<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Faculty or Instructor,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Welcome back to the start of another exciting school year! As Director of Student Disability Resources and Services (SDRS), one of my roles is to keep faculty/instructors updated and informed on how to comply with ADA laws and assist in meeting the needs of our disabled students. Below I have briefly summarized pertinent topics, but if further clarification or more information is needed, please do not hesitate to contact me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First and foremost, all syllabi are required by law to have a disability statement to inform students regarding the proper procedure for acquiring accommodations. For your convenience, I have attached the required <b>syllabus statement</b> to this email. Please make sure that it is included on your class syllabi.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Next, please be aware that it is the student’s responsibility to provide the professor/instructor with his/her <b>letter of accommodations </b>from the SDRS office. This is the only way for the professor/instructor to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. All instructor accommodation letters will have a place at the bottom for the professor/instructor to sign. The professor/instructor should make a copy of the letter, and return the original letter to the SDRS office. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In addition, I have attached the <b>Testing Agreement Form</b> that all students must sign and agree to before they can test in the Student Disability Resources and Services testing area. Of course, this agreement and testing option only applies to students that are approved for the accommodation of testing in the SDRS office, but I thought it might be beneficial for faculty/instructors to be aware of the procedures for testing in the SDRS office.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Also, I have attached the <b>Instructor Testing Checklist</b> that needs to be completed each time a professor/instructor submits a test to the SDRS office. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lastly, I have provided the link to the Texas A&M System webpage for the Disability Training Network that offers <b>online modules</b> to keep you informed on such topics as <b>universal design, accommodations, and rights and responsibilities</b>. Below this link, I have provided the link to Student Disability Resources and Services at Texas A&M-Commerce.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Disability Training Network- <a href="http://dtn.tamu.edu/training/index.htm">http://dtn.tamu.edu/training/index.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Student Disability Resources and Services- <a href="http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/studentLife/campusServices/studentDisabilityResourcesAndServices/default.aspx">http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/studentLife/campusServices/studentDisabilityResourcesAndServices/default.aspx</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The goal of the Student Disability Resources and Services is to provide disabled students with educational opportunities equal to those of their nondisabled peers. I welcome input from both faculty and staff as to how I can better serve both students and faculty/staff members in achieving this goal. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Once again, please to do not hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns, or suggestions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope you have a great school year!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rebecca Tuerk, B.S.W., M.Ed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Director of Student Disability Resources and Services<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Texas A&M University-Commerce</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>P0 Box 3011</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Commerce, TX 75429</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>903-886-5835<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fax: 903-468-8148<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>