1.01 It is the policy of Sam Houston State University that no otherwise qualified disabled individuals shall, solely by reason of their disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any academic program or activity.

1.02 Sam Houston State University has completed a self-evaluation, as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

2.01 The term disability means with respect to individuals:

2.02 Under paragraph 2.01 (a) above, only physical and mental handicaps are included. Thus, environmental, cultural, and economic disadvantages are not in themselves covered; nor a prison record, age, or homosexuality. Of course, if individuals have any of these characteristics and also have a physical or mental handicap, they are included within the definition of "handicapped persons."

Under paragraph 2.01 (b) above, persons who have a history of a disabling condition (e.g., mental or emotional illness, heart disease, cancer) but no longer have the condition, and persons who have been incorrectly classified as having such a condition (e.g., mentally retarded), are protected from discrimination. Under paragraph 2.01 (c) above, persons are protected who are ordinarily considered to be disabled but do not fall within the first two parts of the statutory definition, such as persons with a limp. This part of the definition also includes some persons who might not ordinarily be considered disabled, such as persons with disfiguring scars or persons who have no impairment but are treated as if they are disabled.

2.03 "Physical or mental impairment" means:

2.04 It should be emphasized that a physical or mental impairment does not constitute a disability unless its severity is such that it results in a substantial limitation of one or more major life activities. The term "physical or mental impairment" is not defined by virtue of a listing of specific diseases and conditions due to the difficulty in ensuring the comprehensiveness of such a list. However, this term is intended to encompass such diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, drug addiction and alcoholism. "Specific learning disabilities" are included in the definition of "mental impairment," and the term is intended to describe such conditions as perceptual handicaps, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.

2.05 "Qualified disabled persons" means:

3.01 The Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students is chaired by the Director of Counseling Services. It is composed of representatives from the faculty and staff of the university. The committee advises disabled students of available assistance on a continuing basis and serves as a resource for faculty, staff, and students concerning the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as it pertains to the educational process at SHSU. As necessary, the committee may familiarize students with the provisions of the University Grievance Procedure - Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and paragraph 5 of this policy. The committee does not review grievances concerning academic matters such as grades or suspensions.

3.02 The chair of the committee reviews psychological or medical credentials presented by students seeking academic assistance such as learning disabled students or other disabled students whose academic performance is alleged to be affected in order to determine if a disability exists. If so determined, and, with written permission from the students, the committee chair communicates with the college deans, recommending certain learning modifications. The deans will communicate to division/department chairs/coordinators/faculty this same information. This is the only type of disability which must be verified, assuming that any other type can be observed by the faculty member.

4.01 Students may, but are not required to, avail themselves of assistance provided for disabled students.

4.02 Students also may request assistance from individual faculty members, department/division chairs, deans, and the Director of the Newton Gresham Library. The faculty member or administrator should refer disabled students, if the disability is unobservable and could effect academic performance, to the Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students by having them contact the chair for that committee who is also the Director of Counseling Services (Extension 1720).

4.03 Faculty members will make every reasonable effort to accommodate with requests made on the behalf of disabled students by the Director of Counseling Services under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

4.04 Faculty members will inform the students in their classes of the existence of the Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students, so that they may request services if so desired.

4.05 Faculty members should include this information in the class syllabus to accommodate the hearing impaired and state it orally to accommodate the visually impaired. An example can be: "Students with a disability which affects their academic performance are expected to arrange for a conference with the instructor in order that appropriate strategies can be considered to ensure that participation and achievement opportunities are not impaired." The physically impaired may contact the Director of the Counseling Center as chair of the Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students by telephone (extension 1720).

4.06 The following statement should appear on all printed recruitment, admission and registration materials: "Disabled students may request admissions/registration assistance by calling the Registrar's Office or the Undergraduate Admissions Office." Telephone numbers should be included in this statement.

4.07 In buildings which are not accessible to the physically disabled, classes should be scheduled elsewhere. In buildings which are accessible but without elevators, classes should be scheduled on the first floor, if necessary, to accommodate disabled students. This should be coordinated through the Registrar's Office.

5.01 Any student who wishes to appeal an academic course requirement at SHSU under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 must do so in writing to the appropriate academic dean. The letter from the student filing the appeal must:

5.02 The academic dean will:

5.03 The Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students will carefully review the file forwarded by the dean together with any additional medical or psychological profiles which may be available and/or deemed necessary in order to reach an informed conclusion which will assist the dean in reaching a decision.

5.04 The academic dean will review the recommendation(s) provided by the Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students and respond to the appellant's request(s).

5.05 If the appellant student is not satisfied with the decision of the academic dean, the student may appeal to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs may, at his discretion, consult with such legal, medical, or psychological expertise as may be necessary in order to reach a final university position in this matter.