Students should proceed as follows after they receive their letters of acceptance from UT Martin:

• Self-Identify with the Accessibility Resource Center. 
• Provide documentation to verify self-identification as a person with a disability. Documentation should support the request for accommodations, and assists the Accessibility Resource Center staff in assigning those accommodations necessary for equal access. Documentation needs correlate to the level of accommodation requested and is determined by ARC staff. Documentation should be typed or printed on official letterhead and signed by an evaluator qualified to make the diagnosis, and whenever possible - should include the following:
  1. Clearly stated diagnosis or DSM-5 diagnosis of the disability or disabilities;
  2. Description of the functional limitations resulting from the disabilities as related to an academic setting;
  3. Should be current, i.e., completed within the last 5 years for learning disability or disabilities, 1 year for psychological disabilities, or last 3 years for ADHD and all other disabilities;
  4. Complete educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability for which accommodations are requested;
  5. A list of all test instruments, reliable, valid, and standardized for use with an adult population, used in the evaluation report and relevant subtest scores used to document the stated disability;
  6. Medication and its current impact and/or treatments currently used.
  7. ARC Documentation Guidelines
• Make an appointment with the Accessibility Resource Center for an intake interview. During the interview, the student and a Accessibility Resource Center staff member will formalize the accommodation plan and discuss ways to implement it. The procedures for requesting letters each semester and requesting accommodation revisions will be addressed, as well as other relevant processes, such as scheduling accommodated tests and checking out assistive technology. The process of self-identifying and requesting accommodations is not complete until an intake interview has been completed.
  • Other topics that might be of assistance in academic accommodations include:
    • Educational history, the onset of disability,
    • Accommodations that have been granted in the past,
    • What has and has not been helpful,
    • Subjects of study that present specific difficulties, and why,
    • What accommodations are currently being sought.

Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• Permission to tape record lectures
• Preferential classroom seating
• Notetaker service
• Extended time on tests
• Low distraction testing environment
• Books on tape
• Interpreting/transliteration services
• Scribe
• Reader

Unreasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• Personal care assistance
• Personal study assistance
• Reader for personal use or study
• Transportation to and from class
• Tutoring beyond the tutoring available to any UT Martin student

Reasonable Accommodation Appeal Process

Click to download this document

When a student requests an accommodation or adjustment, academic or otherwise, the ARC will consider the reasonableness of the request.

When the ARC has concerns about the reasonableness of the request, the ARC will assemble a group of trained, knowledgeable, experienced individuals to review the program/course, service, or activity requirements. This group will consider whether effective alternatives to the essential requirements exist, which could allow students with disabilities to participate in programs/courses, services or activities without waiving or lowering essential requirements or fundamentally altering the nature of the program/course, service, or activity. This group shall consist of staff members from the ARC and any applicable university staff.

Within three (3) business days of the date the meeting above has concluded, the ARC will inform the student in writing of whether the request would fundamentally alter the program/course, service, or activity.

If the student is dissatisfied with the result, the student may request, in writing, a review by the Manager of the ARC . The student must provide the written request to the Manager of the ARC within three (3) business days of delivery of the determination. In the written request for review, the student must explain the reasons why s/he believes the determination is in error.

The Manager of the ARC will review and assess the determination. In reaching a decision, the Manager of the ARC may consult with the student or any other individuals who are trained, knowledgeable, and experienced with the program/course, service or activity.

The Manager of the ARC will issue a written decision within three (3) business days of receipt of the student’s request for review.

If the student is dissatisfied with the decision of the Manager of the ARC , the student may file a final appeal The final line of appeal is through the Office of Dr. Mark McCloud (mmcclou5@utm.edu) , Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.

Please submit appeals in writing with the circumstances and objection clearly outlined.

Accommodations are approved or denied within the Accessibility Resource Center (731-881-7195). To appeal a denial of accommodation, a student may appeal to the Manager of the Accessibility Resource Center and UT Martin Testing Center. The final line of appeal is through the Office of Dr. Mark McCloud (mmcclou5@utm.edu) , Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Please submit appeals in writing with the circumstances and objection clearly outlined.