Disability Accommodation Requests

Thank you for your inquiry regarding disability accommodations at Dallas Baptist University.  In order to receive disability accommodations, students must provide information from their physician or other appropriately credentialed health care provider including diagnosis and specific recommendations for accommodation.

Individuals seeking accommodation for a learning disability should provide a copy of recent testing documentation (within the last three years) concerning their learning disability.  This documentation should include results from diagnostic tests as well as conclusions that were drawn from the data.  Specific recommendations are essential in order to adequately process and accommodate each student request. 

Students with physical disabilities, or other health-related conditions requiring disability accommodations, must provide a recent statement from their health professional documenting the type of disability, as well as the nature and scope of the disability.  This documentation should also include the physician’s recommendations for any accommodation to aid the student in their academic pursuits.

The Dallas Baptist University disability accommodation request form can be procured at:
http://www3.dbu.edu/announcement/disabilityform.pdf

After completion by you and your health care provider please submit this and any supporting documentation you choose to provide to:


Disabled Student Services
Office of Student Affairs
Dallas Baptist University
3000 Mountain Creek Parkway
Dallas, Texas 75211-9299

You may also submit to secure fax at 214-333-6962.

Disability Overview

Click the link below to view the Disabled Student Services brochure.

Disability Brochure

Class Relocation

Although most classrooms are wheelchair accessible, in some instances a classroom may be scheduled that precludes easy access for individuals with mobility issues.  In the event that a student is unable to access a class in which he/she is enrolled, an alternative class location that is more easily accessible may be a viable option.  The schedule of each student receiving disability accommodations is reviewed each semester to insure that any accessibility issues have been addressed prior to the beginning of classes.  If a class is relocated, each student will be notified by the college within which the course is offered.  If you have not been notified at least two days prior to the beginning of classes regarding a class relocation and will experience difficulty accessing the class location, please contact Disabled Student Services at 214-333-5101 for assistance. 

Parking

Click on the image to see the map:

Service Animals

Only those animals that have been approved as designated service animals may accompany a student, faculty or staff member on campus. Proper documentation must be provided to Disabled Student Services prior to the introduction of the animal to the campus community. Individuals utilizing service animals are responsible for the care and cleaning of these animals. Any animal refuse must be collected and discarded in a proper trash receptacle by the service animal user.

Dining Services

Food service on the DBU campus is provided by Sodexho. All residents living in the residence halls on campus are required to purchase a DBU meal plan in order to reside on campus. Students with specific food allergies or other special dietary needs should provide information regarding specific requests to Disabled Student Services in the Office of Student Affairs. The Office of Student Affairs will review the accommodation requests and provide the relevant documents to representatives from Dining Services. It may be necessary to schedule an opportunity for representatives from Dining Services to meet with the student to discuss his/her specific request. These arrangements will be made through the Student Affairs Office after the initial documents have been submitted. Disabled Student Services will seek to aid the student in procuring reasonable accommodations for their special dining and nutritional needs.

Residence Life

The Residence Life community on campus is a vibrant and exciting place to grow and learn during the college years. Students with disability accommodation needs may require consideration for special housing requests. Students with mobility issues will have priority access to special handicapped accessible rooms. Requests for specific room arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on relevant documentation and available space.

The Residence Life staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist students with their immediate needs. Additional modifications may be necessary to accommodate all student requests. Please contact Disabled Student Services to request additional assistance.

Writing Center

The University Writing Center is located in a handicap accessible space on the lower level of the Collins Learning Center. The center strives to offer student support in communication skills at any level and any discipline through consultation with qualified and trained writing consultants. Students with disabilities associated with written expression and/or reading difficulties are encouraged to utilize the services of the DBU Writing Center. Students who wish to disclose their disability needs may share these issues with the Director of the Writing Center. Accommodation requests will not be provided to the Writing Center without the student’s specific direction.

Math Lab

The DBU Math Lab is located in a handicap accessible space on the first floor of the Roberts Building (room 117A). Math tutoring through the Math Lab is free to all students. The tutors are DBU math students, most of whom are math majors. For additional information regarding hours and specific skills covered in the Math Lab call 214-333-5303 for assistance.

Test Proctoring

In some situations students may require additional time on tests or special environmental parameters that are not achievable in the traditional classroom setting or within the time constraints of the class. Class professors may elect to utilize the Student Affairs Office as the proctor for some testing situations. Students are encouraged to discuss testing accommodations prior to testing days. In some cases the professor may elect to proctor the test himself/herself. In other instances the test may be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs in order to administer the test.

Students may be placed in a solitary room under video surveillance in order to complete the test with extended time requirements and/or a quiet environment free from distractions. Testing location and times are limited. Please call in advance to ensure a testing time and place are available when needed.

JAWS

JAWS is a screen reader software that enables the user to hear the text displayed on the screen. This software is utilized primarily for students who have visual impairments, but it may also be beneficial to students with reading disorders.

Victor Reader

Victor Reader is a software program that allows students to play specially recorded audio files of available textbooks through the computer. A limited number of portable Victor Reader CD players are also available through Disabled Student Services.

Once the student has purchased their textbooks they may request audio copies of the texts, through Disabled Student Services in the Office of Student Affairs. All available texts will be ordered for the student’s use during the course of the semester. At the conclusion of the semester, the student will return the CDs and (if applicable)the Victor Reader.

Although not all texts are available through this service, a free copy will be procured for the student for each course text that is available.

Dragon Naturally Speaking

Dragon Naturally Speaking is a speech recognition software package that allows the user to transfer spoken word to computer text. This may require the user to be placed in a more quiet environment in order to minimize distractions.

Zoom Text

Zoom Text is an adaptive software program that works to provide magnification of on-screen type and visuals for those with visual difficulty. This software is available in the DBU computer lab.

Working with your faculty

Before each semester Disabled Student Services checks the schedule of all students receiving disability accommodations and notifies their professors through campus mail. In those instances where faculty members may not regularly check their on-campus mail, the college will send the documents to the faculty via U.S. mail. It is important for students to check with each of their faculty members in the first few days of the semester to make sure they have had a chance to read and review the accommodations materials. This is a good chance to talk with your professor about your accommodation needs and how you can partner to make the class beneficial to all.

Communication

Communication is key in working with your class professors. If you feel you are struggling with the material or need additional assistance related to the course delivery, it is important, to talk with your professor. Your success is important and we want to do as much as we can to help address any difficulties related to your disability. Your professor may have some additional resources or may be able to offer insight that can help with your issues. He/she may also refer you back to Disabled Student Services to address your concerns.

Class Attendance

Attendance in class is considered a necessary factor in the learning process. Therefore, absences for all reasons must be kept to a minimum and should not exceed 25 percent of the total class time. In some cases, a student who is registered with Disabled Student Services may qualify for consideration for class absences. This accommodation is sometimes granted for a student who has a documented chronic health problem which occasionally causes them to be absent from class. Faculty set their own attendance policies; the accommodation is simply a request for some flexibility in the policy. The amount of flexibility will depend on the nature of the class and whether class participation is a factor in the final grade. Students who are eligible for this accommodation are responsible for completing all coursework. This accommodation is not a “blank check” which allows a student to miss a large number of classes for any given course. A student with excessive absences in a class should consult with the instructor about dropping or withdrawing from the course or receiving an incomplete grade where appropriate.

Testing Agents

Dallas Baptist University does not provide diagnostic testing for learning disabilities. We do, however, maintain a list of health care providers in the area who can provide diagnostic testing for learning disabilities and other psychological issues. The list is available through Disabled Student Services in the Student Affairs Office.

DARS

The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) works to create a partnership with Texans with disabilities and families with children who have developmental delays to improve the quality of their lives and to enable their full participation in society. A wide range of services is available through DARS for eligible individuals. For more information about the programs and services available, review their website at www.dars.state.tx.us/drs/vr.shtml or call 1-800-628-5115 or TTY 1-866-581-9328 for assistance.

TX Relay

Relay Texas provides telephone interpreting service between individuals who can hear and those who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled. Relay Texas agents have equipment that enables them to hear a speaking caller and also read the text sent by a text telephone (TTY) user.

This service is available for Texans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are no restrictions imposed on Relay Texas calls. Texas and United States laws ensure confidentiality for relay users and operators.

Either a TTY user or a person using a standard phone may initiate a call through Relay Texas by dialing the relay number 711. After dialing Relay Texas, the person initiating the call gives the desired phone number to the Relay Texas Agent, who then dials that number using another phone line. The Relay Agent types the standard phone user’s spoken words to the person using the TTY and voices the TTY user’s text.

Counseling Center

Working towards a college degree can be a stressful and taxing endeavor. That stress along with the complications that can accompany a learning or physical disability can leave a student feeling overwhelmed. The DBU’s Student Counseling Center offers counseling services in a number of different areas to assist students in need. Individual, marital, and family counseling sessions are available to address issues or concerns that DBU students may have. These counseling services are provided free to DBU students currently taking classes. All counseling is provided by or supervised by a licensed professional counselor.

Counseling and testing are scheduled by appointment only. The Counseling Center is located on the first floor of the Collins Learning Center. To schedule an appointment, talk with a counselor, or for more information, contact the Student Counseling Center at 214-333-5288.