Disability Services

Services
Academic and test accommodations
Accommodations for participation in university-sponsored activities
Note taking
Notifying faculty of necessary and appropriate accommodations
Assistance in identifying local and community services
Assistance with temporary disabilities
Advocacy and student organization support
Testing referrals (fee based)

Mission
Disability Services provides support to enable students with permanent or temporary disabilities to participate in the full range of university experiences. Qualified students with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, not be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of any university services, programs, or activities or be subjected to discrimination of any kind.

Confidentiality
Information regarding a student's disability, for which special accommodations must be made, is not part of public information and will be treated as confidential. Counseling and Career Services will not divulge specific information about a student's disability.

Every effort will be made to preserve the privacy of the student who needs special accommodations. Students with disabilities should be treated with the same dignity and courtesy afforded all other students in the classroom. Confidentiality requirements are dictated by federal and state law. Questions regarding confidentiality may be directed to Counseling and Career Services.

Purpose
The purpose of Disability Services is to enable students with disabilities to participate in the full range of college experiences; to promote an environment that is barrier-free; and to actively address and promote disability awareness within the campus community through 1) programs and services designed to meet the academic and professional needs of the individuals with disabilities, and 2) coordination of initiates that lead to the continued development and enrichment of a diverse campus environment.

Am I eligible for these services?
To be eligible for services, the student with a disability must provide Counseling and Career Services with appropriate documentation that describes the nature and extent of the disability prior to or at the beginning of the semester.

The current documentation (usually within the last 3 years) must be from a qualified professional such as a psychologist, physician, or educational diagnostician. This documentation should include the specific type of disability, the degree of severity and limitations, and the types of accommodation that can help the student to improve his/her classroom success.

How do I obtain these services?
1. Apply and be accepted for admission at McMurry University. Students with disabilities go through the regular admissions procedures.

2. Complete the Application for Disability Services and return it with sufficient documentation.

3. Make an appointment with the Disability Services Coordinator to discuss accommodations needed and complete accommodation forms to be sent to your professors.

Students are encouraged to apply for Disability Services 30 days prior to the initial semester of enrollment to allow adequate time for the coordination of reasonable accommodations. For your benefit, please maintain a copy of all documentation submitted to the Counseling and Career Services department.

All documentation submitted will be kept confidential, except where permitted or required by law, and will be used solely for determining reasonable accommodations for the student. Securing appropriate documentation is the sole responsibility of the student. Documentation criteria at McMurry University are consistent with the 1997 guidelines of the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).