Disability Services

Del Mar College faculty and staff in general — and the Disability Services Office (DSO) staff in particular — are committed to ensuring equal access to College services, programs, and activities for qualified students with disabilities in accordance with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, The ADA Amendments Act of 2008, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and applicable Texas state laws. As such, students shall not be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the College.

If we can be of service, simply visit or phone (361) 698-1292 to schedule an appointment. The DSO is housed in the Harvin Student Center, Room 188, on the East Campus and in the Emerging Technology Building, Room 102, on the West Campus.

Student Services

To request services, students:

• Report to the DSO to complete a Request for Disability Support Services form and schedule an intake appointment
• Attend the scheduled intake meeting to discuss:
  • the disability diagnosis
  • life activity limitations
  • impact in an educational setting
  • appropriate/effective accommodations
• Provide documentation from a qualified professional (i.e., medical doctor, psychologist, licensed therapist, certified diagnostician, etc.) and/or Individualized Education Plans (IEP)/504 Proceedings/Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee minutes

Mission Statement

Eliminating physical, instructional, and attitudinal barriers across the Del Mar College community by providing support services—including reasonable accommodations—to promote maximum academic potential, participation in the college experience, and self-sufficiency for students with disabilities.

Disability definition

As excerpted from The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008:

Disability means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.

• The phrase physical or mental impairment means —
  • Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine;
  • Any mental or psychological disorder such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities;
  • The phrase physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to, such contagious and noncontagious diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, specific learning disabilities, HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), tuberculosis, drug addiction, and alcoholism;
• The phrase major life activities means functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.