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Disability and Access

Disability and Access

Making UT Austin Accessible and Welcoming for Students with Disabilities

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    • Accommodations and Services
    • Using Accommodations at UT
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    • About Disabilities
      • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
      • Autism
      • Visual Disabilities
      • Brain Injuries
      • Hearing Disabilities
      • Learning Disabilities (LD)
      • Medical Disabilities
      • Physical Disabilities
      • Psychological Disabilities
      • Temporary Disabilities
    • Outreach Presentations
    • Resource Library
    • Accessibility Champion Awards
    • Scholarships

Brain Injuries


Definition 

Brain injuries may result from external or internal events and have varied, complex ways of impacting students. Understanding how brain function is different after an injury has much greater implications for education than does knowing the cause or type of injury. Brain injuries may impact physical, cognitive, behavioral, or perceptional/sensational functioning. Some examples include: 

  • Memory deficits 
  • Speed of Thinking/Processing Speed 
  • Communication-Language Functions (e.g. writing, reading, speaking, listening, pragmatics)  
  • Spatial Reasoning 
  • Conceptualization 
  • Executive Functions 
  • Psychosocial Behaviors 
  • Motor, Sensory, and Physical Abilities 

Barriers to Access 

  • Maintaining concentration through environmental distractions 
  • Expectation to multitask (write and listen simultaneously) 
  • Recalling important dates without reminders (Organization/ Memory / Time Management) 
  • Comprehending instruction or written material after only reading or hearing it once (Reading comprehension / Processing speed) 
  • Oral instructions given without written or visual accompaniment 
  • Abstract communication or instructions 
  • Sensory overload—lights, sounds, smells, crowds, etc. 

Considerations and Tips for Improving Accessibility 

Students’ accommodation letters outline the accommodations they are approved for with D&A. Following delivery by the student, instructors must provide each reasonable accommodation listed. The following list includes tips and best practices to consider in addition to the provision of ADA accommodations. (Information about a student’s disability is confidential with Disability & Access, and while a student may choose to disclose their disability, this information cannot be requested by instructors).   

The following list of tips, adapted from Longhorn TIES materials, was gathered to support neurodivergent students. (Neurodiversity recognizes and celebrates the natural differences in human brain wiring. Individuals may self-identify as neurodivergent or identify with one of several neurodivergent diagnoses, including but not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome, and more).  

Items on this list may be applicable or relevant for many different students and disability categories, while they may be less helpful or relevant for other students. This list aims to offer ideas and a starting point for instructors. 

Communicating Instructions & Expectations  

  • Be direct, clear, and specific with assignment instructions, course expectations, and with feedback on assignments. Communicate intentionally and check for understanding.  
  • Follow up oral instructions with written summaries and provide visual examples on how to complete or submit assignments.   
  • Provide advance notice of meetings, topics to be discussed, and changes in schedule.   
  • Create clear expectations and processes for group work, including deadlines, potential roles for group members, and processes for troubleshooting group conflicts.   

Creating a Welcoming Classroom Environment  

  • Create a safe and encouraging environment for students to discuss accommodations (welcoming directions for initiating accommodation conversations in syllabi and in class).  
  • Periodically check in with students and initiate conversations about challenges in the course. 
  • Facilitate healthy sensory environments (sound, lighting & visual stimuli). Ask about preferred meeting setting. 
  • Avoid cold-calling in class. Foster openness to input and questions and allow students to respond.  

Flexibility with Teaching & Assignments  

  • Build flexibility into syllabi and offer multiple formats and/or options for students to submit work and demonstrate their knowledge in ways that best suit their strengths.  
  • Accept typed, recorded, and handwritten assignments and exam (multiple formats). 
  • Consider offering multiple assignment options (such as for term projects) and limit timed work (students may be unable to demonstrate full knowledge or understanding within time constraints).
  • Build in optional structure for unstructured assignments and/or deadlines (or assist student in creating upon request).  
  • Provide a variety of formats for engaging with material (podcasts, videos, etc. in addition to reading assignments). During instruction, provide visual or alternate learning tools when possible (pictures, charts, spreadsheets). 

For more information and ideas also see: Working with Students with Disabilities, Creating an Accessible Classroom, and other tips within the About Disabilities tab. 

Resources 

    • Assistive Technology (Disability and Access): https://disability.utexas.edu/assistive-technology-2/ 
    • Longhorn TIES: Launched in 2019, the Longhorn TIES (Transition, Inclusion, Empower, Success) program within New Student Services coordinates and facilitates neurodiversity initiatives at The University of Texas at Austin. Longhorn TIES seeks to enhance the student experience for students who identify as neurodivergent through advocacy, connections and training, starting with the New Student Orientation process and continuing through the student’s tenure at the university. Longhorn TIES encompasses: TIESplus and drop-in student supports, faculty and staff support, the Neurodiversity Leadership Council, presentations and training and more. 
    • Sanger Learning Center Learning Specialists: Learning specialists assist students with a variety of study-related questions or concerns, and can work with students with ADHD and learning disabilities to explore time management strategies and study methods that work for you. 

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Contact Us

Call: 512-471-6259
Email: access@austin.utexas.edu
Schedule: Drop In/Office Hours

Typical response time is 1-3 business days between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm. Business days do not include weekends or holidays when the university is closed.

Visit our Contact Us page for more info.

NOTE: D&A has recently undergone a website update that may have impacted links on our website. Please email us regarding broken links so we can update them and provide you with the appropriate link.

D&A Online

D&A Student Portal

D&A Instructor Portal

Volunteer Notetaker Sign Up

Course Load Reduction / Medical Withdrawal

For more information please visit the CLR/MW page

Report a Campus Accessibility Barrier

Click here to report an accessibility barrier on campus.

Disability-Related Opportunities

Looking for scholarships, internships, research opportunities specifically for students with disabilities? Check out our list here!

Request A Presentation

Please visit our outreach presentation page and click the link at the bottom to fill out the form.

Connect with the Disability Cultural Center

The DCC supports disability community and education at UT. Learn more about the DCC.

 

 

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Support D&A

Interested in learning more about supporting Disability and Access?

Make a donation or contact:
Heather Miller, Director of Development for Student Affairs, heather.miller@austin.utexas.edu

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  • About
    • Our Services
    • Policies and Procedures
      • The Law
      • Confidentiality
      • Grievance Procedures
      • Maintenance of Records
      • Reactivation of Files
      • Student Rights and Responsibilities
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Contact Us
    • D&A Data
  • Future UT Students
    • Making the Transition to UT
    • How to Register with D&A
    • Documentation Guidelines
    • Accommodations and Services
    • Housing and Dining Accommodations
    • Placement Exams
    • Resources for Parents
  • Current UT Students
    • How to Register with D&A
    • Accommodations and Services
    • Using Accommodations at UT
    • Using Testing Accommodations
    • Assistive Technology
    • Course Load Reduction and Medical Withdrawal
    • Online Learning
    • Housing and Dining Accommodations
    • Student Volunteer Notetakers
  • Faculty/Staff
    • The Law
    • Rights and Responsibilities of Students and Faculty
    • The Basics: Providing Accommodations
    • Working with Students with Disabilities
    • Creating an Accessible Classroom
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Deaf/HH
    • Live Captioning Services
    • Sign Language Interpreter Services
    • Captioning Videos
  • Forms & Documents
  • Education and Resources
    • About Disabilities
      • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
      • Autism
      • Visual Disabilities
      • Brain Injuries
      • Hearing Disabilities
      • Learning Disabilities (LD)
      • Medical Disabilities
      • Physical Disabilities
      • Psychological Disabilities
      • Temporary Disabilities
    • Outreach Presentations
    • Resource Library
    • Accessibility Champion Awards
    • Scholarships