{"id":6,"date":"2008-01-23T09:21:30","date_gmt":"2008-01-23T17:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.southernarkansasuniversity.info\/ct\/?page_id=6"},"modified":"2025-11-11T15:39:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T21:39:27","slug":"disability-support-services","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/testing\/disability-support-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Disability Support Services"},"content":{"rendered":"

Disability Support Services, a division of Student Affairs, is the designated office that provides services to students with disabilities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mission Statement<\/h2>\n

The mission of the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) is to coordinate services and accommodations for students with disabilities to ensure the accessibility and usability of all programs, services, and activities.<\/p>\n

We are committed to ensuring access to university programs, services, and activities through the coordination of reasonable accommodations, advocacy, and collaboration with students, faculty, and staff. Guided by principles of accessibility, respect, and integrity, our office works to remove barriers, increase awareness, and foster a campus culture that values the abilities and contributions of all students.<\/p>\n

Accessing Services<\/h2>\n

Students with a disability who are seeking accommodations at Southern Arkansas University are required to submit documentation to the Disability Support Services office. The purpose of verifying documentation is to establish the existence of a disability as defined under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).<\/p>\n

To establish the existence of a disability under these statutes, the documentation must demonstrate that the condition is a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. Life activities that are typically of great importance to college students are such functions as reading, listening, walking, writing, learning, and speaking, as well as the basic functions of eating, sleeping, sitting, etc.<\/p>\n

Disability Support Services may request a diagnostic statement and a full clinical description of the condition from professionals such as psychologists, medical doctors, psychiatrists or neurologists.\u00a0 The professional should be experienced in diagnosing and treating the disability, should prepare the documentation on appropriate clinical stationery, should sign the document and should be able to provide the University with verification of experience and expertise in the specialty if asked. Documentation should be current (within three to five years), but exceptions may be necessary depending upon individual circumstances and\/or disability.<\/p>\n

The University DOES NOT<\/strong> provide clinical or psychological testing for disabilities.<\/p>\n

Students may make an appointment to meet with the Director of Disability Support Services (DSS) to set up an accommodations request. After the meeting, the Director of DSS will review the documentation and, if accepted, will email a Faculty Notification Letter to the student’s instructor(s) who teach the class that the student requests accommodations in. Students must contact their professors to discuss accommodation logistics and to follow up to be sure the instructor received the Faculty Notification Letter.<\/p>\n

Students MUST<\/strong> contact the Disability Support Services office each semester to renew accommodations<\/strong>, as they do not renew automatically<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Click\u00a0HERE<\/a> <\/strong>to access our DSS Handbook<\/strong><\/p>\n

We require students seeking services to fill out our Intake Form<\/strong>. You can print it HERE<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and return it to us via email, fax, mail, or in person.<\/p>\n

Questions about Housing Accommodations: A Private Room Request<\/strong>? Click HERE<\/a><\/strong> to read more.<\/p>\n

Our office is located in the University Village Clubhouse<\/strong>. Click here to get directions<\/strong> directly to our office: SAU Testing Center and Disability Support Services
\n(870) 235-4145<\/a><\/p>\n

Online Students<\/h2>\n

Students who reside outside the campus community and are taking only online courses must also provide documentation for accommodations. The DSS application process can be conducted by phone, e-mail, and\/or Zoom meetings. Instead of meeting personally with professors to discuss the logistics and accommodations, students may contact the instructors by phone or e-mail. Students must indicate to DSS (our office) that they are an online student.<\/p>\n

Test-Taking Accommodations<\/h2>\n

If you are approved for test-taking accommodations and you plan to take your tests in the Testing Center, please read the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scheduling Tests<\/span><\/p>\n