REQUESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

An important note to parents and students: The laws that guarantee success for students with disabilities in K-12 are very different from the laws that protect students from discrimination in the post secondary (college) environment. One of the primary differences is services versus accommodations. In K-12, an IEP and subsequent services (i.e., speech therapy) are developed to help the student successfully meet the requirements for graduation. In the post-secondary environment, no such services exist. At the college level, an accommodation letter is written on the student's behalf that is designed to remove barriers and provide for equal opportunities. Once the accommodations are in place, students with disabilities are responsible for meeting the same academic requirements as any other student.

Two Easy Steps for Requesting Accommodations at MWSU:

Step 1: Students who wish to request academic accommodations must first fill out the Student Application for Accommodations Form.

*The Office of Disability Services reserves the right to request additional documentation if a clear link is not established between the diagnosis and the requested accommodations.

**Typically, we do not need your IEP or 504 Plan. Please do not submit these documents unless they are requested.

Step 2: Students will need to schedule a personal visit with the disability services coordinator to discuss specific accommodations and to learn how to utilize the accommodations that have been approved. You may call (816) 271-4327 or (816) 271-4330 to set up an appointment. The Office of Disability Services is located in Eder Hall, Room 203N (inside the Counseling Center).

I encourage you to learn as much as you can about your disability prior to coming to MWSU. There is a lot of helpful information available on the Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) web site at http://www.washington.edu/doit/, the HEATH Resource Center web site at http://www.heath.gwu.edu/about/ and the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) web site at http://ahead.org/students-parents.

I truly hope you find your college experience to be some of the best years of your life.  

Sincerely,

Mike Ritter
Disability Services Coordinator