Disability Access Services

Policy Related to Students with Disabilities

 

The University of Missouri System is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to our students with equally effective access to educational opportunities, programs and activities as detailed in the University of Missouri Collected Rules and Regulations, Section 240.040.

The University will, therefore, take necessary action to ensure that no otherwise qualified student with a disability is denied access to any particular course or educational program. Such action includes an assessment of the student's abilities and an evaluation of the particular course or program.

Implementation Procedures

It is the student's responsibility to self-identify, to provide current and adequate documentation of his/her disability, and to request classroom accommodation, through the Disability Access Services (DAS) office. A request for services will initiate an assessment of needs, including a documentation review and accommodations planning; involving consultation with faculty and/or other campus entities that may be affected by providing accommodations, and will be done on an individualized case-by-case basis.

Initial determinations as to whether requested services and/or accommodations are required will be made by the coordinator of disability services based on results of the assessment of needs. If either the faculty member or the disability coordinator disagrees with the prescripted accommodation, such disagreement shall be described in writing promptly and submitted to the Chancellor or his designee for resolution in a prompt manner.

The University will make reasonable modifications to its academic requirements, if necessary, to comply with legal requirements ensuring that such academic requirements do not discriminate or have the effect of discriminating on the basis of a student's known and adequately documented disability; unless the requested modification would require alteration of essential elements of the program or essential elements of directly related licensing requirements or would result in undue financial or administrative burdens. The divisional dean's office, in cooperation with the disabilities services coordinator and the department through which the requirement is fulfilled, will determine the appropriate modification or substitution. Any qualified student with a disability who believes that accommodations and/or an auxiliary aid(s) will be necessary for participation in any course, course activity, or degree program must indicate a need for services to the designated disability services office at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester or degree program.

The disability services coordinator will oversee an assessment of the student's request for services and/or accommodations. If an unfavorable determination is made, the student may appeal the decision through the University of Missouri Discrimination Grievance Procedure for Students.