrees of hearing loss. Examples of the types of accommodations that may be provided include:

• seating a student with a mild (10dB-30dB) hearing loss in the front row of a classroom
• providing an Assistive Listening Device to a student with moderate (30dB-50dB) hearing loss
• providing Sign language interpreting services for students with sever (50dB-75dB) to profound (75dB-110dB) hearing loss.

These are only illustrations and the dB ranges are simply guides to give you an idea of the type of accommodations that might be provided. Supporting information from an Audiologist will be considered with the hearing loss as documented on your audiogram before accommodations are finalized.

To qualify for accommodations related to hearing loss, an audiogram should be submitted to Disability Services. In addition, you should identify the specific accommodation (Assisstive Listening Device, Interpreter, Volunteer Note Taker, etc.) that you are requesting. If a student fails to request accommodations in a timely manner, Disability Services is not obligated to accommodate the request immediately. However, services will be provided within a reasonable amount of time.

Sign Language Interpreting Services are provided using interpreters certified by the state of Texas or the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Utilizing certified interpreters ensures effective communication access for our students. Communication access is provided in American Sign language, Signed English and oral interpreting. Students may request specific interpreters or levels of certification; however, interpreter availability, cost, and skill level (as determined by the Disability Services office) are the deciding factors in determining which interpreter will work in your classroom. Interpreters are used for academic/classroom related assignments and can be contracted for non-academic University related functions.

To request interpreters for your classes you must register with Disability Services and complete the Interpreter/CART request form. Please make your requests immediately after you have registered for your classes, or at least 4 weeks prior to the start of each semester.

Students are responsible for requesting interpreters for assignments outside of the classroom, such as meetings with advisors or professors or additional tutoring appointments. These requests must be placed with the Disability Services office at least 72 hours before the meeting or event. Complete the Interpreter/CART provider request form.

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Students are responsible for notifying Disability Services if they will not be attending classes so that the Coordinator may notify service providers. Service providers will wait 15 minutes outside the classroom door. If the student does not arrive for the assigned class, the service provider will fill out the appropriate "no-show" log book in the Disability Services office. If the student misses three consecutive classes without notification, the services they are receiving will be suspended. The student must contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Kerry Tate at disabilityservice@utdallas.edu or 972-883-2098 in order to resume services.