G/PPS 08.02 - Accessibility for Students with Disabilities to Classroom Instructions

POLICY STATEMENT

Texas State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations to all individuals under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1. CLASSROOM ACCESSIBILITY OBJECTIVE

   1. The objective of accessibility to classroom instruction is to make sure that every effort is made to offer qualified students with disabilities the same education as students who do not have disabilities. Accessibility includes access to outdoor venues and access to adaptive technology including closed captioned decoders and audio loops.

2. DEFINITIONS

   1. Accessible Classroom – classroom accessible to a student with a disability.

   2. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (ADA) – prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, programs, and services provided by state and local governments, goods and services provided by private companies, and in commercial facilities.

   3. Classroom – any facility used for instruction; includes labs, lecture halls, and outdoor facilities.

   4. Disability – a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.

3. PUBLICATION OF POLICY

   1. The Office of the University Registrar’s website will include a link to the Disability Service’s website and the following statement addressing classroom accessibility: “Any student with a disability who encounters a barrier to classroom accessibility or instruction should identify themselves to the instructor of the course or Disability Services as soon as possible. Documentation of a disability may be required if not already on file with Disability Services. Disability Services, in conjunction with the instructor of the course or academic department, will seek to provide the necessary and appropriate accommodations in a timely manner.”

4. CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT PROCEDURES

   1. Courses with multiple sections should have several sections assigned to accessible classrooms.

   2. Courses with only one section should be assigned to an accessible classroom.

   3. An instructor, or a representative from Disability Services, who becomes aware that a student is having difficulty gaining access to a classroom or classroom instruction should contact the department chair.

   4. If a course or portion of a course is taught at an outdoor venue, the instructor of the course and representative from Disability Services will assess the individual needs of the enrolled student with a disability to determine if reasonable accommodations can be made. If an accommodation cannot be made, the instructor, a representative from Disability Services, and the department chair or school director will determine if an alternative assignment or alternative course is needed to fulfill the requirement.

   5. The department chair will coordinate with the Office of the University Registrar to move the class to an accessible room.

   6. If it is not possible to move the class, the department chair will coordinate with the Office of the University Registrar to attempt to reschedule the student into another section of the class. The problem should be resolved within one working day.

5. RESOLUTIONS

   1. If a satisfactory solution is not found, the student’s college dean, department chair or school director, and the director of Disability Services will attempt to find a satisfactory resolution.

6. REVIEWERS OF THIS PPS

   1. Reviewer of this PPS includes the following:

      Position	Date
      University Registrar	June 1 E3Y

7. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

   This PPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State Global policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

   University Registrar; senior reviewer of this PPS

   Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management

   Vice President for TXST Global