Residential Life Accommodations

Accommodations are provided on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act. Accommodations are provided on a first-come-first-serve basis. Student Accessibility Services Office (SASO) collaborates with TSU Residential Life and Housing to maintain integrity practices during the accommodation process.

Student Accommodation Service Requirements

  1. Students must complete the TSU Residential Life online application and pay the required fee.
  2. Students must make a formal housing accommodation request with SASO by the established deadlines set by TSU, Residential Life and Housing. SASO recommends, that students simultaneously apply for residential accommodations with SASO to complete the process in a timely manner.
  3. Students must complete the SASO application and submit authentic disability-related documentation.
  4. Documentation must be authentic from a Professional Health Care provider substantiating the diagnosis that limits a major life activity and support the need for residential accommodation.
  5. The Health Care Professional must complete the SASO Disability Verification Form, sign and return to SASO electronically ( DisabilityServices@yfchan.com). Additional documentation may be requested to complete the evaluation process. The student’s documentation is kept confidential and is only used to assess residential accommodation requests.
  6. Students must complete the SASO Intake process to collect information for the accommodation decision-making process.

The applicant's request will be processed when all information is received. The eligibility process may take 7 to 14 business days. Incomplete service packets may delay the process. Students will be informed of the accommodation request status and/or decision electronically.

Students are required to review and sign the housing accommodation plan with a SASO counselor. If approved, a Residential Life and Housing representative will notify students of their approved housing placement.

Students must renew housing accommodations annually by submitting a SASO housing accommodation request and updated documentation.

Residential Life accommodations offered are as follows:

  • Accessible elevator access
  • Adjustable beds
  • Handrail access
  • Wheelchair-accessible rooms

Service Animals

Service animals are dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Service animals are permitted in every area on campus unless posted due to safety concerns. For security purposes, please identify your animal with Residential Life and SASO.

The following guidelines are required for service animals on campus:

  • The service animal must be vaccinated and licensed according to local or county ordinances.
  • Animals must be under the control of the owner, at all times.
  • The animal must be housebroken.
  • The Service Animal itself is an extension of the student and therefore under the same code of conduct as the student.
  • The owner is responsible for waste disposal.

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animals are used in professional treatment plans of a diagnosed condition. ESAs are not allowed in campus academic classrooms/buildings, dining halls, laundry rooms, recreational centers/gyms, labs, and/or study spaces. All Emotional Support Animal requests must be submitted to SASO.

The following guidelines are required for all emotional support animals on campus:

  • The animal must be vaccinated and licensed according to local or county ordinances.
  • Animals must be under the control of the owner, at all times.
  • The animal must be housebroken.
  • The owner is responsible for waste disposal.

Students, the animal may not enter campus residential life facilities prior to receiving SASO’s approval for the Emotional Support Animal accommodation and required notification is provided to Residential Life.

Bringing an unapproved animal into a University residence will result in the below consequences.

  1. The student will be fined $300 for having an unapproved animal in a residence.
  2. The student will be in violation of the Code of Student Conduct and a referral will be made to Judicial Affairs.
  3. The student’s ESA request may not be approved.
  4. The animal will be removed from the premises.

ESA Accommodation Request Process

Students seeking an ESA accommodation must make a formal request through SASO. A request for an ESA should be initiated during the housing application process. Students must make a formal ESA request when applying for housing 45 days in advance to the semester move-in date. The University cannot guarantee ESA housing availability for late applicants.

  1. Students must contact SASO to discuss the ESA process and documentation needs. All applicants are managed on a case-by-case basis.
  2. Students must complete the SASO Service Packet. Submitting incomplete forms will result in a delay of the service process.
  3. Students' documentation must be disability-specific and include the active treatment use and/or benefits of the ESA. It is the student’s obligation to ensure all appropriate documentation of the animal’s vaccinations and health is submitted to SASO. SASO does not recognize ESA website operators, licenses, certificates, or vests as the basis for establishing the legitimacy of an ESA. Internet animal registration/certificates/vest/etc., such documents are not, by itself, sufficient to reliably establish that an individual has a non-observable disability or disability-related need for an assistance animal.

     

    The licensed professional health care provider must complete the SASO Verification Form providing:

    • The existing and continuing diagnostic and therapeutic relationship between the provider and client.
    • A specific diagnosis of the condition, frequency of symptoms and severity and its impact on daily life activities and functional limitations.
    • The methodology used to arrive at this diagnosis.
    • A clear articulation of how the animal will mitigate these functional limitations.
    • The observations, evaluations, or means by which the provider determined that an ESA would be a reasonable accommodation.
    • The provider’s confirmation that the ESA has been prescribed for treatment purposes and as part of a care/treatment plan and is necessary to help alleviate symptoms associated with your condition and how it will be critical in allowing you to use while living in university residence.
  4. SASO will schedule a virtual intake appointment to confer all relevant information available for the determination process.
  5. Students and Residential Life will receive a written notification via email identifying the accommodation request status.
  6. If an ESA is approved, the student must review and sign the ESA agreement. Failure or refusal to sign the ESA agreement will be understood if the student does not intend to abide by the agreement and will result in revocation of the approval.

SASO ESA approvals are valid for two consecutive semesters. Students wanting to continue the ESA accommodation must notify SASO and submit updated ESA documentation for a subsequent year. The University requires an Owner to annually sign the ESA agreement.

No animal will be permitted in University housing that:

  • Is not registered/approved by the Student Accessibility Services Office (SASO).
  • Would fundamentally alter the nature of the University’s housing operations.
  • Would violate the laws of the State of Texas or the City of Houston.