Student FAQ's

How do I apply for services?

Please visit Procedures to Request Services for the steps to register as a student with a disability.

What is considered a disability?

The Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, defines a disability as any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities or bodily processes. Students with appropriately documented disabilities are eligible for SSD services.

What type of documentation do you need?

Please visit Documentation Guidelines for information on required disability documentation.

What do I need to do each semester to continue accommodations after I have been approved by SSD?

Students are responsible for requesting Letters of Accommodation (LOAs) for each semester they are enrolled at SHSU if they have been approved for ongoing accommodations. SSD recommends that you place your request for LOAs upon completing your course registration for each semester. You can request LOAs by contacting the SSD Office by phone at (936)294-3512, email at disability@shsu.edu, or in person at the SSD Office in the Lee Drain Annex, Huntsville campus.

Do I need to request LOAs every semester?

Yes, every semester you would like to make use of accommodations, you will need to request LOAs in a timely manner.

Are my accommodations good every semester?

If approved for ongoing accommodations, students are eligible to use their accommodations in each future semester by contacting the SSD Office to request LOAs. If accommodations were approved on a provisional or temporary basis, students should schedule a follow-up appointment with their Accommodation Counselor and submit updated documentation to SSD if they have a continued need for accommodations in a subsequent semester.

What do I do if my LOAs have been sent, but I changed my class schedule?

Please notify the SSD support staff of your schedule change as soon as possible so that a current LOA can be sent to the appropriate instructor for the newly added class. You can do so by contacting the SSD Office by phone at (936)294-3512, email at disability@shsu.edu, or in person at the SSD Office in the Lee Drain Annex, Huntsville campus.

How do I add an accommodation?

If you would like to discuss adding or changing accommodations, you will need to meet with your Accommodation Counselor.  You may schedule an in-person or telephone appointment by calling (936)294-3512 or by stopping by the front desk at the SSD Office. Depending upon the request, additional or updated documentation may be required.

Are accommodations retroactive?

Accommodations do not apply retroactively. Accommodations are applicable from the point when LOAs are sent to course instructors for a given semester.

How do I schedule an exam at one of the SSD testing facilities?

Please visit Key Steps to Scheduling Test Appointments with SSD for the steps to make a test appointment.

Is there specific Financial Aid available for Students with Disabilities?

For information on scholarships and other financial aid, please contact the office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at telephone (936)294-1774 or in person in the Estill Building, Suite 201, Huntsville campus.

If you are a deaf/hard-of-hearing student or a blind/low vision student and qualify for the state tuition waiver, please submit the certification form to the SHSU Cashier's Office at cshforms@shsu.edu. You will have to email the Cashier’s Office once you have registered for classes each semester to request that the waiver be applied to your account.

Does SSD transport students with disabilities or temporary injuries across campus?

SHSU does not provide on campus transportation for students, including dorm or parking lot pick-up and/or drop-off at academic buildings via golf cart. To view accessible routes/pathways on main campus, please see the ADA Campus map or download the SHSU Mobile App for an interactive campus map.

How do I get closer parking due to my disability?

If you have a government-issued disability parking placard, you may apply for the ADA ePermit for parking on campus. Like all other parking permits on campus, the ADA ePermit requires a fee and must be purchased on a yearly or semesterly basis. Additional information is available from Parking and Transportation.

Can my Accommodation Counselor help me choose my classes?

SSD does not provide Academic Advising. Please contact the SAM Center for assistance with class selection and enrollment.

How do I register my ESA for on campus housing?

To request an emotional support animal (ESA) as a university housing accommodation, you must register with SSD by completing the online intake, submitting supporting documentation consistent with the Documentation Guidelines for Emotional Support Animals in University Housing, and completing an intake appointment with an Accommodation Counselor. For additional information, see the Service and Emotional Support Animal Policy.

Does SSD provide ESA letters for off campus (non-SHSU) housing?

No, SSD does not provide ESA letters or other proof of disability for off campus housing.

Do I need to register my service dog with SSD?

Students are not required to register their service dogs with SSD or to be approved for an accommodation to use a service dog on campus.  Students are encouraged to schedule a consultation with SSD to review the Service and Emotional Support Animal Policy.

Can SSD show me where my classes are?

SSD staff do not walk students to classrooms or academic buildings. During Welcome Week of each fall and spring semester, Campus Activities & Traditions hosts a Find your Classes event that all students are encouraged to attend.

Does SSD provide personal care attendants or in-class behavioral aides?

SHSU does not provide personal care attendants or in-class aides for students but may accommodate the presence of such assistants in classrooms and residence halls. Students coming to campus with an attendant or aid should register with SSD to discuss the use of such assistance on campus.

Are there mentoring services available at SHSU?

Learning Coaches, Tutoring Services, and Peer Mentoring are available at the Academic Success Center. Students with disabilities may also qualify for such assistance from the TRIO Services.

How can students with disabilities get more involved on campus?

SHSU has a number of student organizations that students are eligible to explore.

Can my parent request accommodations or testing appointments for me?

Students are responsible for requesting accommodations and scheduling appointments with SSD, including test appointments, if approved for testing accommodations. Students may include a parent or parents in appointments with their Accommodation Counselor if the student wishes to do so.

Does SSD “check on” students with disabilities in university housing?

SSD does not provide wake-up calls or wellness checks for students in university housing. If parents have concerns regarding a student’s welfare, they can contact SHSU Public Safety Services (University Police Department) at (936)294-1800.