Guide for Students

Students must request to receive accommodations due to a disability by completing the following process. 

1. Once accepted to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center through the standard admissions process, register with Student Disability Services using our application found on the SDS website.  NOTE: Provide your R# and use your TTUHSC email account to apply for services. 
2. Provide relevant documentation to support/explain the accommodation request.
   Mailing Address
   Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
   Student Disability Services
   3601 4th Street, STOP 8310
   Lubbock TX 79430-8310
   
   T: 806.743.1926
   F: 806-743-3027
   
   
3. Student must complete the initial intake meeting with the SDS staff in order to receive Letters of Accommodation (LOA).   After the initial SDS registration, students must renew their affiliation by requesting new LOAs (email disabilityservices@ttuhsc.edu) at the beginning of each semester. The student has the opportunity to review their accommodations during the LOA request process each academic semester. SDS is also able to assist with temporary accommodations as needed (e.g. broken hand). Please note the need for temporary accommodations on the SDS application.  Student Disability Services also offers sign language interpreter and real-time captioning services for academic purposes to qualified SDS students.

Students with disabilities who experience physical barriers on any TTUHSC campus are encouraged to contact SDS for assistance.

It is the student's responsibility to make their accommodation needs known and to provide the appropriate documentation to support the requested accommodations. Students are also responsible for renewing their affiliation with Student Disability Services (SDS) each semester. It is important to remember that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ensures equal access. A student has the right to succeed or fail a course based on academic performance. Reasonable ADA accommodations in no way guarantee student success in a course.

Documentation can be submitted (by mail, fax, email, in person) for review any time during the year as long as it is for a currently enrolled student or an incoming (newly admitted) student.

Note: Documentation provided to SDS within the last two weeks of a semester will be processed for the following semester. It is the student's responsibility to apply for and obtain accommodations in a reasonable time frame within the semester.  Documentation submitted to SDS is confidential and used solely for the purpose of assisting in identifying and securing accommodations and services to support the student’s full participation at TTUHSC. Affiliation with SDS is not reported on a student's transcript.  Students should review the documentation guidelines on the SDS website for guidance and additional information to assist their medical provider.  Although SDS does not offer diagnostic testing, transportation services, monetary assistance, or personal attendants, SDS does provide referral information upon request.

Once a student's application is received along with any supporting documentation, it will be processed through the SDS office. SDS staff will contact the student to schedule an initial intake meeting either in person or over the telephone. During this meeting, SDS will review the application and documentation to determine, in conjunction with the student, reasonable academic accommodations supported by the documentation. Reasonable accommodations may be discussed by the SDS staff and various school Student Affairs representatives, and evaluated for appropriateness based on the technical standards of each program.  These reasonable accommodations, allowed for didactic courses and clinical courses, will be discussed with the student during the initial intake meeting.  Other considerations in determining reasonable accommodations will include the type of disability, documented needs, previous accommodations, and functional limitations of the student.  Following the intake meeting, the student and their program coordinator will receive an email from SDS staff with the Letter of Accommodation (LOA) attached.  It is the student’s responsibility to then follow up with their program director and course instructors in order to discuss implementation of accommodations listed on the LOA.  Faculty are not obligated to provide accommodations until such a meeting is complete, but once the meeting has occurred, faculty have one week to implement necessary accommodations.  If faculty or program directors have questions, contact SDS.