Objectives of Disability Services
Mount Holyoke offers services on an individual basis to students with disabilities. The institution recognizes the importance of protecting the rights of all community members and promoting diversity. Mount Holyoke is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and services that will enable students who qualify under section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act to participate as fully as possible in the College's academic program.
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 the student's 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 the student and the student's needs to Disability Services in 300 Mary Lyon Hall by completing the Disability Registration Form and submitting the Clinician Disability Certification Forms.
- work with Disability Services to specify, arrange, and follow through on accommodations, and
- alert the office immediately to problems encountered.
General Accommodations
Applicants for admission to Mount Holyoke who may require accommodations and services are encouraged to contact the Disability Services office immediately upon acceptance to ensure timely provision of services.
All incoming students are invited to complete a confidential Disability Registration Form on ISIS. In addition, their clinician must submit a Clinician Disability Certification Form along with any supporting documentation. On the basis of these forms, the Associate Dean of Students will contact relevant service providers to work with the student to determine appropriate services and "reasonable" accommodations. The service provider will determine what is a "reasonable" accommodation in relationship to Mount Holyoke policies and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for accommodations must be timely and made in writing through the use of the forms listed above, and cannot be arranged retroactively. It is the student's responsibility to contact the Office of Disability Services or Office of Learning Skillsto schedule an appointment with the Associate Dean of Students or Associate Dean for Learning Skills to discuss their request for accommodations.
Students with documented learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder will receive support through the Associate Dean for Learning Skills. Supporting documentation, for example psychoeducational evaluations including test scores and recommendations must be dated within the past three years.
The Associate Dean of Students coordinates services for students with physical disabilities, including students who have mobility, visual, or hearing impairments. She works in collaboration with the Dean of First-Year Studies and other Academic Deans to accommodate academic needs for students with physical disabilities.
The Associate Dean of Students collaborates with the Office of Residential Life to arrange reasonable accommodations and assistance for students with disabilities living in the residence halls. Assistant Directors of Residential Life are notified in advance of students with physical disabilities who have requested services. Once at the College, students are encouraged to work with Disability Services, the Office of Residential Life, and related offices to ensure appropriate support services.
The Associate Dean of Students works in collaboration with the Director of Counseling Services and the academic deans to arrange reasonable accommodations for students with psychiatric disabilities.
The Associate Dean of Students works in collaboration with the Director of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project and Academic Deans to arrange reasonable accommodations for students in recovery from a substance abuse disorder.
Students who do not return completed disability registration and certification forms and who at some point require assistance should contact the Disability Services 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 usually 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 accommodations when necessary. Appeals to this board require completion of the Disability Registration Form, a Clinician 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, as well as other health concerns, is protected by state and federal law. Information in an individual's health center medical 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 mobility techniques by a professional mobility instructor prior to orientation and the start of classes.
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. Alternate formats of course materials are provided by the college.
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.
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 sign up system in place to reserve time.
Services for Students with Mobility Impairments
Arrangements can be made by the Office of Residential Life for housing and room assignments, to minimize inconvenience (central campus location, accessible entrance, accessible bathroom). Public Safety is notified of the housing location of students with mobility impairments to enable prompt emergency assistance. Facilities Management is alerted to the routes between residential halls and classroom buildings for priority snow and ice removal during winter months.
Preferential course scheduling is provided, whenever possible, to permit proximity of consecutive classes. The registrar works with Disability Services to monitor preregistration course selections of students with mobility impairments and assigns classrooms to ensure building accessibility. The Associate Dean can contact instructors about accommodations such as class seating or arrangements for final exams.
Participation in sports or exercise classes can be facilitated by the Office of the Associate Dean of Students, who will notify the chair of the Department of Physical Education during preregistration of students interested in particular classes. The director of Health Services may waive the physical education requirement when necessary.
Any student requiring on-campus transportation or medical parking must contact the director of 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. Medical parking permits may also be provided. This allows the student to park in designated accessible parking spaces on campus. A student may be granted either a Ride Card or Medical parking but will not be given both. The College owns a wheelchair lift-equipped van which is available for transportation with two days prior notice.
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 Disability Services. 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 Students and the Director of the Counseling Service.
In making requests for accommodations based on a psychiatric disability, a student must first complete the confidential Disability Registration Form found on ISIS . The second requirement is the Clinician Disability Certification Form documenting her psychiatric diagnosis. This certification form will need to be completed by her clinician. The student must also submit a personal 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 Counseling Services as soon as possible after they arrive on campus.
.Services for Students with Substance Disorders
An incoming student in recovery from a substance use disorder, for which she requires accommodations, may identify herself to Disability Services and the director of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project. Counseling and assistance for students with substance use disorders is offered by the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Project (ADAP). Students are encouraged to make an appointment with the director of ADAP as soon as possible upon arrival.
In making requests for accommodations based on a substance use disorder, a student must submit the confidential Disability Registration Form on ISIS, and the Clinician Disability Certification Form identifying herself. 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
