Frequently Asked Questions

The application process is the same as it is for all students. Students with disabilities must apply to SAU through the regular admissions procedure. Applicants with disabilities are part of the regular application pool and are considered based on the same criteria as all students.  There are no special admissions procedures.

A student may, however, apply to the companies that administer the standardized admission exams (such as Educational Testing Services and The College Board) for provision of accommodations when taking standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT and GRE. Contact the exam administration companies for further information on how to apply for and make arrangements for standardized exam accommodations.

Yes, students seeking accommodations must set up a DSS appointment each semester to coordinate your accommodations for the following semester.  It is not done automatically.

In college, students with disabilities are covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Colleges are required to provide any reasonable accommodation that may be necessary for equal access to education. They are not required to design special programs for students with disabilities or have Individualized Educational Plans (IEP’s).  Since this is the case, the legal obligations change. There is no special education in college. Under IDEA, it is the responsibility of the schools to provide services and seek out students with disabilities.  It is the student’s responsibility to seek out services through Disability Services.

Colleges are not required to conduct or provide testing. The student is responsible for providing current documentation and any additional testing to support the requested accommodations, if necessary.  However, Disability Services does provide referral information for local evaluators.

If you have an RS counselor in your hometown, you are encouraged to stay in contact with your home counselor.  If you do not have a hometown RS counselor or have other questions regarding RS, you may contact the local Rehabilitation Office at 870-862-5451.

If you have an RS counselor in your hometown, you are encouraged to have your home counselor contact Disability Services to provide information about your accessibility needs.  If you do not have a hometown RS counselor or have other questions regarding services for the blind, you may contact the local Rehabilitation Office at 870-862-6631.

If you have an RS counselor in your hometown, you are encouraged to have your home counselor contact Disability Services to provide information about your accessibility needs.  If you do not have a hometown RS counselor or have other questions regarding services for the blind, you may contact the local Rehabilitation Office at 870-862-6631.

Colleges do not have to seek out students with disabilities.  It is the student’s responsibility to seek out services through Disability Services.

If you are taking a test in the DSS office, the policies are as follows:

1. Accommodations need to be discussed with your professor at the beginning of the semester and they may need a reminder before every test that you are taking the test in the DSS office.
2. Sign up for each test (including the final exam) for the entire semester and notify DSS of any schedule changes throughout the semester.
3. All testing accommodations (outside of extended time) need to be stated when you sign up for your test in DSS (e.g. use of a computer or reader).
4. Take your test at the same time as the rest of the class. All exceptions need to be cleared by the professor.  Note: times should be shifted if extended time interferes with another class.
5. Check in with the front desk of DSS at the designated time of your test.
6. Failure to abide by the sign-up policies may result in the ability to use your accommodation for that test (e.g. signing up for a test the day before it is scheduled).

Deciding whether to disclose a disability is a personal decision. The University can’t ask if you have a disability during the application process. However, some students feel that how they have successfully handled the challenges of their disability reveals the uniqueness and strength of their personality and choose to write about it in their application.

It is not necessary to include medical or educational testing with your application. You are welcome to send documentation to Disability Services in preparation for enrolling or to inquire about accommodations you would be eligible to receive.

Once admitted to Southern Arkansas University, contact the Disability Support Counselor.  We will set up an appointment to meet with you to discuss your disability and request documentation.  Send us any records of accommodations/services provided to you at any previous academic settings (e.g., IEP, Section 504 plan, college service plan, etc.).  If serviced by a State/Provincial Rehabilitation agency, have your caseworker contact the DSS counselor. Eligibility for services is based on the student’s description of need, the thoroughness of the disability documentation, and documentation policies.  Once eligibility is determined, we will assist you with implementing the agreed-upon accommodations.

As soon as you know you are taking classes in the summer at SAU, notify the DSS Counselor to discuss possible accommodations. If you take a course off campus, accommodations will be provided by the host school.

Documentation from a medical, licensed, or certified professional must be provided to Disability Services to be eligible for services and reasonable accommodations. The documentation must be current and state a diagnosis of a disability and the functional limitations it causes. If you have questions about documentation, please contact the Coordinator of Disability Services.

If you can’t take your test during class time because your use of an accommodation will conflict with another class, you must talk with your professor to arrange a different time. The Center is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.  You must contact the testing center to take a test outside of the regular testing hours.

Yes. Because the structure of classes can be different, you may not need accommodations in all of your classes. You only need to request accommodations for the classes you need them in.

Students who are 18 years old or older are legally recognized as adults.  In this case, the student is responsible for their own accommodation requests and disability-related decisions.  However, students are encouraged to have an open dialogue with their parents.  Parents can be a wonderful source of support.

At Southern Arkansas University, one of the counseling staff members is designated as the Disability Support Counselor. The DSS counselor assists students and faculty with any reasonable accommodations that need to be made to provide equal access to the college’s programs.

An individual is considered to have a “disability” if she/he has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity such as seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, learning, caring for oneself, or working

You are responsible for monitoring your medications with a licensed professional in your community or within SAU Health Services. We encourage students to work with their licensed professional who is familiar with the issues they are facing as a college student. It is important to maintain regular appointments with this provider during your first few months at college because you might need changes in medication due to the changes in requirements and environment.