ESA & Psychiatric Service Animal Guides for Texas Residents

ESA Letters & Texas College Dorms: How ADA and Disability Offices Review Your Documentation

Every Texas college and university has an ADA or Disability Services office that handles housing accommodations— including Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). If you plan to live in a dorm at UT Austin, Texas A&M, or another school, your ESA letter will almost always be reviewed by this office before you’re approved.

This guide explains how those departments work, where to submit your ESA documentation, and which federal and Texas agencies back up your rights.

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Every Texas College Has an ADA or Disability Services Office

If your school accepts federal funding, it must have a way to review disability accommodations—including ESA requests for dorms.

Why These Offices Exist

Colleges and universities are covered by several civil rights laws, including:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
The Fair Housing Act (FHA) for campus housing

Because of these laws, schools must designate staff who review accommodation requests and make sure disabled students have equal access to campus life—including residence halls, apartments, and other campus housing.

What ADA / Disability Offices Usually Handle

Academic accommodations (testing, note-taking, extended time)
Housing accommodations (single rooms, ESA letters, accessible units)
Coordinating with Housing and Residence Life staff
Explaining student responsibilities and documentation requirements

On your campus, this office may be called Disability Services, Disability & Access, Accessibility Services, ADA/504 Office, or something similar—but the function is the same.

Big picture: Your ESA letter isn’t just handed to a random RA. It is usually reviewed by a formal ADA / Disability Services team that follows federal guidelines.

Process

How ESA Letters Are Reviewed for College Dorms

Typical ESA Review Steps

You obtain a valid ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional.
You submit the letter to the ADA / Disability Services office, usually through an online portal.
The office verifies the documentation and may reach out to your clinician if they need clarification.
They decide whether your ESA is a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act.
You and Housing receive written notice of approval, denial, or a request for more information.

What Your Documentation Should Usually Include

That you have a mental health condition or disability (details usually not required).
That the ESA helps reduce symptoms or supports daily functioning.
That you are under the care of the clinician signing the letter.
The clinician’s license type, number, state, and contact information.

Many campuses are now trained to recognize mass-produced “ESA certificates” or registries. Strong, clinician-authored documentation helps your request move smoother.

UT Austin • Longhorns

Where to Submit ESA Letters at UT Austin

1. Learn About Your UT Austin ESA Options

If you’re a Longhorn bringing an ESA to campus housing, start by understanding the ESA process in plain language:

ESA Letters for UT Austin Students – Texas Service Animals

That page explains how letters are written, what Housing can and can’t ask for, and how UT Austin’s campus culture fits with assistance animals.

2. Submit Documentation to Disability & Access (D&A)

UT Austin’s disability office is called Disability & Access (D&A). This is the office that manages ESA-related housing accommodations, along with other disability services.

You can find their main page here:

UT Austin – Disability & Access Office

After registering with D&A and submitting your documentation, they coordinate directly with Housing & Dining about your ESA request.

Texas A&M • College Station

Where to Submit ESA Letters at Texas A&M

1. Review the Aggie ESA Guide

If you’re living in campus housing in College Station and need an ESA, start here:

ESA Letters for Texas A&M Aggies – Texas Service Animals

This page covers common Aggie questions about ESAs in dorms, apartments, and university-managed housing.

2. Submit Documentation to Disability Resources

Texas A&M’s primary office for disability accommodations is called Disability Resources. This is where students register and submit supporting documentation, including ESA-related housing requests.

Main contact page:

Texas A&M – Disability Resources

Once you’re registered, Disability Resources works with Residence Life to coordinate your ESA in university housing.

Across Texas

Other Texas Colleges Handle ESA Letters the Same Way

Common Office Names You’ll See

Even if you’re not at UT Austin or Texas A&M, your campus almost certainly has a version of an ADA office. It might be called:

Disability Services or Student Disability Services
Office of Accessibility Services
Center for Accommodations and Support Services
ADA/504 Compliance or Accessibility & Disability Resource Center

For dorms, those offices usually coordinate housing accommodations with Residence Life or Housing & Dining.

Standard ESA Housing Rules

Your ESA must be reasonably under control and not pose a direct threat.
Schools can set basic behavior rules (leash policies, waste clean-up, etc.).
They may ask for updated documentation after a certain number of years.
They generally cannot charge pet fees or pet deposits for an ESA in housing.

Each campus has its own forms and deadlines, but the underlying federal standards are similar across Texas.

Authority

Federal & Texas Agencies That Support Your ESA Housing Rights

Key Federal Resources

These resources explain how assistance animals are treated under federal housing and disability law.

Texas-Level Support & Complaints

If you believe a landlord or housing provider is ignoring valid ESA documentation, these agencies explain how to start a formal complaint.

Tip for students: Most college situations are solved long before a complaint is necessary. Starting with respectful communication and strong, clinically sound documentation usually leads to a smoother outcome.

Quick Checklist

College ESA & ADA Office Checklist

Before You Contact the ADA Office

Confirm you’ll be living in on-campus or university-managed housing.
Make sure your animal can behave safely in a dorm setting.
Gather any prior documentation or diagnoses you’re comfortable sharing.
Complete an ESA evaluation with a licensed clinician who understands HUD and college housing standards.

When You’re Ready to Submit

Locate your school’s ADA / Disability office webpage.
Complete the online accommodation request or housing form.
Upload your ESA letter or follow the instructions for sending documentation.
Watch your email for follow-up questions or decision letters from the ADA office.

Keep copies of everything you send. If Housing or an RA has questions, you’ll have your paperwork ready.

Professional verification provided by Psychology Today.