D&A is excited to welcome students to their first semester at UT! To help navigate the new responsibilities and rights students have in using their accommodations, D&A will be hosting virtual sessions throughout the week of August 18th.
These sessions will be dedicated to specific topics such as an overview of applying for accommodations, self-advocacy skills, flexible attendance, and more. Students can choose to attend any or all sessions that may be relevant to their accommodations and interests.
For more ways to meet other students and connect to campus resources, check out the Welcome Week events hosted by the Disability Cultural Center.
Session Descriptions:
Intro to Disability and Access/Registering with D&A: Monday, August 18th from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Introduction to Disability and Access & How to Register with D&A will provide an opportunity for students to learn more about Disability and Access. In this session, D&A Access Coordinators will review the process for registering for accommodations, using accommodations, and having conversations with instructors about their accommodations. Set yourself up for success by making sure you are prepared and ready to use your accommodations this semester!
Incoming students or current students who are considering registering for accommodations are strongly encouraged to attend. If you have already registered for accommodations through Disability and Access, check out the sessions below.
Registered Student Refresher/Using Accommodations at UT Austin: Monday, August 18th from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Reserved for students already registered with D&A over the summer, this session will be a refresher on the information shared at the end of your intake appointment. We will review how to use your accommodation each semester, including requesting your accommodation letters. We’ll review quick tips on accessing a copy of class notes, requesting access to Kurzweil, and reserving tests at the Campus Testing Center (CTC). See our Accommodated Testing and the CTC session for more detailed instructions on the CTC!
Self-Advocacy: Tuesday, August 19th from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
This session will provide students with tools and tips they can use to advocate for themselves when discussing their accommodations. By recognizing strengths, understanding expectations from instructors, and becoming aware of campus resources, students can increase confidence in utilizing their accommodations and building relationships with faculty and staff.
Flexibility with Attendance and Attendance Policy Addendum (APA) Overview: Wednesday, August 20th from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Reserved for students who have been approved for Flexibility with Attendance as an accommodation, this session will provide guidance regarding the use of this accommodation. We will start by reviewing a definition of the accommodation so that students are aware of how to discuss the ways it can be implemented. The attendance policy addendum (APA) can be a useful tool in understanding more about the role of attendance and the flexibility that exists in various classes. The APA can be used to guide the conversation with instructors and document the implementation of the accommodation with D&A.
Accommodated Testing and the Campus Testing Center (CTC) Overview: Thursday, August 21st from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Learn about UT’s accommodated testing options and how to request tests in the Campus Testing Center. If you are approved for testing accommodations, attend this session so you can make sure you are prepared to schedule your tests and using your accommodations.
If students have individual questions about their accommodations, they should contact their Access Coordinator. For general questions for unregistered or incoming students, please reach out to access@austin.utexas.edu.