Chapter 1 – Rights and Responsibilities

Overview

The University of Texas in Arlington (UTA) is committed to following Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) as amended in 2008 (ADAAA), other applicable federal and state regulations, and university policies that prohibit discrimination based on disability. Under these laws, qualified students with a disability have a right to receive reasonable accommodation. Students also have responsibilities under these laws.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Students with disabilities have the right to the following:

1. An equal opportunity to learn. If the building location, academic course materials, or instructional methodology limits access, participation, or the ability to benefit, students have a right to reasonable accommodations. The accommodation(s) may not fundamentally alter the nature of the program or activity, lower academic standards, present an undue financial or administrative burden on the university, or pose a threat to others.
2. An equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the academic community. This includes access to services, extracurricular activities, housing, and dining at a comparable level as provided to any student.
3. Confidentiality:
   1. The SAR Center views all information pertaining to a student's disability as confidential. Any information obtained by the SAR Center is used to verify the disability, plan for appropriate services, and document service and communication within the SAR Center.
   2. Maintaining student disability information as confidential does not guarantee a student's anonymity. This means that the SAR Center will only share relevant information with individuals responsible for providing and/or implementing accommodations. This may include but is not limited to faculty, staff, or service providers. Please contact the SAR Center for further information.
   3. The following are the guidelines used by the SAR Center regarding disability-related information:
      1. All disability-related information for students at UTA is managed by the SAR Center.
      2. Only authorized personnel working at the SAR Center have access to this information.
      • Beyond the relevant information released to enable the SAR Center to implement and provide accommodations, disability information may be released only when a student has signed an Information Release Consent form which can be accessed through the student's SAR Student Portal. This includes information to be shared with family or a provider.
   4. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAA) do not allow family members or third parties access to information pertaining to a student's specific medical conditions, such as medical or psychiatric records.
      • When the SAR Center has a signed release from the student, this gives the SAR Center the opportunity to have a discussion with the parents or third party; however, records are only available to students. Active SAR Center students can find the Information Release Consent form in their SAR Student Portal.
        1. The Information Release Consent form is NOT the same as the FERPA form in MyMav. The SAR Center must have an Information Release Consent form on file in order for the SAR Center to speak with a parent or third party regarding a student's information.
   5. Submitting an online request for accommodations authorizes the SAR Center to notify faculty of the approved accommodations the student will be using in their course.
   6. The functional impact of a student's disability may be disclosed to faculty on an educational need-to-know basis.
   7. The SAR Center may engage in discussions or consultations with faculty and/or staff, as needed, to effectively implement approved accommodations.
   8. Students may request to review the contents of their own file by submitting a signed written request, email request using their UTA email account, or in person. The review must be done with SAR Center staff present, with advanced notice.
   9. Students may request a copy of the documentation of their disability by submitting a signed written request by email using their UTA email account, or in person, with advanced notice.
   10. A student's records are retained for six (6) years after the student's last contact with the SAR Center.

Students with disabilities shall be responsible for the following:

1. Completing the SAR Center Application
2. Completing a SAR Center intake process and appointment to determine the appropriate accommodations that the student is eligible for.
   • Requesting accommodations through the SAR Student Portal each semester in a timely manner. Please review the timeline in Chapter 7 of the SAR Center Student Handbook for requesting accommodations.
3. Notifying the SAR Center of any issues, concerns, or delays in receiving requested accommodations in a timely manner.
4. Meeting and maintaining the University's fundamental academic and technical standards.

This handbook may be revised, amended, or updated at any time as deemed necessary by the SAR Center.

Personal Services

Colleges and universities are not required to provide personal services to students with disabilities, per applicable laws. Below are some examples of common personal services:

1. Private tutoring and/or assistance with homework
2. Personal care attendant (PCA)
3. Personally prescribed medical devices (e.g., eyeglasses, wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc.)
   • Personal transportation (getting to school, getting to class, getting to internships, etc.)
4. Transporting books or other personal items

Students can contact the SAR Center for referrals to resources that are available to all students, or available within the community (e.g., campus tutoring resources, the Mav Mover, CAPS, etc.).

While UTA is committed to student access, students are not required to use their accommodations.