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How to Access Services

How to Access Services
The Office of Accessibility Services, as the name implies, exists to serve. Students wishing to access services provided by the Office of Accessibility Services must abide by the policy and procedures outlined in this manual. The goal of such policies and procedures is to implement a system and process that promotes the educational success of students while they are at Highlands, is fair for all students, and is consistent with professional and legal guidelines.

Students with disabilities are not required to register or identify themselves in anyway unless they wish to receive services. Students requesting academic accommodations must provide current medical documentation of their disability and meet with staff in the Office of Accessibility Services. Students who wish to receive general academic support such as academic advising, career advising, and/or other like services should contact Accessibility Services for either an appointment or a referral. Students with a complaint or grievance should follow grievance procedures on page 17 of this manual.

The Office of Accessibility Services is located in the:

Felix Martinez Building
Room 108A
Phone (505) 454-3252
Fax/TTYD (505) 426-2037

It is the responsibility of the student to disclose a disability, to provide appropriate documentation from a qualified professional who will identify the disability and make recommendations for accommodations.

Definition of a Disability
The primary definition of a disability is: “A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of [a person’s] major life activities” The definition includes: “[having] a record of such impairment” or “[is] regarded as having such an impairment”.

Documenting Your Disability
Accommodations are provided only to students who have current and appropriate clinical documentation of their disability on file with the Office of Accessibility Services. Documentation of a disability cannot be older than three years from the date of the evaluation/diagnosis. A new evaluation must be completed prior to accommodations being approved.

Deadlines
Students wishing to receive accommodations must completely document their disability with the Office of Accessibility Services before the drop/add deadline for the fall and spring semesters. Please check course schedule for dates. For summer and other sessions, students must document their disability before the first day of regular classes for that session. Students are strongly encouraged to document their disability and meet with office staff as early as possible to ensure that the appropriate accommodations are in place before classes begin.

A special notice to hearing impaired students requiring an interpreter: There is a general shortage of deaf interpreters in New Mexico. Hearing impaired students who did not attend Highlands the previous semester must document their disability one month before the beginning of the term in which they plan to attend. This early deadline is required so that an interpreter can be located, hired,and scheduled for the first day of classes. If all needed documentation is not received within two weeks of services being rendered, services will be suspended until the documentation is received. Deaf or hard of hearing students who attended Highlands the previous semester must notify the Office of Accessibility Services of their intent to continue at the University no later than two weeks before the beginning of the following semester. If a situation arises during the semester, modifications for accommodations will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Any accommodation will be in effect from the date of application.

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