Disability Services
Carisa Ash
Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Education; Director of Disability Services; Adjunct Professor of Educational Ministries and Leadership
214-887-5368
cash@dts.edu
Welcome
We are glad that you are studying at DTS!
Dallas Theological Seminary works to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations to students with psychological, medical, physical, and learning disabilities. Students desiring or needing accommodations on the basis of such disabilities or of medical incidents such as hospitalization or severe injury are to email the Director of Disability Services.
If you are aware of a condition that may impact your studies, please contact the Director of Disability Services before the semester begins or at the onset of a crisis in order to have all relevant documentation on file for the semester. Please note:
- Accommodations are not retroactive, and
- New accommodation request forms are required for each class each semester, and should be submitted prior to the class starting.
While accommodations cannot fundamentally change the major aspects of core requirements of courses or your program, they can aid you in successfully completing your work.
Accommodation
In accord with Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the seminary will make reasonable accommodation to ensure equal opportunity and access for qualified students to applicable programs, services, activities, and facilities.
After acceptance and prior to entering classes, a student with a disability must submit written requests for modifications or auxiliary aids to the Director of Disability Services. Documentation of disability may be required in order to receive appropriate modifications. Requests for auxiliary aids should be made at least one month prior to the beginning of the semester. Dallas Theological Seminary does its best to honor these requests but cannot guarantee that they will be met. The department responsible for the services requested will coordinate with the appropriate seminary personnel and/or federal or state agency to provide the student with maximal assistance.
In light of the accommodations granted, students are responsible to work with individual professors at the beginning and throughout the semester. If additional time beyond the end of the semester will be needed, the student must file a Credits Committee petition requesting an extension. This must be filed before the semester ends. Dallas Theological Seminary is unable to grant retroactive accommodations once the semester is completed.
The seminary will not make substantial adjustments in existing programs beyond those necessary to eliminate discrimination against otherwise qualified students, and will not modify existing programs to the extent it places an undue financial or administrative burden on the seminary. The seminary assumes no responsibility for personal-care attendants, health-care providers, personal devices, individually-prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study, or private tutors.
Applying for Accommodations
Specific accommodations provided are discussed and determined on a case-by-case basis only after acceptance as a DTS student.
Process
- Student collects the appropriate documentation (see Documentation Forms) from an licensed physician whose certification pertains to the disability. All documentation must be less than 3 years old.
- Student schedules an interview with the Director of Disability Services to discuss:
- Specific barriers to learning;
- Opportunities and resources to enhance learning; and
- Accommodations that DTS can make to facilitate learning (Potential Accommodations List forthcoming).
- Student submits accommodation request forms to the Director in a timely manner for each course taken each semester.
- All regular accommodations should be requested before the semester begins.
- Some accommodations (electronic books, interpreters, etc…) require at least a month’s notice.
- No accommodations will be granted retroactively.
- Student gives to their professors the signed Disability Accommodation form for their course(s).
- Student works closely with the Director to adjust accommodations, if necessary.
- Student follows recommendations by physicians or therapists to maximize health and learning.
- Permission to record classes.
- Use of individual rooms in the library for “in class” exams.
- Use of an interpreter (if requested at least a month in advance).
- Books in electronic format (if requested at least a month in advance).
- Time and a half to take quizzes or exams
- Extra day or week to submit an assignment (as long as it does not interfere with the progress of the course).
- Presentations instead of minor papers, if this substitution does not alter the learning objectives for the course.
Documentation Forms
Request Forms
Additional Assistance, Resources, & Tips
What can students do to minimize barriers to learning? The list below is not exhaustive. Where a link to a particular resource is provided, this is an example and not a product endorsement by DTS. If you know of other sources, let us know, so we can add them to the list!
The Texas Workforce Commission’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services (TWC-VRS) may provide financial assistance for documentation or accommodations for Texas students.
twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/vocational-rehabilitation-youth-students • 1-800-628-5115 • customers@twc.state.tx.us
Students are encouraged to check with their own state and local agencies for additional help.
E-Readers
Use an editor
Find a tutor or study group
Ask friends in the class for copies of their notes.
Logos Bible Software Assistance
- How many hours you can juggle in light of life circumstances (Time Management Calulator)?
- What combination of courses will best help you succeed?
- What type of assignments best enable you to demonstrate what you’ve learned?
- Will online or on campus courses best help you learn?
- Identify the best times and places for you to read, write, and study and create a regular schedule.
- Avoid courses where all of the work is due at the end if you procrastinate.
- Observe dietary and sleep needs.
Medical Emergencies
Sometimes major accidents occur or major health issues arise during the course of a semester. If this happens to you, please reach out (or have a spouse or close friend, if you cannot) to the Director of Disability Services in order to alert DTS to the issue. The director will contact professors and let them know of your absence. Then, as soon as possible, obtain an official notice from the doctor (on paper that includes the person’s name, title, place of work). The notice should include initial date of the issue and date the person projects a return to study (or a follow up appointment for clearance), as well as the impact this will have on your studies. The physician can email the notice to Dr. Ash (cash@dts.edu).
When your situation permits, you will have a consultation (typically over the phone) with the Director of Disability Services to discuss the best route forward with your courses. You will need to provide a list of your classes and where you are in the completion of your work. Professors will then be notified of any accommodations granted.
Faculty and staff pray regularly for our students. If you wish, you may submit your prayer request here. If you would like to speak with the campus pastor, please email chapel@dts.edu or call 214-887-5363.
Service & Emotional Support Animals
Dallas Theological Seminary strives to ensure that individuals with disabilities who use service and support animals can receive the benefit of the tasks these animals provide or the therapeutic support they offer in accordance with the requirements of federal law and local laws.
Everyone with a service or an emotional support animal must carefully read, fill out, and submit the Service and Emotional Support Animal Guidelines (every year).
Those living in DTS housing must fill out the DTS ESA Accommodation Request (once) and the Vaccination and Health Information (every year).
Animals cannot move into an on campus apartment until the above forms are approved by the Director of Housing.
Submit forms to the Housing Office.
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