Additional Resources

1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,
2. has a history or record of such an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or
3. is perceived by others as having such an impairment (such as a person who has scars from a severe burn).

Physical, sensory, psychological, and cognitive disabilities are all qualifying disabilities for accommodations. Some examples of these are cancer, diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, autism, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, learning/intellectual disorders, epilepsy, deafness or hear loss, blindless or low vision, and mobility disabilities. The ADA covers many other disabilities not listed here.

You must have a diagnosis of a qualifying disability in order to receive permanent accommodations. However, we can still work with you if you are in the process of receiving a diagnosis by providing temporary accommodations with appropriate documentation.

If you are (or will be) experiencing a temporary condition (for example: a concussion, broken bone, or have an upcoming qualifying surgery) that will impair you for more than a month, we may be able to work with you to set up temporary medical accommodations with the appropriate documentation. For more information, visit our 'Temporary Medical Conditions section' on the Students page.

Additionally, there are lots of resources available on campus if you are not able to get a diagnosis. For more information, see our 'On- and Off- Campus Resources' lists above.

No, services and accommodations are not automatically provided for students with disabilities in higher education. A college or university does not necessarily know that a student has a disability when the student enrolls and cannot provide services and accommodations until the student follows the procedures set in place. At MSU, students must disclose/self-identify and follow the necessary procedures upon enrolling at MSU.

For more information on making an accommodation request, visit our 'New Students' section on the Students page. 

The goal of section 504 and the ADA is to remove barriers and to guarantee reasonable accommodations so that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to participate at the level enjoyed by the average person. They aren't entitlement laws, and they don't guarantee successful learning or mandate the creation of special programs for persons with disabilities.

Reasonable accommodations and academic adjustments may include, but are not limited to, testing accommodations, note taking, assistive technology and other auxiliary aids, sign language interpreter, accessible materials, housing adjustments, preferential seating, and priority registration, among others.

The University will not provide accommodations that would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program, or activity, or that would result in an undue financial or administrative burden. The University is also not obligated to provide personal devices or services or to provide retroactive accommodations.

For more information, visit our Policies and Procedures page. 

Accommodations can be requested and approved for use in on-campus housing, dining halls, and academic settings, such as classrooms and testing services. All accommodations are voluntary. You can choose when to use your accommodations with the help of your professors and ODS specialists.

For more information, visit our 'Accommodations' section on our Students page. 

Students are not required to disclose information pertaining to their disability or reason for having accommodations to their faculty; however, you must present your Accommodation Notification letter showing the approved accommodations to each of your faculty in a timely manner.

The University is not obligated to provide retroactive accommodations if faculty are not adequately and appropriately informed of a student’s accommodation status.

For more information, visit our Policies and Procedures page. 

Additional accommodations are available upon request to anyone with existing approved accommodations through ODS. Requests for additional or different accommodations can be made through the Accommodate portal, and will be reviewed by an Accessibility Specialist.

Depending on the nature of your additional accommodation request, additional documentation may be necessary.

For more information, visit our 'Current Students' section on the Students page. 

There are many other resources available to students with disabilities both on and off campus. On-campus resources are generally free to access (though may be dependent on the number of enrolled credits you are in each semester) and can provide academic, technological, financial, wellness, and transportation support.

To browse a selection of on and off campus resources, see the 'On- and Off-Campus Resources' lists above. 

Yes. All MSU employees (faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate student employees) are entitled to reasonable workplace accommodations for disabilities under the Montana Human Rights Act and the ADAAA.

Please contact Human Resources or visit the Disability and Accommodation in Employment page for more information.

MSU instructors are required to implement accommodations approved through the Disability Services office, though there may be some variance in how accommodations are implemented depending on the class. Students must notify each instructor of any approved accommodations in a timely manner for them to be implemented.

If you have notified your instructor but have not received your accommodation(s), please contact the Disability Services office as soon as possible at 406-994-2824 or disabilityservices@montana.edu. Your assigned Accessibility Specialist will work with you and your instructor to ensure that your accommodation is reasonably implemented.