The mission of Student Access Services (SAS) is to provide equal opportunities and
access to education, programs, and activities for students with disabilities by increasing
campus accessibility and removing barriers. Disability is an aspect of diversity integral
to society and supported by SAS, the Division of Student Life, and is guided by the
University’s mission to foster a welcoming and inclusive community.
Who is eligible for Student Access Services?
To be eligible for services from the Office for Student Access Services (SAS), the
student must be admitted to New Mexico Tech, and they must have a disability. The term “disability” is used frequently throughout our website because it is the language used in both the federal laws and New Mexico Tech policies that protect
students with disabilities from unlawful discrimination and provide reasonable accommodations.SAS understands and respects the choice of people who do not readily identify with
the term “disability” and prefer to use other terminology to describe their situation.
Definition of Disability
As defined in federal law, a person with a disability is someone who has a serious
medical condition or a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one
or more major life activities.
Major life activities are those functions that are important to most people’s daily
lives. These include but are not limited to the following:
Major Bodily Functions, such as immune system functions, normal cell growth, and normal
nervous, endocrine, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive,
urinary, and reproductive system functions.
Types of Disabilities
Psychological Disabilities
This group is included in a large proportion of the population of students assisted
by Student Access Services (SAS). Many different psychological disorders can have
a cognitive, emotional, and/or social impact on a student's ability to function in
an academic environment. Psychological disabilities include, but are not limited to:
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Anxiety Disorders
Schizophrenia
Some students undergoing treatment and take prescription medication to help control
symptoms. SAS understands that this medication may have side effects such as drowsiness
or disorientation, so it is important to consider this when talking about accommodations
that are needed.
Learning Disabilities and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
This group is included in a large proportion of the population of students assisted
by SAS. These disabilities affect the manner in which individuals obtain, incorporate,
and/or express knowledge. Learning disabilities may affect a student’s ability with:
Reading, writing, spelling, and/or mathematics
Auditory, visual and/or sensory processing
Orientation to space and time
People with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, having trouble paying
attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, or being overly active.
If the student has had a psychoeducational, psychological, or neuropsychological evaluation
done, it can be very helpful for the student to provide a copy of the evaluation to
SAS. These evaluations are usually comprehensive and detailed, and can assist SAS
in helping the student determine which accommodations may be most beneficial for them.
A student's 504 Plan, or IEP, may also be helpful for reviewing accommodations that
have been effective in the past and may be available in the university setting.
Chronic Health Conditions
There are a number of chronic health conditions that may impact a student’s energy
and/or pain level, concentration, and attendance. Examples of these conditions include
but are not limited to:
Diabetes
Heart Conditions
Crohn’s Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Chronic Pain
Fibromyalgia
Cancer
Some students may be taking medication with varying side effects such as drowsiness
or slowed response. Chronic health conditions are often unpredictable, so students
may be affected at any time without warning.
Deaf or Hard of Hearing
The age of onset of a hearing disability will have a great impact upon the student’s
English ability, both spoken and written. Generally, English is considered a second
language for deaf and hard of hearing students while signed language is the dominant
mode of communication. Typical accommodations include:
Use of a Signed Language interpreter
Real-time captioning
Note taking
Providing all directions in writing
Closed-captioned videos
Visual Disabilities
Visual disabilities can vary from total blindness to low vision. Students with low
vision may not have an apparent “visible” disability. Students with visual disabilities
may experience eyestrain, light sensitivity, or an inability to read printed material
or to distinguish certain colors. Students who have been blind from birth have different
concepts of objects, space, and distance from those persons who develop visual disabilities
later in life.
These students may encounter various types of environmental barriers in the college
setting such as inaccessible readings, unannounced quizzes, open book tests, locating
lecture information, completing scantron answer sheets, or viewing lecture notes during
class.
Other Physical Disablities
Physical accessibility is one of the major concerns for students with physical disabilities.
Students may encounter unavoidable delays during inclement weather, times of heavy
foot traffic, and periods of construction. If a classroom is inaccessible, Student
Access Services will work with the department to relocate the class to an accessible
location. When a course requires travel to alternative locations, those locations
and transportation must be accessible.
Specific Types of Disabilities
There are many different types of disabilities that can affect a person. Some examples
of disabilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Arthritis
Autism
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Blindness/Low Vision
Brain Injuries
Cerebal Palsy
Communication Disorders
Deafness/Hard of Hearing
Emotional/Psychological Disabilities
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Seizure Disorders
Specific Learning Disabilities
Spinal Cord Injuries
Etc.
Theresa Kappel, Director of Student Access Services
