Access Update at Texas State
Texas State will be working on several projects which could impact students with physical or mobility impairments. In January, renovations will begin on the Health Science Center space vacated by the Student Health Center last year. The construction will require a staging area on the south side of College Inn which will block access to the disabled parking spaces at this location. In addition, elevator upgrades will be performed in Evans, Freeman Aquatic, Hines and Jowers during Mini semester and Summer I sessions in 2006. The elevators in these four buildings will be turned OFF on May 10, 2006 and returned to service during the week of July 4th.

The CapTel Telephone
The captioned telephone (Captel) works like any other telephone with one important addition: it displays every word the caller says throughout the conversation. Captel users can listen to the caller and can also read the written captions in the Captel phone’s bright display window. The state of Texas offers vouchers for assistive technology like Captel making it FREE for Texas residents. For more information pick up a brochure from the ODS or get an application on line.

Student Support Services
Student Support Services (SSS) offers a variety of FREE services to Texas State undergraduate students who have a need for academic and other support services. SSS is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to help students adapt to college life, excel in the classroom, and ultimately reach their goal of graduation. To help students accomplish these goals, SSS provides services including one-on-one tutoring, counseling, academic advising, financial aid assistance, study skills, cultural enrichment experiences and campus referrals. SSS is free, but serves a limited number of students who apply and meet federal guidelines. Students are eligible if they meet one or more of three criteria; first generation student (neither parent graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college or university), income guidelines, or be a student with a documented disability. For more information, call 245-2275 or stop by the SSS office in 5-6.1, LBJ Student Center. Students who have disability documentation on file in the ODS should inform SSS. Space is limited, so it is important to apply early!

Officials Didn’t Deny Financial Aid Because of Student’s Disability
Case name: Letter to Riverside Community College, NO. 09-05-2011 (105 LRP 35244) (OCR IX, San Francisco (CA) 2005).
Ruling: Riverside Community College officials didn’t discriminate against a student when they denied federal financial aid based on his disability, the Office for Civil Rights concluded. Officials did not violate Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as the student had claimed, OCR said.
What it means: Section 504 regulations state than when providing financial assistance to qualified students with disabilities, institutions may not provide less financial assistance than is given to non-disabled students. They also can’t limit eligibility for assistance or otherwise discriminate on the basis of disability.
Summary: A student with acute hypertension and arthritis was prone to stress-related seizures. He alleged college officials discriminated against him by limiting the amount of subsidized Stafford loans he could receive. He claimed they did so even when they knew he could not secure other funding through a federal work-study program because of his disability. The evidence did not support his allegations, OCR found. Because the student could not participate in the work-study program, he said the college should have provided him with the full amount of his subsidized Stafford loans. But OCR disagreed. It noted that he received the full amount of funds he was eligible to receive under federal student loan rules. Additionally, there was nothing unlawful about having discussions with the student to help identify a range of positions that, with reasonable accommodation, he could have performed, OCR said. Accordingly, OCR stated that the student did not suffer any adverse treatment.

Disability Compliance for Higher Education, November 2005

Texas State Scholarships
This spring, Texas State will award scholarships designated for students with disabilities. These include the Access, Cooper and Nesenholtz Scholarships which give preference to students with physical disabilities, and the Blake Edward Jaska Scholarship which gives preference to students who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Scholarship amounts range from $250.00 to $1,000.00. To be considered for any of these scholarships, a student must have a completed Texas State General Scholarship application on file with the Office of Financial Aid (deadline was October 1st), and an ODS Scholarship Application (available upon request from the ODS). Deadline to submit applications is March 1. For more information visit the ODS scholarship web page.

"The Secret Thorn"
The Secret Thorn; a young woman’s journey through epilepsy ” is the story of Laurie Martin who has overcome superstition and stigma to live a full and active life. Laurie is a member of the San Marcos Writing Group. She is also an alumna of Texas State, graduating in 1995 from then Southwest Texas State University with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. To learn more about Laurie and how through the encouragement and support of her family and friends she has journeyed through an illness still shrouded in mystery. You can contact Laurie or write to her at PO Box 1583, San Marcos, TX 78667.

Recognition of Faculty & Staff
Annually in April the ODS recognizes a Texas State faculty member and staff member for their efforts in assisting students with disabilities at the university. Past faculty recipients include Dr. Ron Sawey and Dr. Debra Feakes; past staff recipients include Dr. Verna Henson (TSI office). Please provide the names of any faculty or staff that you feel have provided exceptional service and deserve recognition this year to Tina at the ODS no later than March 20.

DARS May Benefit You!
John Grayson, a counselor with the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), is available to meet with DARS clients on campus in the ODS office. All appointments must be made through the DARS San Marcos Office at 512-353-8627 or toll free 1-800-687-8442. To find out if DARS can help you with testing, tuition, books, assistive devices, and some medical treatment, pick up a DARS brochure at the ODS. You may qualify for tuition assistance up to $960.00. per semester!

Recommended Professors at Texas State
The ODS “Recommended Professor List” was compiled by the ODS in 2003 based on feedback from students registered with the ODS. The list includes the names of faculty from a range of academic departments whose teaching style was identified as accommodating the unique needs of students with disabilities. This list is not comprehensive, and we need your help in adding to the list of names. Please submit the names of any faculty members who you feel should be included on the list.

An Update on Services at the RRHEC
Students with disabilities attending classes at the RRHEC have access to many of the same services available at the ODS in San Marcos. For instance, students can sign-up for advance registration, pick-up a copy of their approved Academic Accommodations Form, and participate in disability management counseling. The following assistive technology is also available: Zoom Text; JAWS; CCTV; and Video Relay. For more information call Dawn Bayardo in the One-Stop Center at 512-716-4023.

The ODS Welcomes Jenni Ward
As an undergraduate alumna of Texas State University, I am excited to return to campus and join the Office of Disability Services team as the new Cognitive Disability Specialist. While attending Texas State, I received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice as well as working within several departmental offices around campus. I recently completed my graduate studies at St. Mary’s University with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology. My professional background includes employment with Harcourt Assessment, Inc., The University of Texas at San Antonio, and The University of Texas Health Science Center. While things around campus have changed a bit since I graduated, I am thrilled to see that the sense of community has not. I am honored to be back on campus and look forward to working with the wonderful faculty, staff, and students that make Texas State a place to be proud of.

The ODS Welcomes Maggie Sherrerd
I want to say thank you for the warm welcome I have received from so many of the faculty and staff here at Texas State University. I am very pleased to be joining the ODS staff in the role of Liaison Interpreter. A short introduction of my background includes working at Texas School for the Deaf, graduating from the University of Texas with a BA in Cultural Anthropology, receiving an Associates of Applied Science (Interpreting Training Program) from Austin Community College and recently, a M.A. in Linguistics from Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. Although I enjoyed my time there, I am excited to be moving back to warm weather here in my hometown, San Marcos. I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with faculty, staff and the students on campus. If you have any questions please feel free to stop by and see me!

The ODS Staff
Ellen Cagle, Staff Interpreter
Debbie Cole, Interpreter Coordinator
Bruce Coonce, General Disability Specialist
Lisa Gold, Staff Interpreter
Scott Janke, Psychologist
Gloria Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant
Elizabeth Saucedo, Administrative Assistant
Tina Schultz, Director
Maggie Sherrerd, Liaison Interpreter
Jenni Ward, Cognitive Disability Specialist
Amalie Wheat, Staff Interpreter
Resa Young, Staff Interpreter