General Guidelines for Documentation of Disability
WPO 5.05-5 General Guidelines for Documentation of Disability (Op5.05-2)
Policy Statement
The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This Policy establishes the accommodations process for students with disabilities regarding the University’s academic and extracurricular programs, activities, resources, and other opportunities.
Students should be aware that while public elementary and secondary schools must identify and evaluate students with disabilities, institutions of higher education are not required to identify or evaluate students for disabilities. Once a student enrolls at Missouri State University-West Plains, they must advocate for themselves through the accommodation process outlined in this Policy. Students should begin this process as soon as a barrier to participation is identified as reasonable accommodations cannot be provided retroactively.
Definitions
Disability Resource Center (DRC): The University office with the sole authority to issue students reasonable accommodations based on a disability.
Disability: A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
Office of Academic Support: The West Plains office that coordinates with the DRC to issue reasonable accommodations for students based on a disability.
Qualified Student with a Disability: A student with a disability who meets the academic and technical standards requisite for admission or participation in the University's educational program or activity, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Reasonable Accommodation: Modifications or adjustments to the academic environment/university activity that enable a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to participate in the University's programs and activities without fundamentally altering the nature of academic environment/activity, or resulting in an undue financial or administrative burden to the University. Reasonable accommodations are typically authorized for a particular course / activity, and may be temporary or provisional, depending on the interactive process. Reasonable Accommodations are not provided retroactively.
Eligibility for Reasonable Accommodations
To be eligible for reasonable accommodations, a student must be a qualified student with a disability. If a student is not otherwise qualified, the University is not obligated to provide reasonable accommodations.
Requesting Reasonable Accommodations
Students seeking reasonable accommodations must provide appropriate documentation of their disability and the need for reasonable accommodations to the MSU-West Plains Office of Academic Support. Requests for reasonable accommodations should be made in a timely manner to allow for adequate review and implementation by the Office of Academic Support or DRC personnel.
General Guidelines for Documentation of Disability
Documentation submitted must describe the students’ disability and its likely impact on the student’s educational experience. Students may engage in the interactive process without documentation; however, such process may be delayed absent documentation.
Interactive Process
Office of Academic Support personnel will engage in an interactive process with the student to determine reasonable accommodations. This process generally involves a dialogue between the student and university personnel to identify barriers and appropriate corresponding reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations are typically authorized for a particular course / activity, and may be temporary or provisional, depending on the interactive process.
Implementation of Accommodations
The student and faculty/staff members will be provided with electronic access to their approved reasonable accommodations through their university email by the MSU-West Plains Office of Academic Support. Students should notify Faculty/Staff of the approved reasonable accommodations and have a conversation with each concerning the accommodations.
Faculty/Staff are expected to cooperate with the implementation of approved reasonable accommodations. Students should direct any concerns from Faculty/Staff regarding approved reasonable accommodations to Office of Academic Support personnel responsible for implementing the reasonable accommodations. Faculty must work directly with Academic Support and/or DRC, rather than the student, on any concerns that an identified reasonable accommodation may substantially alter an essential element of their course or program. Faculty may not unilaterally deny a reasonable accommodation approved by the university.
Appeals and Grievances
Students who believe they have been denied reasonable accommodations or have experienced discrimination based on their disability may file an internal or external complaint. Students are encouraged to first file an internal complaint prior to filing an external complaint.
Students wishing to file an internal complaint should contact:
Office for Institutional Equity and Compliance Carrington Hall 205 910 S. National Ave. Springfield, MO 65897 equity@missouristate.edu 417-836-4252Students wishing to file an external complaint should contact:
Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education One Petticoat Lane 1010 Walnut Street, 3rd floor, Suite 320 OCR.KansasCity@ed.gov 816-268-0550Online Complaint form: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/file-complaint/ocr-discrimination-complaint-form
Confidentiality
All information regarding a student's disability and reasonable accommodations will be kept confidential and shared only with individuals who need to know in order to implement the reasonable accommodations.
Line of authority
Responsible administrator and office: Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs
Contact person in that office: Disability Services Coordinator
Chancellor Approval: 3/12/2025