Psychiatric Disorders
Disability Services serves a large number of students each semester who have serious concerns including Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Social Phobias, and many other psychiatric disabilities. If you have a diagnosis that falls into this category, and you feel it is creating problems for you academically, apply for accommodations with Disability Services. This includes ensuring that your counselor or psychologist thoroughly complies with the necessary documentation requirements. Please visit the ETS website to view the complete guidelines for Documenting Psychiatric Disorders. After you have submitted appropriate documentation, you can contact Disability Services office at 972-883-2098 or email disabilityservice@utdallas.edu to schedule an appointment with the Disability Services Coordinator, Kerry Tate. During this meeting the coordinator and the student will:
- Address how your disability impacts your academic pursuits.
- Assess your personal approach to dealing with these frustrations and suggest new methods as necessary to enhance study skills, interpersonal relationships, time management and other vital areas.
- Finalize a list of accommodations to discuss with your instructors.
- Determine the preferred methods of discussing your disability with your instructors.
- Identify a support network on campus for medication, counseling and academic issues.
Due to the changing nature of these conditions, it may be necessary for you to obtain updated documentation every six months, especially if you are requesting a withdrawal from the university. If you have an exacerbation of your symptoms, particularly when hospitalizations are involved, it is advisable to provide Disability Services with updated documentation when this occurs. Psychiatric disorders can become extremely serious, especially if you find yourself withdrawing from your support systems. If you sense that is happening, contact your personal counselor and/or Disability Services at 972-883-2098 as soon as possible. Or, make contact with anyone who can help.
