Within the guidelines set forth in this policy, Missouri State University is committed to providing an accessible and supportive environment for students with disabilities. Equal access for qualified students with disabilities is an obligation of the University under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Missouri State does not discriminate on the basis of disability against otherwise-qualified individuals in any program, service or activity offered by the University. The University is committed to insuring that no otherwise-qualified individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently that other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids or other appropriate services; however, accommodations cannot result in an undue burden to the University of fundamentally alter the requirements essential to a program of instruction.

Notifying Disability Services of a Request for Accommodation

Students requesting academic accommodations for a disability are responsible for notifying the University of their disability and their request for accommodations. To initiate a request for academic accommodations, students must contact Katheryne Staeger-Wilson, Director of Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417)836-4192 (voice) or (417)836-6792 (TTY), http://www.missouristate.edu/disability. On the West Plains campus, students must contact Janice Johnson, Coordinator of Disability Services, Academic Support Center (ASC), 128 Garfield, (417) 255-7940 (voice) or (417) 255-7981 (TTY). The student should notify the aforementioned offices as soon as the need for the academic accommodation becomes evident. In order to receive accommodations, students must provide disability documentation that meets University guidelines. Accommodations will not be provided for undocumented disabilities, except that accommodations may be provided on a provisional basis pending receipt of documentation for disabilities that are readily apparent. Only persons interested in disability-related accommodations or services need provide disability information. Accommodations must have a legitimate educational purpose, and cannot  be based simply on applicants' preferences. Students must initiate a request for every semester in which accommodations are sought. If eligibility for services and the request for academic accommodations are approved, Disability Services (Academic Support Center at the West Plains Campus) or the Learning Diagnostic Clinic will provide the student a letter to be shared with instructors outlining the approved recommended accommodations.

Disability Services Referrals to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic (LDC)

Students seeking accommodation for any type of disability should direct the initial request for accommodation to Disability Services. DS refers students seeking accommodations for psychological or learning disabilities to Missouri State's Learning Diagnostic Clinic. The West Plains Disability Services Coordinator will oversee the administration of DS and/or LDC recommended accommodations at the West Plains Campus.

At Missouri State, the determination of a learning disability is based on the criteria set forth by Educational Testing Service, Association on Higher Education and Disability, and most major universities in the U.S.  The following information should be used as a guide and not necessarily considered the definitive requirement for documentation of a learning disabled student.  However, the bolded type should be considered a requirement. 

The report must be typed, signed by a qualified professional and submitted on official letterhead.  Professionals providing documentation must include information concerning their credentials.

1. Documentation must be based on an adult-normed assessment (>16.5 years) and the last date of assessment must be stated.
2. The report must include a specific diagnosis for each learning disability using DSM-IV or equivalent criteria. A description of each presenting problem and its developmental history should be provided.
3. Actual test scores must be provided. Standardized scores, percentiles and grade level equivalencies should be included.
4. A neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluation that includes the results of an aptitude assessment using a complete and comprehensive battery should be performed. The preferred instrument is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (1997). Other acceptable instruments are the Woodcock Johnson Psychoeducational Battery Revised: Tests of Cognitive Ability, and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (SB-IV).
5. The results of a complete achievement battery must be provided, including a report of current levels of academic functioning in relevant areas such as reading (decoding and comprehension) and written language (e.g., the Woodcock Johnson Psychoeducational Battery Revised: Tests of Achievement, the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test).
6. The results of an assessment of information processing (e.g., short- and long-term memory, sequential memory, processing speed, executive function) using appropriate instruments (e.g., the Wechsler Memory Scale or relevant subtests from the Woodcock Johnson Psychoeducational Battery-Revised: Tests of Cognitive Ability) should be provided.
7. State what substantial limitations to this student's major life activities are suggested by these assessments.
8. Based on these assessments, offer specific suggestions for accommodations and a detailed explanation as to why each accommodation is needed.
9. The results of other appropriate assessment measures to support a differential diagnosis or to disentangle the learning disability from co-existing neurological and/or personality disorders should be provided.
10. The testing must have been performed within the past 5 years prior to requesting accommodations.

The following professionals would generally be considered to be qualified to provide this information: clinical or educational psychologists, neuropsychologists, learning disability specialists and medical doctors who specialize in specific learning disabilities.

Learning Diagnostic Clinic Testing Services

The LDC provided assessments of learning and psychological disabilities. Students who simply wish to inquire about LDC's diagnostic or testing services do not need to seek referral through Disability Services, but may instead directly contact the Learning diagnostic Clinic, Alumni Building, Suite 502. To inquire about testing services, contact Dr. Steve Capps, Director, LDC, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc/, (417)836-4787. The LDC charges a sliding-scale fee for its testing services.

Appeal Process

If the student's eligibility for services and/or request for academic accommodations is denied, Disability Services or the Learning Diagnostic Clinic will provide to the student written notification of denial, including the basis for denial as well as information on the appeal process. Student appeals related to eligibility for services or the request for academic accommodations shall be directed to Jana Estergard, Equal Opportunity Officer, Office of Human Resources, Siceluff 296, 901 South National, Springfield, Missouri 65804, (417)836-4252 (voice) or (417)836-6874 (TTY).

At the West Plains Campus, appeals are initiated with Brenda Malkowski, Affirmative Action Liaison, West Plains Civic Center, 128 Garfield, (417)255-7966. The student has the right to file a disability-related grievance with Ms. Malkowski at any time.

A faculty member who believes that accommodations recommended by Disability Services or LDC can be shown to alter or compromise fundamental course or program goals has the right to appeal the provision of those accommodations; however, recommended accommodations should be provided until the appeal is resolved. A faculty member should first address his/her concerns through discussions with Disability Services or the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, and may initiate a formal appeal of a recommended academic accommodation by submitting a written statement to Dr. Bruno Schmidt, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), clearly documenting the fundamental academic goals and demonstrating that the recommended accommodation necessarily compromises those goals. At the West Plains Campus the formal appeal would be initiated with the dean of the appropriate school. A faculty member who is not satisfied with the decision may file a grievance with Jana Estergard, Equal Opportunity Office at the Springfield Campus, or with Ms. Brenda Malkowski at the West Plains Campus.

Rights and Responsibilities

The following information outlines the rights and responsibilities of Missouri State University in its relationship with students with disabilities and the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities while enrolled at the University.

Rights and Responsibilities of the University and Its Faculty

Missouri State recognizes that its basic responsibility is to identify and maintain the academic and technical standards that are fundamental to providing quality academic programs while insuring the rights of students with disabilities. Missouri State also recognizes that shared governance and cooperation between faculty and campus administration is necessary to insure that reasonable and timely accommodations exist for students with disabilities. To meet these obligations, the University:

a. Has the right to require students who desire academic accommodations for disability to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services (DS).

b. Has the right to establish guidelines for what constitutes appropriate documentation of disability. Disability documentation will be reviewed by Disability Services and/or the Learning Diagnostic Clinic (LDC), and will be maintained in confidential files in these offices.

c. Has the right to refuse a request for academic accommodation that is not supported by documentation that meets University guidelines.

d. Has the responsibility to inform applicants and students about the availability and the range of academic accommodations. The Faculty Handbook requires all faculty members to include a disability policy statement in all course syllabi. These suggested wording is:

Springfield:
"To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact Katheryne Staeger-Wilson, Director of Disability Services (DS), Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417)836-4192 (voice); (417)836-6792 (TTY); http://www.missouristate.edu/disability.

Students are required to provide documentation of disability to DS prior to receiving accommodations. DS refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic (LDC). For a sliding-scale fell, the LDC also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. To inquire, contact Dr. Steve Capps, Director, LDC, (417)836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc/."

West Plains:
"To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact Janice Johnson, Coordinator of Disability Services (DS), Academic Support Center (ASC), 128 Garfield, (417)255-7940 (voice), (417)255-7981 (TTY)

Students are required to provide documentation of disability to DS prior to receiving accommodations. DS refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic (LDC). For a sliding-scale fell, the LDC also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities."

e. Has the responsibility to locate and provide auxiliary aids, as defined by law, without cost to an applicant entitled to such aid; however, devices or services of a personal nature, such as attendants, individually prescribed devices, or readers for personal use or study, will not be provided.

f. Has the responsibility to evaluate applicants based solely on their abilities. If an evaluation method or the criteria have a disproportionately adverse effect on an applicant with a disability, the University will seek reasonable alternatives.

g. Has the right to identify and establish the means by which the student's abilities are evaluated for academic accommodation, and to evaluate applicants on this basis.

h. Has the responsibility to insure that all of the programs (not necessarily all physical facilities) are accessible.

i. Has the responsibility to make reasonable adjustments in the delivery, instructional method, and evaluation system for a course when these have a disproportionately adverse impact on a disability.

j. Has the responsibility to make adjustments (or substitutions) to any requirement/course that has a disproportionately adverse impact on a disability and is not fundamental to the student's academic program.

k. Has the right to identify the abilities, skills, and knowledge that are fundamental to academic programs/courses and to establish standards that are defined in meaningful ways that relate to the goals of the course. Fundamental program/course goals and course standards are not subject to accommodation; however, methods of delivery and evaluation may be subject to accommodation. Accommodations will be determined following discussion between the student, the faculty member, and either Disability Services (Academic Support Center at the West Plains Campus) or the Learning Diagnostic Clinic. Faculty members have the right to appeal the provision of recommended accommodations that can be shown to alter or compromise fundamental course or program goals.

l. Has the right to select among equally effective methods of accommodating a student with a disability.

m. Has the right to deny an accommodation based on undue hardship or burden to the University and its faculty.

Rights and Responsibilities of Students with Disabilities:

A student with a disability has a right to an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs offered at Missouri State. To insure this right, an Missouri State student with a disability:

a. Has a responsibility to notify the university of the need for accommodation in a timely fashion. The student must provide documentation of the disability from an appropriate professional. Documentation must meet established University guidelines.

b. Has a responsibility to demonstrate or document how the disability affects a particular delivery system, instructional method, or evaluation criterion when requesting accommodation.

c. Has a responsibility to actively participate in the search for accommodations and auxiliary aids. This responsibility extends to working with the institution to seek financial assistance from governmental agencies and private sources.

d. Has the same obligation as any student to meet and maintain the institution's fundamental academic  and technical standards.

e. Has a right to be evaluated based on ability, not disability. If the disability disproportionately affects the outcome of an evaluation method, the student is entitled to an evaluation by alternative means.

f. Is entitled to an equal opportunity to learn. If the location, delivery system, or instructional methodology limits access, participation, or ability to benefit, the student has the right to reasonable alterations in those aspects of the course (or program) to accommodate the disability.

g. Is entitled to an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the academic community. This includes access to services, extracurricular activities, housing, and transportation at a comparable level as that provided to any student.

h. Has a right to appeal the institution's decisions concerning accommodations internally by filing a grievance with the University's Equal Opportunity Office, or externally by filing a complaint with the regional Office of Civil Rights or through the Civil Court System. Students have a responsibility to file a grievance in a timely manner.