Frequently Asked Questions

No. Students with disabilities are expected to meet the same admissions criteria as all other students. It is up to the student whether to self-identify during the admissions process as having a disability. Please note that disability-related documentation sent to the Office of Admissions is not automatically forwarded to Disability and Access.

No. If you meet the essential requirements for admission, UT Austin may not deny your admission simply because you have a disability.

Yes. Section 504 and Title II of the ADA protect all elementary, secondary and post-secondary students from discrimination. However, several of the requirements that apply through high school are different from the requirements that apply beyond high school. UT Austin is not required to design special programs for students with disabilities or have Individualized Educational Plans (IEP). Rather, UT Austin is required to provide appropriate accommodations as necessary to ensure that it does not discriminate on the basis of disability. In the post-secondary environment, colleges and universities are responsible for providing equal access to students who meet the definition of a disability and protecting them from discrimination. Colleges and universities are not responsible for identifying or evaluating students and the goal of accommodation is to ensure equal access versus academic success.

Students at UT Austin are responsible for requesting accommodations and following through on the processes and procedures outlined on the Disability and Access website. Parents play a more “behind the scenes” role in supporting their college student and cannot make requests on their student’s behalf. Confidentiality laws limit the amount of information that can be shared with parents.

It may be helpful to review “Making the Transition to UT” for more information on the differences between accommodations in K-12 and college.

Disability and Access (D&A) is the main point of contact for students with disabilities. While D&A’s primary role is to coordinate academic accommodations, D&A also works with other campus departments to coordinate accommodations for housing, placement exams and accommodations for physical accessibility. Prospective students can review information, instructions and required forms on the D&A website.

A student who wants to receive academic accommodations through Disability and Access (D&A) should follow the registration process to get started.

Incoming students with questions can call or email D&A:

• Phone: 512-471-6259

• Videophone: 512-410-6644

• Email: access@austin.utexas.edu

No. However, if you want UT Austin to provide academic accommodations you must identify yourself as having a disability. Disclosure of a disability is always voluntary and may be done at any time. Accommodations are not applied retroactively. Students who choose not to apply for academic accommodations when they arrive at UT Austin should know there is no opportunity to retake exams or courses if they are unsatisfied with their grades without academic accommodations.

Documentation guidelines outline the information that must be included on documentation reports or evaluations that a student submits to Disability and Access. Specific information is available according to the type of disability. Please make sure to reference the set of guidelines that most closely match the student’s disability(ies).

It is the student’s responsibility to provide up-to-date and sufficient disability documentation. If the initial documentation is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability, Disability and Access (D&A) may require additional documentation. Any cost associated with obtaining additional documentation is the responsibility of the student. D&A can provide referrals to campus or community providers who may be able to provide updated documentation. D&A has limited funding available to help offset the cost of psychoeducational evaluations. Students who would like to be considered for financial assistance should contact D&A for more information regarding the application process and timelines.

Students will receive notification via email confirming receipt of the documentation, and a follow-up email regarding the status of their documentation once it has been reviewed by Disability and Access (D&A). The email will inform students whether the submitted documentation meets D&A’s guidelines.  If the documentation meets D&A’s guidelines, the email directs students to submit an Intake Request Form to schedule their intake appointment. During the intake appointment, an Access Coordinator will talk with the student about their disability, academic history, and will work with the student to identify appropriate academic accommodations. If the documentation does not meet D&A’s guidelines, the email directs students to contact D&A to discuss what additional documentation is necessary.

The appropriateness of academic accommodations is determined based on your disability and individual needs. In providing an academic accommodation, UT Austin is not required to lower or waive essential requirements. For example, although your program may be required to provide extended testing time, it is not required to change the substantive content of the test. In addition, UT Austin does not have to make modifications that would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program or activity that would result in undue financial or administrative burdens. Finally, UT Austin does not have to provide personal attendants, individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study or other devices or services of a personal nature, such as tutoring and typing.

Please visit the Disability and Access website to review a list of commonly approved accommodations.
 

Professors are only required to recognize academic accommodations outlined in a student’s official Accommodation Letter issued by Disability and Access. Students should log in to the D&A Student Portal to request and deliver their Accommodation Letter to their professors early in the semester to allow sufficient time for academic accommodations to be implemented. It is important for students to communicate with their professors regarding their needs in the class.

Disability and Access (D&A) values confidentiality and your disability documentation is not considered part of your academic record. When you use academic accommodations in the classroom, professors will know (via letter that you deliver) that you are registered with D&A but will not be informed of your diagnosis or manifestations of your disability without your consent. If you plan to use academic accommodations, you must request, deliver, and discuss your Accommodation Letter with your professor each semester. Your Accommodation Letter lists the accommodation(s) you are approved to receive in the classroom and does not contain diagnostic information. In general, information about your disability cannot be released without your written permission except by court order or otherwise mandated by law. It is a good idea to speak with your Access Coordinator about the limits of confidentiality and possible situations in which it may be appropriate to release information.

Yes. UT Austin has accessible parking available in its surface lots and parking garages. A red (temporary) or blue (permanent) state issued placard, in combination with a D permit issued by UT Austin, will allow you to park in the accessible spaces on campus as well as all of the parking garages. If you are issued an accessible placard through the Texas DMV, then you can immediately apply for a UT Austin D permit, as there is no waitlist for that particular permit.

For more information about the state placard, please visit the website for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

For more information about the D permit and ADA Parking Spaces on Campus, visit the Parking and Transportation Services website.
 

Yes. The Campus Accessibility Map is offered as a resource to provide information regarding accessible building access; however, due to the constantly changing nature of the UT Austin campus, the accuracy of the information provided by the map cannot be guaranteed. The map is frequently updated with new content, so if you find an area that is incorrectly labeled please provide that information through the Report a Barrier feature.

Disability and Access (D&A) is the main point of contact for students with disabilities. While D&A’s primary role is to coordinate academic accommodations, D&A also works with other campus departments to coordinate accommodations for housing, placement exams and accommodations for physical accessibility. Students can review information, instructions and required forms on the D&A website.

A student who wants to receive academic accommodations through Disability and Access (D&A) should follow the registration process to get started.

Students with questions can call or email D&A:

• Phone: 512-471-6259
• Videophone: 512-410-6644
• Email: access@austin.utexas.edu
   

No. However, if you want UT Austin to provide academic accommodations you must identify yourself as having a disability. Disclosure of a disability is always voluntary and may be done at any time. Accommodations are not applied retroactively. Students who choose not to apply for academic accommodations when they arrive at UT Austin should know there is no opportunity to retake exams or courses if they are unsatisfied with their grades without academic accommodations.

Documentation guidelines outline the information that must be included on documentation reports or evaluations that a student submits to Disability and Access. Please make sure to reference the set of guidelines that most closely match the student’s disability(ies).

It is the student’s responsibility to provide up-to-date and sufficient disability documentation. If the initial documentation is incomplete or inadequate to determine the extent of the disability, Disability and Access (D&A) may require additional documentation. Any cost associated with obtaining additional documentation is borne by the student. D&A can provide referrals to campus or community providers who may be able to provide updated documentation. D&A has limited funding available to help offset the cost of psychoeducational evaluations. Students who would like to be considered for financial assistance should contact D&A for more information regarding the application process and timelines.

Students will receive notification via email confirming receipt of the documentation, and a follow-up email regarding the status of their documentation once it has been reviewed by Disability and Access (D&A). The email will inform students whether the submitted documentation meets D&A’s guidelines.  If the documentation meets D&A’s guidelines, the email directs students to submit an Intake Request Form to schedule their intake appointment. During the intake appointment, an Access Coordinator will talk with the student about their disability, academic history, and will work with the student to identify an appropriate accommodation. If the documentation does not meet D&A’s guidelines, the email directs student to contact D&A to discuss what additional documentation is necessary.

The appropriateness of academic accommodations is determined based on your disability and individual needs. In providing an academic accommodation, UT Austin is not required to lower or waive essential requirements. For example, although your program may be required to provide extended testing time, it is not required to change the substantive content of the test. In addition, UT Austin does not have to make modifications that would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program or activity that would result in undue financial or administrative burdens. Finally, UT Austin does not have to provide personal attendants, individually prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study or other devices or services of a personal nature, such as tutoring and typing.

Please visit the Disability and Access website to review a list of commonly approved accommodations.
 

Professors are only required to recognize academic accommodations outlined in a student’s official Accommodation Letter issued by Disability and Access (D&A). Students should request and deliver their Accommodation Letter to their professors early in the semester to allow sufficient time for academic accommodations to be implemented. It is important for students to communicate with their professors regarding their needs in the class.

Disability and Access (D&A) values confidentiality and your disability documentation is not considered part of your academic record. When you use academic accommodations in the classroom, professors will know (via letter that you deliver) that you are registered with D&A but will not be informed of your diagnosis or manifestations of your disability without your consent. If you plan to use accommodations, you must request, deliver, and discuss your Accommodation Letter with your professor each semester. Your Accommodation Letter only lists the accommodation(s) you are approved to receive in the classroom and does not contain diagnostic information. In general, information about your disability cannot be released without your written permission except by court order or otherwise mandated by law. It is a good idea to speak with your Access Coordinator about the limits of confidentiality and possible situations in which it may be appropriate to release information.

No, students may choose to utilize their academic accommodations differently depending on the various requirements and components of a specific course. If a student chooses not to use an accommodation in a given class, they will not be given the opportunity to retake an exam or to make-up an assignment with accommodations at a later date. Remember, academic accommodations are not designed to be retroactive. 

Let Disability and Access (D&A) know as soon as possible if you have difficulty using your academic accommodations. It may be too late to correct the problem if you wait until the course or activity is completed. D&A will work with you to resolve the problem.

No. Your disability information is considered confidential and is not included on your transcript.

UT Austin offers PTS PickUp, a courtesy curb-to-curb on-demand golf cart shuttle that travels along the interior streets of campus. Except for holidays and university closures, PTS PickUp operates Monday to Friday from 730 a.m. to 530 p.m. 

Additionally, there is a campus shuttle system and all students are eligible to ride.
 

Yes. UT Austin has accessible parking available in its surface lots and parking garages. A red (temporary) or blue (permanent) state issued placard, in combination with a D permit issued by UT Austin, will allow you to park in the accessible spaces on campus as well as all of the parking garages. If you are issued an accessible placard through the Texas DMV, then you can immediately apply for a UT Austin D permit, as there is no waitlist for that particular permit.

For more information about the state placard, please visit the website for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

For more information about the D permit and ADA Parking Spaces on Campus, visit the Parking and Transportation Services website.
 

Yes. The Campus Accessibility Map is offered as a resource to provide information regarding accessible building access; however, due to the constantly changing nature of the UT Austin campus, the accuracy of the information provided by the map cannot be guaranteed. The map is frequently updated with new content, so if you find an area that is incorrectly labeled please provide that information through the Report a Barrier feature.

Disability and Access (D&A) works with students to identify academic accommodations related to your coursework. If you are employed with UT Austin then you will need to work with Institutional Accessibility and Accommodation to identify reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Student workers should complete the online accommodation request form to initiate the workplace accommodation process.

To learn about options that are available to you, visit the Life and Work site hosted by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. You can also contact Academic Personnel Services via their service portal: https://ut.service-now.com/evpp . 

As a first step, you will want to check with other professors in your department and see if anyone is willing to swap classrooms with you. If you cannot find someone who will swap classrooms, then you will need to talk with the course scheduler for your department. Your course scheduler can work with the Registrar’s Office to see if a change can be made. 

If you need to temporarily shift your course instruction online during a recovery from injury or illness, you should first have a conversation with your department chair to determine whether online instruction is feasible. If your restrictions will exceed 90 days and/or are obviously complex, then you should reach out to Institutional Accessibility and Accommodation to discuss workplace accommodations. 

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.  While most workplace accommodations under the PWFA can be managed at the departmental level, Institutional Accessibility and Accommodation is available to facilitate the process when situations are more complex. Documentation from an individual’s healthcare provider is necessary in these situations to assess the limitations associated with one’s condition(s) and what accommodations are appropriate. Employees should complete the online accommodation request form to initiate the workplace accommodation process.

Employers must hold a job open for a pregnancy-related absence the same length of time jobs are held open for employees on other approved leave types including FMLA, Sick Leave Pool, an approved Leave of Absence Without Pay, leave under the PWFA, or leave under the ADA (if applicable). If an employer cannot hold a position open during the entire leave period without incurring undue hardship, the employer must consider whether it has a vacant, equivalent position for which the employee is qualified and to which the employee can be reassigned to continue their leave for a specific period of time and then, at the conclusion of the leave, will begin working in the new position.

We should first explore whether the course can be taught virtually. If not, (e.g., it is a hands-on, in-person lab course) then we can look at whether there are other courses one can teach while on bed rest. If there is no reasonable workplace accommodation that allows the employee to continue to work, absent undue hardship, the employee may be qualified for leave to cover the teaching portion of their role. However, other aspects of the faculty position (e.g., service and research) may be done virtually while the individual is on bed rest.

Yes, you can find more information at the following link.

If your condition is affecting your ability to walk certain distances, you have the option to apply for a state-issued accessible parking placard. A red (temporary) or blue (permanent) state issued placard, in combination with a D permit issued by UT Austin, will allow you to park in the accessible spaces on campus as well as several of the parking garages. If you are issued an accessible placard through the Texas DMV, then you can immediately apply for a UT Austin D permit as there is no waitlist for that particular permit.

For more information about the state placard, please visit the website for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

For more information about the D permit and ADA Parking Spaces on Campus, visit the Parking and Transportation Services website.
 

Section 504 and Title II of the ADA protect students with disabilities. According to these laws, “no otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States shall, solely by reason of disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

“Otherwise qualified,” with respect to post-secondary education, means a person who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to admission. The University of Texas at Austin does not have any special admission provisions for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities must meet all standard requirements.
 

To become eligible, a student must have a documented disability and inform UT Austin they are requesting academic accommodations based on that disability. The student must:

• Contact Disability and Access (D&A),
• Provide D&A with documentation of the disability from an appropriate qualified professional, and
• Consult with D&A to determine appropriate accommodations.
   

No. Disability and Access (D&A) is the office designated to receive and interpret documentation of the disability. D&A staff members certify eligibility for services and determine academic accommodations. Disability information is confidential and students are not required to disclose this information to instructors.

Students are required to meet with faculty members individually to discuss the recommended academic accommodations. The purpose of this meeting is to work out details related to the provision of academic accommodations by discussing how they should be implemented (e.g., for extended test taking time- when the student should take the exam, etc.). Faculty can contact the student’s Access Coordinator, listed on the Accommodation Letter, to discuss concerns or ask questions.

Contact the student’s Access Coordinator, listed on the Accommodation Letter, to discuss your concerns.

No. The goal of academic accommodations in higher education is to provide students with disabilities with equal access and opportunity. In general, students with disabilities should be held to the same requirements as other students, although academic accommodations may alter how these requirements are met (e.g., provide more time to complete a test). If you have any questions about a specific situation, please contact the student’s Access Coordinator, listed on the Accommodation Letter, to discuss your concerns.

Treat the student as you would any student who is not performing well in your class. Invite the student to your office to discuss reasons for the failing performance and what resources the student may use to improve. Encourage the student to see their Access Coordinator to discuss some additional strategies to improve his/her grades. Professors can contact the student’s Access Coordinator, listed on the Accommodation Letter, to discuss their concerns.

Contact the student’s Access Coordinator, listed on the Accommodation Letter, to discuss your concerns.

A note-taker is usually another student in class or the Teaching Assistant who agrees to provide copies of lecture notes taken during class. Some students with disabilities may require a note taker as a reasonable accommodation.

No. Interpreters are professionals who facilitate communication between hearing individuals and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The role of the interpreter is similar to that of a foreign language translator: to bridge the communication gap between two parties.

Captioning and Transcription Services works with students, faculty, and staff to ensure campus media is accessible to everyone. Online courses also need to be accessible for individuals with disabilities. Central funding has been provided for strict compliance, which is the captioning of all video (including faculty lectures) when there is a student who is deaf or hard of hearing in the classroom.

Individual colleges and schools are responsible for the cost of captioning all other video content. 
 

No. Academic accommodations are not applied retroactively. Students who choose not to apply for academic accommodations when they arrive at UT Austin should know there is no opportunity to retake exams or courses if they are unsatisfied with their grades without academic accommodations. Please contact Disability and Access if you have a situation you would like to discuss.

Disability and Access (D&A) discourages professors from asking directly about the possibility of a disability as it could be considered intrusive or insensitive. However, you can tell the student that you notice they are having a difficult time keeping up with or mastering the course material and encourage them to talk with you about gaining assistance. You can guide the student to the Writing Center, the Counseling Center, or other resources that you would provide to any student. If the student shares with you they have a history of a disability or suspects they have a disability, it would then be appropriate to tell the student about D&A.

Disability and Access works with students to identify academic accommodations related to their coursework. If a student is employed with UT Austin, they will need to work with Institutional Accessibility and Accommodation to identify reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Student workers should complete the online accommodation request form to initiate the workplace accommodation process. 

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.  While most workplace accommodations under the PWFA can be managed at the departmental level, Institutional Accessibility and Accommodation is available to facilitate the process when situations are more complex. Documentation from an individual’s healthcare provider is necessary in these situations to assess the limitations associated with one’s condition(s) and what accommodations are appropriate. Employees should complete the online accommodation request form to initiate the workplace accommodation process.

Employers must hold a job open for a pregnancy-related absence the same length of time jobs are held open for employees on other approved leave types including FMLA, Sick Leave Pool, an approved Leave of Absence Without Pay, leave under the PWFA, or leave under the ADA (if applicable). If an employer cannot hold a position open during the entire leave period without incurring undue hardship, the employer must consider whether it has a vacant, equivalent position for which the employee is qualified and to which the employee can be reassigned to continue their leave for a specific period of time and then, at the conclusion of the leave, will begin working in the new position.

We should first explore whether there is work that can be performed remotely. If there is no reasonable workplace accommodation that allows the employee to continue to work, absent undue hardship, the employee may be qualified for leave. 

Yes, you can find more information at the following link.

To learn about leave options that are available to you, visit the Time Off & Leave site hosted by Human Resources. You can also contact Leave Management via email at HRS-LM@austin.utexas.edu or by phone at 512-475-8099.

If your condition is affecting your ability to walk certain distances, you have the option to apply for a state-issued accessible parking placard. A red (temporary) or blue (permanent) state-issued placard, in combination with a D permit issued by UT Austin, will allow you to park in the accessible spaces on campus as well as several of the parking garages. If you are issued an accessible placard through the Texas DMV, then you can immediately apply for a UT Austin D permit as there is no waitlist for that particular permit.

For more information about the state placard, please visit the website for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

For more information about the D permit and ADA Parking Spaces on Campus, visit the Parking and Transportation Services website.
 

Depending on the length of your restrictions following surgery or an illness, it may be something that can be captured by a Temporary Alternative Duty Assignment, which is used for employees with restrictions that last less than 90 days.

When employees provide a medical note (or RTW form) with restrictions to their supervisor. The supervisor will consult with the Department HR contact to determine whether they can accommodate the temporary restrictions.  If the temporary restrictions can be accommodated, you will receive a Temporary Alternative Duty Assignment letter that clearly states the start, and end date of the Department’s ability to honor the restrictions.

If an employee has restrictions that are expected to last for more than 90 calendar days and/or are obviously complex, then the case will be referred to Institutional Accessibility and Accommodation. Employees should complete the online accommodation request form to initiate the workplace accommodation process. 

For work-related injuries, please review the information on the Workers’ Compensation Insurance website hosted by Human Resources.
 

If an employee discloses they have a disability, and they are interested in a workplace accommodation, you can refer them to Institutional Accessibility and Accommodation.

According to the EEOC, an employer may ask an employee with a known disability whether they need a reasonable accommodation when it reasonably believes the employee may need an workplace accommodation. The same is true with an employee with a known disability who is having performance or conduct problems; you can ask whether they need reasonable accommodation.

If an employee has not disclosed that they have a condition that may warrant consideration for accommodation, then best practices suggest focusing on performance or behavior (i.e., what is happening) rather than trying to determine the underlying cause (i.e., why it is happening).

There are questions you can ask that can inform whether an ADA referral is needed or whether other UT Austin supports will help the individual in the workplace.

Questions you can ask include:

• Is there anything you need to be able to keep doing your job?
• How can we support you in improving your job performance?
• How can we help you become more effective in your job?
• Is there anything preventing you from performing your job?
   

Yes, if the termination is based upon their job performance. Reasonable workplace accommodations must be provided by the employer, absent undue hardship, which provide an employee the opportunity to perform the essential job functions. After that, it becomes purely a matter of whether the person with the disability is doing the job and performing at the level expected by the employer.

No, not always. In some cases, we will need to reevaluate their workplace accommodation as the essential functions of their position have likely changed.

No. An employer does not have to provide an employee with a new supervisor as a reasonable accommodation. Although an employer is not required to change supervisors, the ADA may require supervisory methods be altered as a form of reasonable accommodation. Also, an employee with a disability is protected from disability-based discrimination by a supervisor, including disability-based harassment.

Example: A supervisor frequently schedules team meetings on a day’s notice often notifying staff in the afternoon that a meeting will be held on the following morning. An employee with a disability has missed several meetings because they have conflicted with previously scheduled physical therapy sessions. The employee asks their supervisor to give them two to three days’ notice of team meetings so that, if necessary, they can reschedule the physical therapy sessions. Assuming no undue hardship would result, the supervisor must make this reasonable accommodation.

No. An employer never has to excuse a violation of a uniformly applied conduct rule that is job-related and consistent with business necessity.

Example: An employer never has to tolerate or excuse violence, threats of violence, stealing, or destruction of property. An employer may discipline an employee with a disability for engaging in such misconduct if it would impose the same discipline on an employee without a disability.
 

Please contact the sponsor of the event you are attending to initiate your request.

UT Austin is unable to provide wheelchairs for individual use. Those requiring wheelchairs or other medical equipment for the duration of their time here in Austin should plan to make their own accommodations for the equipment prior to arriving on campus. Families interested in renting wheelchairs are encouraged to contact a local provider.

Members of the general public who would like to request an interpreter for a UT Austin-sponsored event should contact the department sponsoring the event to request the interpreter. To secure services, your request should be submitted as far in advance as possible, but at least three business days in advance of the requested date of service. Last minute requests cannot be guaranteed, though attempts will always be made to secure interpreting/captioning services.

If you need assistance before, during or after a game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, contact Fan Services at 512-471-7323 or FanServices@athletics.utexas.edu for more information. For more information, please visit the Fan Services page.

If you need assistance, contact Guest Services at 512-471-8207. Accessible seating is available at all Texas Performing Arts venues. If you require wheelchair accessibility or have other special seating concerns, please notify the Ticket Office at the time of your ticket purchase.

Yes. The Campus Accessibility Map is offered as a resource to provide information regarding accessible building access; however, due to the constantly changing nature of the UT Austin campus, the accuracy of the information provided by the map cannot be guaranteed. The map is frequently updated with new content, so if you find an area that is incorrectly labeled please provide that information through the Report a Barrier feature.