How to Qualify

• Non Traditional Services Program
• Single Parent/ Displaced Homemaker Services
• Disability Services for Qualified Students

:: How to Qualify for Non Traditional Services Program

To qualify, Students must do all the following:

1. Be enrolled full time in a program of study that can be completed at Texas State Technical College Harlingen;
2. Complete an application for the Non Traditional Services program at the Support Services Office located in the Auxiliary Services Building; and,
3. Attend a Textbook Assistance Orientation to learn about textbook assistance agreement guidelines and policy (Textbook Assistance Orientations are held at the beginning of every semester and scheduled times and dates are announced accordingly).

:: How to Qualify for Single Parent/Displaced Homemaker Services

Students must meet all the following guidelines to be eligible for the Single Parent, Displaced Homemaker, and Single Expectant Mother Services:

1. A Single Parent or a Single Expectant Mother needs to provide verification and/or documentation from one of the following sources:

• Verification letter from the Office of the Attorney General
• Legal separation documents
• If divorced, a copy of the divorce decree

2. A Displaced Homemaker must provide the following verifying documentation:

• Tax returns for the past 3 - 5 years. Tax returns must identify individual as a housewife and/or house-husband for the last three (3) consecutive years.

Qualified students must comply with all the following:

1. Be enrolled full time(12 credit hours) in a program of study that can be completed at Texas State Technical College Harlingen;
2. Have at least a 2.0 GPA;
3. Have sole custody of the child living with designated parent at least 95% of the time. Child must be between the ages of 0 - 17 years old;
4. Complete an application for the Single Parent, Displaced Homemaker, and Single Expectant Mother Services at the Support Services Office located in the Auxiliary Services Building; and
5. Attend a Textbook Assistance Orientation to learn about textbook assistance agreement guidelines and policy. (Textbook Assistance Orientations are held at the beginning of every semester abd scheduled times and dates are announced accordingly).

:: Disability Services for Qualified Students

To qualify for services from Support Services, students must do all the following:

1. Apply and be accepted for admission to TSTC through the regular admissions process;
2. Schedule an initial interview with the Support Services Director or Coordinator to discuss needs and register for services; and,
3. Provide current documentation of a disability that requires accommodation.

Federal law defines a disability as "any mental or physical condition that substantially limits an individual's ability to perform one or more major life activities," including:

1. Physical disabilities
2. Learning disabilities
3. Visual or hearing impairments
4. Chronic or temporary health problems
5. Neurological impairments
6. Communication disorders
7. Psychological disabilities

Students are responsible for submitting to Support Services adequate documentation of disability.

1. Students with physical disabilities, visual impairments and/or hearing impairments must submit a physician's letter or appropriate medical test results to verify the disability.
2. Students with learning disabilities must submit a psycho educational report completed within the last three years.
3. Students with psychological disabilities must submit a letter from a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist.

Documentation must include diagnosis and functional limitations and should also include recommendations.

Documentation in this context is

• A Certificate of Deafness from Texas Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (TCDHH);
• A recent Audiogram by a professional Audiologist that occurred within the last two years;
• A signed statement by a licensed professional, on that person's professional letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate to diagnose the disability; and,
• The statement must indicate the disability for which accommodations are being requested.

Requests for services for disabilities other than hearing loss must follow these guidelines:

• A signed statement by a licensed professional, on that person's professional letterhead, whose license or credentials are appropriate to diagnose the disability;
• The statement must indicate the disability for which accommodations are being requested;
• Results from a Psycho-educational Evaluation;
• Results from a Comprehensive Individual Assessment;
• All evaluations must be administered and interpreted by a qualified professional whose license or credentials are appropriate to diagnose that disability, such as:
  • State Licensed Psychologists * State Licensed Professional Counserlors
  • School Psycholoists *Vocational Rehabilitation Division Diagnosticians
  • Staff of postsecondary institutions, disability services offices & departments of special ed.
  • Professionals must hold these degrees: M., Ed., Ph.D, M.S., M.A. Ed.D M.D. Psy.D.
    • In these fields: *Counseling *Psychology *Special Education * Education *Neuropsychology *Medical
    • Documentation must include the signature, date and title of the professional making the diagnosis.

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