Students with Disabilities
New Mexico State University at Alamogordo does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admissions, services, access to programs, or employment. Persons needing assistance with reasonable accommodations or having questions regarding services for persons with disabilities are encouraged to contact Jeremy Patton, ADA Advisor, at 439-3720.
Services for students with disabilities (SSD) assists individuals with documented disabilities obtain appropriate academic accommodations. Students with sensory, mobility, learning, or other recognized impairments are encouraged to apply for services through this office. Students who seek assistance are encouraged to contact the ADA Advisor at 439-3720 prior to enrollment in classes to obtain the “Petition for Disabled Student Services” form. This form may then be completed by the student and the authority certifying the disability (i.e., doctor, educational diagnostician, etc.) and returned to SSD. Appropriate reasonable accommodations may then be considered.
Blind and Low Vision Students
New Mexico State University at Alamogordo provides specialized equipment and aides at no cost to students.
- The Kurzweil Reading Machine which converts text to speech is located in the library.
- CCTV’s (closed-circuit television systems) that can be used to magnify books, handouts, or the blackboard. Arrangements are made through the ADA Counselor to have CCTV’s placed in classrooms for students. Additional CCTV’s are located in the library, math, and reading labs.
- Window-Eyes, LP-DOS, PW Webspeak, Zoom-Text, and Magic are adaptive programs available to student, faculty, and staff using our network. Window-Eyes is a text-to-speech synthesis program. PW Webspeak is a speech synthesis program that allows blind students to browse the World Wide Web. LP-DOS, Zoom-Text, and Magic are screen enlargement programs. Assistance for students with special needs is available in the Computer Lab.
- A Braille Printer using the Megadots program is located in the Computer Lab.
- The ADA Counselor can assist blind and low vision students in obtaining textbooks on tape through Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic.
- Tape recorders, magnifiers, and talking calculators are available for check out from Student Services.
- Large screen monitors (17 and 21 inch) are located in all computer, math, and English labs, as well as the library.
- Brailled and large print degree plans, financial aid, and general information are available upon request.
- Braille overlay and large print keyboards are available.
Students with Hearing Disabilities
- Interpreter services are available.
- A TTY machine is located in the library. The telephone number for the TTY is 439-3719. Relay service is also available at 1-800-272-7002 (voice) and 1-800-477-9913 (TTY).
- FM Assistive Listening Devices are available to hard of hearing students. These consist of a personal receiver used by the student and a microphone and transmitter used by the instructor.
Students with Learning Disabilities
A wide range of reasonable accommodations are available to students with documented learning disabilities. Much of the assistive technology available to blind and low vision students will also be helpful to those with learning disabilities. Tutoring in math and English is also readily available in the Math Lab and the Writing Center.
Students with Orthopedic Disabilities
- All buildings are equipped with electric door openers.
- Registration assistance is available for students whose disability would prevent them from standing in line. Students are also encouraged to register via my.NMSU.edu. This will eliminate the need to stand in line at registration.
- Elevators are located in both the Student Services Building and the library. Locations are clearly marked.
- An extensive system of ramps makes most areas of the campus fully accessible to those using wheelchairs or other assistive orthopedic devices. Accessible routes are signed.
- Glidepoints are available as an alternative to the mouse.
- Dragon Dictate is available for student’s whose disability may prevent them from using the keyboard.
Special Services
New Mexico State University-Alamogordo provides a variety of services to students with special needs:
- Review courses in English, math, and reading.
- Vocational assessment and career counseling.
- Academic counseling.
- Tutoring in English, math, and reading.
- Personal counseling on a limited/crisis basis.
- Referral and coordination of services with other agencies such as the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Commission for the Blind, The Counseling Center, and The Veterans Administration.
Grievance Procedure
New Mexico State University at Alamogordo (NMSU-A) has adopted an internal procedure providing for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) or of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.
Students are encouraged to attempt to resolve any problems they might have at the local college level first. Students should initially contact the NMSU-A ADA Counselor, 439-3720, in an effort to resolve problems related to the need for –or provision of– special accommodations, as well as those that are related to access needs or the equalization of learning opportunity.
While students are encouraged to resolve complaints at the college level, any student may contact Elva Telles, EEO/ADA Employee Relations Director at 575-646-3333 or 575-646-7802 TDD at New Mexico State University at any time.
Informal Complaint Procedure
The student may wish or choose to resolve the complaint on an informal basis (such may include mediation, a letter to the professor, a telephone call, or some resolution amenable to the student). A written confidential record of the final outcome or resolution will be retained at the NMSU-A Student Services Office.
Formal Grievance Procedure
If the student wishes to formalize a grievance, completion of the New Mexico State University, EEO Grievance Form is required by the EEO/ADA & Employee Relations Office (575-646-3333) within ten (10) working days of the occurrence. (Note: The 10-day filing period may be extended by written request to the EEO/ADA & Employee Relations Office with the consent of the student.) In order to expedite the filing process, formal New Mexico State University, EEO Grievance Forms are available from the Personnel Office, CB 202.
The foregoing procedures are implemented to: a) protect the substantive due process rights of students with disabilities; and, b) assure that NMSU-Alamogordo complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
