Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the disability's impact and student need and the reasonableness of the requested accommodation. Below is a non-exhaustive list and definition of commonly-requested accommodations:
DASS can aid in the acquisition or creation of books, texts, and articles in alternate formats, e.g., enlarged print, audio, braille, etc.
The student with this accommodation needs assistance capturing information covered in lecture and may audio-record lectures for later use in studying.
A physical, medical, or psychiatric disability may cause a student to periodically miss classes. If the supporting documentation warrants, the Flexible Attendance accommodation may be authorized, asking for the instructor's consideration in excusing more than the stated, allowable number of absences for the class. As attendance is considered fundamental to any class and to the learning process in general, the accommodation can be implemented differently in each course, as the essential elements and design of a course must be taken into consideration. It is at the instructor's discretion as to how many absences may be allowed before the fundamental nature of the class is jeopardized.
DASS staff can be engaged to facilitate a conversation to determine the specific course parameters to put in the agreement described below. This agreement does NOT apply to absences for other reasons.
Student Responsibilities related to this accommodation include: sharing with instructor the Letter of Accommodation that lists the Flex Attendance accommodation, the Guidelines for Implementing Flexible Attendance Accommodations, and the sample Flexible Attendance Agreement; having a discussion with faculty at the beginning of the semester or as early as possible after approval of the accommodation; notifying the instructor as soon as possible after each missed class that is due to a disability; and meeting the agreed-upon arrangements related to notification, course work and absences as contained in the Flexible Attendance Agreement.
This accommodation is approved on a case-by-case basis; likewise, it is implemented with each individual instructor on a case-by-case basis. The Guidelines for Implementing Flexible Attendance Accommodations are provided to both faculty and students to clarify responsibilities and legal guidelines. DASS staff are always available to discuss the parameters and assist in finalizing a plan. Should a student approach the maximum allowable absences, per the Agreement, the instructor should notify the student and request a meeting. Either the instructor and/or student should alert the DASS Coordinator to the situation, as well.
All students must be "otherwise qualified" to participate in any program of academic study with or without reasonable accommodations. Students with disabilities are not excused from course prerequisites, GPA requirements, or degree requirements. However, in some limited circumstances, when all other means of accommodation have been deemed inappropriate and/or exhausted, a course substitution may be appropriate. DASS makes considerations of course substitutions on a case-by-case basis and only after the student makes a specific request for this accommodation. Course substitutions are made only when it is clear that the student's disability makes completion of the requirement impossible and that the course requested for substitution is not an essential component of the academic program, thus, the substitution does not alter the integrity of the academic program. The student should discuss this accommodation with DASS staff as soon as possible, as determining the need for this accommodation often takes a significant amount of time.
To apply for a second language substitution, please:
read the Second Language Substitutions Guidelines;
follow the DASS Accommodation Process to submit an Accommodation Request or Supplemental Request plus supporting documentation;
and download, complete, and submit to DASS the application for second language substitution request.
If English is the student's second language, there is no substitution available at an English-speaking University.
Though rare, the impact of a student’s disability can be so significant that the student is unable to take a full-time course load - 12 or more hours for undergraduates. In most of these cases, the student can work with their advisor, and if relevant, their financial aid counselor, to create a schedule that is manageable, even if it is less than 12 hours; however, if the student requires a designation as a full-time student for administrative purposes, such as for a scholarship, the student will need to submit a request to the DASS office for the Reduced Course Load (RLC) accommodation. Documentation should demonstrate the reasons for the accommodation request, with a projection on when the student would likely be able to enroll in a full course load in the near future. The DASS Coordinator determines the minimum hours to be considered “full-time” on a case-by-case basis, but typically this is 9 hours. The RCL accommodation needs to be finalized before the semester starts, so we encourage the student to submit the request at least 30 days before the start of the semester. This accommodation is generally put in place for one semester, and it requires collaboration with the Registrar’s office.
Before making a request for dining accommodations through DASS, students with medical conditions that substantially impact their ability to eat certain foods, such as severe allergies, are expected to meet with the campus dietitian (dietitian@smu.edu) to discuss all available options.
Dining Services has an array of options to meet the needs of most diners, even those with allergies and intolerances. SMU's dietitian and the Head Chef can discuss the student's needs and explore all of the options available for each dining hall space. For example, Arnold Dining Commons has an Allergens Solutions Station that features recipes that do not use ingredients from 7 of the top 8 allergens. All recipes are made without Wheat, Eggs, Dairy, Soy, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, and Shellfish.
Allergen kits, individually prepared meals, disposable flatware, carb counts, access to gluten-free options, reduced meal plans, or access to a kitchen may be in order for those most significantly impacted by their medical condition(s).
Read more about food allergies for college students.
Located in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center, the Parking and ID Services Office provides temporary on-campus handicapped parking permits and DART Paratransit vouchers.
Accessible spaces on campus require an SMU parking permit and a state-issued disabled placard or plate or an SMU temporary handicapped accessible parking permit. Individuals with short-term accessible parking needs should contact their physician for a doctor’s note. The doctor’s note can be emailed to parking@smu.edu or faxed to 214-768-7678 for completion, and the permit can be picked up in the Parking and ID Services office once it is processed. A short-term temporary accessible permit can be obtained from the Parking and ID Services office for a maximum of six (6) weeks for on-campus use only. Drivers with longer than expected recovery periods should file with the state for the state disabled permit. Note that students are responsible for all student parking fees.
Interactive parking and accessibility maps are available on the Parking and ID Services website.
Also see DASS's Campus Accessibility: Physical Access page.
Southern Methodist University believes that community is so essential to the academic experience that we require first and second-year students to live on campus. In our residence halls, students are fully engaged with the SMU community while learning to share space and be considerate of others.
Some students cannot access SMU’s on-campus living environment for disability-related reasons. SMU expects these students to make need-based accommodation requests through the DASS office, providing thorough documentation in enough time for DASS staff members to review it. We carefully evaluate all housing requests and work closely with RLSH to identify appropriate, on-campus living spaces. To better understand the process of reviewing disability-related housing requests, please review this document.
Release from the on-campus living requirement:
Thankfully, most students’ disability-related housing needs can be met on campus through reasonable accommodations recommended by DASS. Exemptions to the two-year on-campus living requirement are only recommended in rare cases where all other reasonable accommodations are considered first.
Single rooms for “a quiet, undisturbed place to study":
Students who make requests for single rooms solely for this reason should instead request the single directly from RLSH. With so many students living in a residence hall, sharing facilities and resources, a private room does not guarantee a quiet, distraction-free space any more than living in a standard double room. These students will be assigned rooms based on RLSH procedures only and will be held responsible for paying the difference between single/double room fees. DASS refers the student to an interactive list of quiet study spaces around campus.
Service Animals:
For students who plan to bring a Service Animal to live in campus housing, early notification is necessary to make arrangements. Please see details about Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals in the "Other Non-Academic Accommodation" accordion menu on this page.
Housing Deadlines:
Deadlines are subject to change, depending on SMU's academic calendar and policy/procedure changes. Deadlines are also posted on the RLSH website, including the RLSH Reapplication Deadline:
Making a Housing-related Accommodation Request:
Documentation:
Housing-related accommodation requests require documentation from an outside provider detailing the condition or need that is the basis of your request. This documentation should follow DASS's documentation guidelines as well as include:
1) A clear description of your desired housing configuration with a focus on on-campus options.
2) A statement from your provider listing how long they’ve worked with you, the date of your most recent visit, and the frequency of your interactions;
3) An explanation of how your request relates to the impact of the condition;
4) An indication of the level of need (severity level) for the recommended configuration and the consequences of not receiving;
5) Alternatives if the recommended configuration is not possible.
Often times, the documentation does not include all of the necessary details. To minimize delays, we suggest that you have your outside provider complete the Provider Verification of Disability-Related Need for Housing Accommodations form. If you have any questions about what to submit or whether you should have your provider use this additional form, please call our office at 214-768-1470.
SMU students enroll in classes on an enrollment date determined by the number of units they have completed, as determined by the Registrar's office. Students authorized for the accommodation of Priority Enrollment are assigned earlier enrollment times based on a pre-determined schedule set by the Registrar.
Like all accommodations, a student must show a disability-related need for Priority Enrollment. The impact of some conditions might necessitate priority enrollment in order to allow for: breaks between classes for a student who uses a wheelchair or walking device; the need to procure and create alternate format texts; setting up ASL or CART services; moving a class to an accessible room, etc. This administrative accommodation requires notification to be sent the Registrar's office well in advance of registration.
New/incoming students approved for this accommodation will not be able to register before their first Advising and Orientation session but will have the priority date set for future registration periods. Current/continuing students approved for Priority Enrollment before the Registrar's deadline will be assigned an earlier time for the next upcoming registration period. If the accommodation is approved after the Registrar's deadline, then the student can enroll in the following semester's registration period. Graduate students should work with their DASS Coordinator and their program to coordinate the accommodation.
SMU students with disabilities may be allowed to have a service animal in campus facilities where animals would typically not be permitted (See University Policy 1.17, Animals Policy). Furthermore, SMU students with disabilities residing in University housing may request as an accommodation that an emotional support animal be allowed to reside in the student’s University residence. For students who plan to bring a Service Animal to live in campus housing, early notification is necessary to make arrangements.For more information on the differences between a service and an emotional support animal, procedures for obtaining approval to use such animals, owner responsibilities, and SMU Community expectations, please read the Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies Service and Emotional Support Animals Procedures.
During the documentation review process for emotional support animals, we expect to assess and consider information from a treating professional who knows you well, and who is qualified to comment on the benefits of an ESA for you specifically. Some websites sell certificates, registrations, and licensing documents for assistance animals to anyone who answers certain questions or participates in a short interview and pays a fee. Under the Fair Housing Act, a housing provider may request reliable documentation when an individual requesting a reasonable accommodation has a disability and disability-related need for an accommodation that are not obvious or otherwise known. In HUD's experience, such
documentation from the internet is not, by itself, sufficient to reliably establish that an individual has a non-observable disability or disability-related need for an ESA.
For a better understanding of Service Animals and ESA's, review the ADA National Network Service Animals Booklet.
For mental health providers, this article explains the seriousness of providing a letter on behalf of their patient/client regarding an emotional support animal: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/09/pet-aid.aspx.
Students with short-term injuries or illness (low-impact, lasting for a few days to around 1-2 weeks) should contact the Office of the Dean of Students for help with notifying and communicating their needs to instructors. However, some temporary conditions have impacts that are more long-term or severe, and require more formal accommodations to continue to participate at the University, such as:
Pregnant students may also benefit from the following resources:
Students with injuries to their hands or arms who are having trouble typing or writing may find these technological solutions helpful:
The Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center is home to the Writing Center, tutoring, HDEV classes, the Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies staff, the Student Athlete Academic Services counselors, learning specialists and workshops.