Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center Procedure: Verification of Deafness or Hearing loss for Interpreting and Captioning Services

1. Purpose

This procedure outlines the requirements for students requesting interpreting or captioning services through the Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center (Dart Center) to ensure appropriate service provision and compliance with relevant regulations and institutional policies.

2. Scope

This procedure applies to all students seeking interpreting or captioning services through the Dart Center.

3. Procedure Statement

To receive interpreting or captioning services, students must provide documentation verifying their deafness or hearing loss. Acceptable documentation includes either a qualifying audiological examination or The Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver (CODTW) from Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC).

4. Procedure

4.1. Initial Contact and Request:

• Students requesting interpreting or captioning services must initiate contact with the Dart Center.
• The Dart Center staff will explain the required documentation for service eligibility.

4.2. Acceptable Documentation:

Audiological Examination:

• The audiological examination must be conducted by a licensed audiologist.
• The examination must clearly document a hearing loss that necessitates interpreting or captioning services for effective communication in an academic setting.
• The audiological exam should contain the audiogram, a written summary of the results, and the audiologist's professional opinion on the impact of hearing loss in an educational setting.

Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver (CODTW):

• Students may provide a valid CODTW issued by Texas HHSC.
• The CODTW serves as official verification of deafness or hearing loss as defined by Texas state law.

For additional questions regarding accepted documentation, please contact the Dart Center by email – DHHCoogs@central.uh.edu.