Disability Support Services

Disability Support Services (DSS) provides a broad range of services to ensure that every student receives equal access to both an education as well as all aspects of campus life. DSS strives to provide services that will enable students to participate fully in university life and ensure that a person with a disability will not, on the basis of that disability, be denied full and equal access to academic and co-curricular programs. We look forward to working with you!

If you would like a hard copy of the "DSS Handbook for Students", please contact Eva De Anda at (830) 703-1593. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the DSS representative at the campus you plan to attend.

Please choose from a virtual appointment or an in-person appointment by clicking on the corresponding link to schedule an appointment with your campus contact.

Disability Support Services Application

Request for ASL Interpreter/CART Services

DSS Handbook for Students Updated June 2023

Welcome Letter

Accommodated Testing Request

If you are coming to SWTJC for the first-time you will need to complete the admissions process. For steps to complete this process, please visit the Admissions New Students page.

Requesting classroom accommodations requires advanced notice to process a student's file and forms, so be sure to plan ahead and meet with the DSS advisor at your campus as soon as possible.

Learn about your disability, and how it affects you in and out of the classroom. You will want to be able to describe your disability, your strengths, and areas of difficulty. Also, be prepared to describe strategies that help you. The accommodations process is a partnership and the DSS advisor and the student will work together to come up with a plan that works best for each individual student.

Special Accommodations for the Placement Test

SWTJC requires all students to take the TSIA2 (Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0) placement exam before registering for courses. The TSIA2 is administered to all incoming students to find out your current level of reading, mathematics, and English skills. The results of these tests will determine which English, mathematics, and/or reading classes you qualify to enroll in.

The TSIA2 is given at various times throughout the week in the Testing Center (located in the Miller Building). To find the times of the test, you can call the Testing Center at (830) 591-7346 or visit their webpage.

Individuals may request accommodations for the TSIA2 supported by documentation based on their disability. To set up accommodations, you must request a meeting with the DSS advisor at the campus you plan to attend. Submission for requests and all necessary documentation for special accommodations must be made 2 weeks in advance prior to testing. Because of staff and time constraints, there can be no assurance that requests received after this deadline can be accommodated.

All timely and complete alternative testing arrangement requests and accompanying documentation are reviewed on a case-by-case basis upon receipt. In some cases, the submitted documentation may not be sufficient to make a determination regarding the requested accommodation(s) or may not support the requested accommodation(s). Additional information or test results may be needed.

Registering with Disability Support Services

After you have been accepted to SWTJC, and you would like to request accommodations in the classroom due to a disability, you may proceed to Disability Support Services.

The following steps should be taken to ensure adequate time to arrange for appropriate accommodations:

1. Submit an Application online or in person at the DSS office at your respective campus along with appropriate documentation, if necessary.
2. Once all documentation is reviewed to determine the appropriate accommodations for the student, an appointment will be scheduled by the DSS representative.
3. Students must attend the intake/planning meeting in person with your local DSS counselor.
4. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss the accommodation plan in a timely manner with their instructor(s) for each class where accommodations are required.  Failure to initiate a plan may result in a delay in implementation of accommodations.

Students are encouraged to make arrangements for accommodations well in advance of the semester for which services are being requested. Accommodation Request Forms (ARFs) are issued at the beginning of each semester for the classes you are taking.

Waiting until the semester begins may cause undue hardship on the student during the period it takes to implement particular accommodations. Initial requests for accommodations require a minimum of 30 days to process a student's file and accommodation plan. Requests for services (such as an interpreter, readers, scribes) requiring preparation may need at least 60 days to process.

*Note: Students are responsible for maintaining contact with their appropriate DSS counselor and requesting accommodations each semester.

Please refer to the DSS Handbook for Students for detailed information on policies, procedures, and various resources.