Raise Your Pick Giving Day 2023

The UTEP Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS) aspires to provide university students with disabilities accommodations and support services to help them pursue their academic, graduation, and career goals. CASS supports students by affording them equal opportunities both in the classroom and on campus, enabling student success. We go beyond access – removing barriers and engaging with faculty and staff to promote an inclusive campus community for all.

CASS’s services include academic and test accommodations, resources and referrals, advocacy and education, and assistive technology tools. Assistive technology is a device or tool that helps students with disabilities increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities to perform more independently in the classroom. Examples include assistive listening devices for students who are hard of hearing, live scribe pens that record lectures, tape recorders, and transcription of books to audio format.  CASS services include relocating classrooms for students who have mobility challenges. 

The CASS team also provides resources for staff, faculty, and students to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment. Services include offering presentations to university classes about CASS services, sensitivity training to classes and UTEP departments, and community outreach efforts to local Independent School Districts and community partners to create awareness about services.  American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters are provided for classes and events. ASL interpreting is available to students when they meet with professors, tutoring, study groups, and for appointments with academic advisors or university departments. CASS consults with university departments and partners on how to make their programs more accessible in compliance with the ADA. 

JoJo Vara, a senior Education major,  considers these services to be a lifeline for her success.

“CASS is an extremely important office on campus,” said JoJo. “They employ students to help in areas like notetaking, sign language interpreters and scribes. They also help with assistive devices. It helped a lot during my years at UTEP.”

Each year, we serve more than 1,800 students with disabilities. With your generous support, JoJo and other students of CASS can enjoy increased access to educational opportunities, social interactions, and potential for meaningful employment. Join us – and Raise Your Pick for CASS! Thank you!