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Home > College Offices > Dean of Students > Student Handbook > College Policies > Students with Disabilities
Students with Disabilities
Objectives of Disability Services
Mount Holyoke offers services on an individual basis to students with disabilities. The institution is guided by its "Policy on Human Rights" which is designed to protect the rights of all community members and promote diversity. Mount Holyoke recognizes its obligation to provide reasonable accommodations for all individuals with disabilities so that they may participate as fully as possible in the College's academic programs.
The College's guiding philosophy regarding the provision of accommodations is that they shall serve as a bridge which enables a student to fully engage in the college experience. These accommodations should be empowering, and the overriding goal is to create an opportunity for greater independence, responsibility, and self-sufficiency.
Rights under Federal Law for Individuals with Disabilities
In September 1973, Congress passed Public Law 93-112, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 of that law states: "No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of his [or her] handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
In 1977 the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare issued regulations implementing Section 504 in, among many other institutions, private post secondary colleges receiving federal funds. On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law and extends the provisions given individuals with disabilities as provided in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Mount Holyoke College is subject to this law and to these regulations.
Self Advocacy
Self-Advocacy by Students with Disabilities
Mount Holyoke neither imposes accommodations on the student nor preempts her responsibility, as a legal and social adult, to define her disabilities and/or needs and make sure that they are met. The student must take the initiative to:
- identify herself and her needs to the Office of the Associate Dean of the College in 300 Mary Lyon Hall by completing the Disability Registration and Disability Certification forms.
- work with us to specify, arrange, and follow through on accommodations, and
- alert us immediately to problems she encounters.
General Accommodations
Applicants for admission to Mount Holyoke College who require services are encouraged to contact the assistant dean, in the Office of the Associate Dean of the College, immediately upon acceptance to ensure timely provision of services.
All incoming and returning students are invited to complete the confidential Disability Registration, Request for Accommodation, and Disability Certification forms. On the basis of these forms, the assistant dean will determine the appropriate services and contact relevant faculty and staff. Requests for accommodations must be made in advance, in writing, and cannot be arranged retroactively.
Students with documented learning disabilities and/or attention deficit disorder may receive support through the associate dean for learning skills.
The associate dean works in collaboration with the director of counseling services to arrange reasonable accommodations for students with psychiatric disabilities. The associate dean of students contact the academic deans if academic accommodations are required.
For students in recovery from a substance abuse disorder, the associate dean works in collaboration with the director of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project to arrange reasonable accommodations. The associate dean contacts the academic dean if academic accommodations are requested.
Students who do not return completed Disability Registration, Request for Accommodation, and Disability Certification Forms, and who at some point require assistance, should contact the Office of the Associate Dean of the College as soon as the need for service becomes apparent. Reasonable accommodations can then be made accordingly. It must be understood that arrangements for equipment, classroom, and housing assignments, and other accommodations often require advance notice.
After the first year, students are expected to play a more substantial role in specifying their needs and following through on arrangements for accommodations.
A review board consisting of the associate dean of the College, an academic dean, and a faculty member shall make decisions regarding reasonable accommodation when necessary. Appeals to this board require completion of the Disability Registration Form, the Disability Certification Form, and a written statement from the student elaborating her request. Requests must first be denied for the board to hear an appeal. Therefore, requests to the service provider need to be timely. If the request is denied by the review board, the student may make one last appeal to the dean of the College.
Confidentiality regarding AIDS, alcohol and other drugs, as well as other health concerns, is protected by state and federal law. Information in an individual's health center medical and/or counseling records will not be shared without that individual's written consent.
Services for Students with Visual Impairments
 Upon request, a student guide is provided to help establish paths and locate classrooms in the early days of the new semester. It is the responsibility of the student and her family to ensure that she has acquired training in special mobility techniques by a professional mobility instructor prior to her arrival on campus.
The associate dean of students works with the student and the Office of Residential Life to ensure reasonable accommodations in residential hall settings. Service dogs that assist students with visual impairments are allowed in the residence halls. Braille pads are available to assist students in the use of elevators and outside phones.
Tutorial assistance beyond that available to all students of the College is provided when it is demonstrated that the student's disability requires this support. Research assistance from reference librarians is available to help in identifying research sources. Reader services are provided by the College, in conjunction with the student's home-state rehabilitation agency. Tape recorders can be provided to readers when necessary and according to availability.
As soon as the student decides on her course program for the semester (preferably during preregistration), the dean assists in obtaining course reading lists from instructors prior to the start of the semester. Students can order books on tape or request a Borrower Information Kit by writing to Recording for the Blind, 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540. Forms are also available from the associate dean of students.
Students also have access to a Kurzweil Reading Machine through the Adaptive Technology Lab. Once a student is trained on the lab's software, she is granted access to it 24 hours a day while the College is in session. There is also a system in place to reserve times for use.
Services for Students with Mobility Impairments
 An access map available from the Office of the Associate Dean of the College clarifies the accessibility of campus buildings and terrain for persons with mobility impairments.
Housing arrangements and room assignments can be made by the Office of Residential Life to minimize inconvenience (central campus location, ramp entrance, accessible bathroom, etc.). The Department of Public Safety is notified of the housing locations of students with mobility impairments to enable prompt emergency assistance.
Any student requiring on-campus transportation must contact the director of College health services to discuss her specific needs. A Ride Card entitles the student to transportation on campus to classes or campus activities five to seven days per week based on medical necessity. Ride Cards may be issued by the medical providers of health services. A medical parking permit allows the student to park in designated accessible parking spaces on campus. Medical parking permits must be granted by the medical director or the College health services director for students with valid parking privileges. A student may be granted either a Ride Card or medical parking but will not be given both. At night, transportation is provided through the general campus ride van service which operates when the College is in session. The College owns a wheelchair lift-equipped van which is available for transportation with two days prior notice.
Participation in sports or exercise classes can be facilitated by the assistant dean, who will notify the chair of the Department of Physical Education during preregistration of students interested in particular classes. The director of physical education, in consultation with the director of College health services, may waive the physical education requirement when necessary. The College health services director may provide supportive information, with the student's permission.
Preferential course scheduling is provided, whenever possible to permit proximity of consecutive classes. The registrar works with the assistant dean to monitor preregistration course selections of students with mobility impairments and assigns classrooms to ensure building accessibility. The assistant dean will contact instructors about accommodations such as class seating or arrangements for final exams.
Services for Students Who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired
Fire alarms (bright-light or bed-vibrating) can be provided in students' rooms upon request. The common areas of all student residences and new campus buildings are equipped with high-intensity strobe alarms. Similar units, tied to the central system, can be installed in the rooms of students with hearing impairments. Ten weeks notification may be necessary to allow adequate time for these arrangements; the need for advance notification will depend upon availability of equipment. Service dogs trained to assist students who are deaf or hearing impaired are allowed in the residence halls.
TTY telephones are available at the library reference desk, the public safety telephone office, and the Office of the Associate Dean of the College. The on-campus phone on the main floor of Blanchard is equipped with a volume control device for anyone with a hearing impairment.
Upon request, the College provides note-takers and sign language interpreters in the classroom as needed. Tutorial assistance is provided upon request as needed. Arrangements in classrooms can include class seating and written, rather than verbal, instructions for assignments.
Services for Students with Psychiatric Disorders
An incoming student with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder for which she requires accommodations may identify herself to the Office of the Associate Dean of the College and the director of the counseling service. In making requests for accommodations based on a psychiatric disability, a student must submit the confidential Disability Registration and Request for Accommodation Forms identifying herself and the Disability Certification Form documenting her psychiatric diagnosis. She must also submit a statement which outlines her particular needs. Reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Treatment and assistance for students with psychiatric disabilities are offered by the staff of the counseling service. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with the counseling service as soon as possible after they arrive on campus.
Services for Students with Substance Disorders
An incoming student in recovery from a substance abuse disorder, for which she requires accommodations, may identify herself to the assistant dean and the director of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project. Counseling and assistance for students with substance disorders is offered by the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project (ADAP). Students are encouraged to make an appointment with the director of ADAP after August 15 or as soon as possible upon arrival.
In making requests for accommodations based on a substance abuse disorder, a student must submit the confidential Disability Registration, Request for Accommodation, and Disability Certification Forms identifying herself, and a statement which outlines her particular needs. Reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Additional Services Available for Students with Disabilities
Medical Service
To assist health services in providing consistent health care, students with disabilities are asked to send information from their personal physician or specialist regarding diagnoses, treatments, and medications to the Director of College Health Services, Pattie Groves Health Center, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075.
It is highly recommended that students with ongoing medical concerns make an appointment with the medical director. The purpose of the visit is to plan ways the staff can complement care being provided by current providers and support special health care concerns. The health center is closed for the summer. If you have medical questions or concerns during that time, call 413-538-2170. To make an appointment during the academic year call x2121.
Non urgent outpatient visits to the physician and nurse practitioner staff are by appointment at x2121. Nursing triage, health advice, and urgent care are available 24 hours per day during the academic session at x2242.
Mental Health Counseling Services
The counseling service is open throughout the academic year. To make an appointment with a member of the counseling services staff, call the receptionist at x203 7, Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM. The on-call clinician can be contacted after office hours by calling health services at x2242 in case of psychiatric emergencies.
Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project
ADAP is open throughout the academic year. To make an appointment with the project, call the director/counselor at x26.16, Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.
Forms
The following applications are available for download. They are stored in Adobe Acrobat Reader format so that they can be easily viewed and printed. If you do not yet have Acrobat Reader, you can download it free from Adobe.
Click on the following links to download the applications.
Disability Registration (PDF)
Disability Certification (PDF)
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