Your student’s transition to college is a big step, and you may have questions about how accommodations and support services work at UT. This page is designed to help you understand D&A’s process and how you can support your student throughout their college experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
What are the steps to registering with D&A?
The full registration process is outlined on our How to Register page.
When should my student register with D&A?
As soon as possible. Incoming students are encouraged to submit documentation as soon as they accept admission so accommodations and services can be in place before the first day of class.
Can my student submit documentation before enrolling at UT Austin?
Yes. Incoming students are encouraged to submit documentation as soon as they accept admission so accommodations and services can be in place before the first day of class. Learn more about Documentation Guidelines.
How do I know if my student’s documentation will be sufficient?
D&A reviews all documentation and will contact your student if additional information is needed. Learn more about Documentation Guidelines.
We can’t afford to have our student re-evaluated. Are there other options?
There are several options worth exploring.
- Insurance may cover part of psychoeducational testing, depending on your plan.
- The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) may assist eligible students with updated evaluations.
- D&A maintains a limited testing fund and referral list for local providers, including some that offer sliding scale fees or payment plans.
Reach out to D&A and staff can help connect your student with available resources and options.
Accommodations and Services
Will my student receive the same accommodations they had in K-12?
Not necessarily. Accommodations in college are determined individually based on current documentation and your student’s access needs at the post-secondary level. An IEP or 504 plan from high school may not be sufficient on its own and doesn’t guarantee the same accommodations at UT Austin. Your student will work with an access coordinator to determine appropriate accommodations and services.
What accommodations are available?
D&A doesn’t provide a standard menu of accommodations. Accommodations are determined on an individual basis based on documentation and specific needs at UT Austin. Your student will work with an access coordinator to identify what’s appropriate for them.
What do academic accommodations look like?
Accommodations are determined individually after your student meets with an access coordinator. Accommodations are designed to provide equal access based on your student’s specific needs at UT Austin. Learn more about Academic Accommodations.
How does my student request housing and dining accommodations?
D&A works with University Housing and Dining (UHD) to support students with disabilities who live on campus. Learn more about housing and dining accommodations.
Who do we speak to about orientation accommodation requests?
Orientation staff are your first stop for orientation accommodations. When your student signs up for orientation, they will also be asked to sign up for any orientation accommodations they need.
Privacy and Communication
Can I send documentation or communicate on my student’s behalf, even if my student is a minor?
No. Once a student enrolls in college, they are responsible for submitting documentation, requesting accommodations and communicating directly with D&A and their access coordinator, even if they are under 18. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), educational privacy rights belong to the student unless they provide written permission through a Release of Information.
Does my student have to disclose their disability to faculty or staff?
No. Accommodation letters explain approved accommodations, not a student’s diagnosis or disability information. Students are not required to share their diagnosis with instructors or staff outside of D&A.
Is what my student tells D&A confidential?
Yes. Conversations with D&A staff are confidential, and disability-related information is not shared without the student’s permission.
Under Texas law, D&A staff are designated confidential employees. This means that if a student discloses an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence or stalking, staff are required to report only the type of incident and date it was shared to the Title IX Office. The student’s name and any identifying details are not reported.
Outside of this limited reporting requirement, information shared with D&A remains confidential.
When Your Student Needs Support
My student is struggling. What can I do?
Encourage your student to contact D&A. If they aren’t registered, now is a good time to start. If they are already registered, encourage them to reach out to their access coordinator. You can also suggest they visit the Sanger Learning Center or the Counseling and Mental Health Center for additional support.