Policies & Procedures
 Return to
DSS Main Page
Montana State
University Billings adheres to the civil rights
definition of disability. In order to be eligible for
accommodations based on disability, students must
provide Disability Support Services with evidence that
they have a physical or mental condition that
substantially limits one or more major life activities.
Major life activities include walking, seeing, hearing,
reading and learning, to name a few. Accommodations (sometimes
called academic adjustments) are adjustments made for students with disabilities
in order to allow them to access the same education experiences as their peers.
The purpose of an accommodation is to "level the playing field".
1. Students with disabilities who request
accommodations need to register with Disability Support Services (DSS). It
is the student's responsibility to initiate the request for services.
Students are encouraged to request accommodations at least four weeks before the beginning of classes. Students can make an
appointment for an intake with the DSS Director on the East Campus (406-657-2283
tty/vp) or the DSS Coordinator at the COT (406-247-3029 tty/vp).
2. Disability
Support Services will verify a student's disability
prior to recommending reasonable accommodations.
a. Policies for required
documentation vary according to the disability. The documentation must
clearly identify the disability and provide sufficient information
regarding the limitations of the disability in order to permit Montana
State University Billings to make a determination as to whether the
requested adjustments are appropriate. While MSU Billings must consider
the documentation provided by the student, it is not required to adopt
the recommendations of the evaluator regarding the appropriate academic
adjustments. It is MSU Billings' right to determine, based upon the
evaluative data, what those adjustments should be (Disability
Accommodation Digest, Volume 1, No. 3). Please ask what the
documentation requirements are for your disability.
b. Releases of information to obtain
documentation are available from Disability Support Services. It is usually in the students' best interest
to keep their own file of documentation and allow service providers
(such as DSS) to make copies. Students are responsible for
any charges incurred obtaining documentation.
3. Accommodations will be
determined based upon the documentation of the disability and the student's
self-report during an intake interview with the Director or the Coordinator.
4. After accommodations have been established,
students with disabilities will be issued an identification card verifying that they are registered with Disability Support Services and listing
the accommodations for which they qualify.
5. It is in the best interest of
students requiring classroom accommodations to notify the instructors before the
semester begins so that if there are any problems there is time to negotiate a
resolution. Students may request help from DSS to facilitate this process.
6. Students who are experiencing
unresolved problems receiving appropriate accommodations should contact the
Director of Disability Support Services.
Return to Table of Contents
To provide equal access and
nondiscrimination according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title
II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Montana State University Billings
requires documentation of Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (AD/HD).
To be eligible for services, documentation must validate that the disability
substantially limits a major life activity and demonstrate that there is a need
for accommodation. Students with AD/HD who require accommodations must
register with Disability Support Services (DSS). It is the student's
responsibility to initiate the request for services.
AD/HD is considered a medical or
clinical diagnosis. Individuals qualified to render a diagnosis for this
disorder are practitioners who have been trained in the assessment of AD/HD and
are experienced in assessing the needs of adult learners. Recommended
practitioners may include: developmental pediatricians, neurologists,
psychiatrists, licensed clinical or education psychologists, family physicians
or a combination of such professionals. The diagnostician should be impartial
and not a family member.
The following guidelines are
provided to assist the service provider in collaborating with each student to
determine appropriate accommodations. Documentation serves as a foundation that
legitimizes students' requests for appropriate accommodations. Recommended
documentation includes:
-
A clear statement of AD/HD
with the DSM IV diagnosis and a description of supporting past and present
symptoms;
-
Current documentation,
preferably within the last three years; the age of acceptable documentation
is dependent upon the disabling condition, the current status of the student
and the student's specific request for accommodations;
-
A summary of assessment
procedures and evaluation instruments used to make the diagnosis;
-
A narrative summary,
including all scores, which supports the diagnosis;
-
Medical information
relating to the student's needs, including the impact of medication on the
student's ability to meet the demands of the postsecondary environment;
-
Suggestions supported by
the diagnosis of reasonable accommodations which might be appropriate
at the postsecondary level
Further assessment by an
appropriate professional may be required if co-existing learning disabilities or
other disabling conditions are indicated. Appropriate accommodations are
collaboratively determined by the student and the Director or Coordinator of Disability Support
Services.
Special thanks to R.J. Fink,
Ph.D., former Director of Disability Services at the University of Colorado at
Boulder, for sharing information included in this document.
Return to Table of Contents
Disability Support Services (DSS) provides
academic and physical accessibility to students who have documented disabilities
in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
Students who receive
alternative testing accommodations as determined by the
DSS Director or Coordinator should do the following:
Inform
the instructor that
you are registered with DSS and receive alternative
alternative testing as an accommodation.
Schedule exams at least one week in advance and note on the test request form any special
accommodations needed. This ensures that DSS has time
to get the test from the Instructor and that a testing
room and special accommodations are available. (Quiet
room, scribe, proctor, etc.) Test request forms are now
online. Go to www.msubillings.edu/dss and click on Forms, then on Testing Accommodation
Requests for tests in DSS office.
Arrive
at the scheduled time. Tests are often scheduled
back-to-back in the testing rooms, and you may not get
your full time if another test is scheduled immediately
following yours.
Students should notify
instructors and DSS if they are not able to test at their scheduled time. The consent of the instructor and the
availability of space will determine whether or not an
exam can be rescheduled.
The
rules of the classroom apply in the testing rooms.
Smoking breaks aren’t appropriate. Use the restroom
before testing. (Some physical conditions are
accommodated by restroom availability.)
All
possessions must be left outside the testing area. This
includes backpacks, coats, hats, cell phones, etc. There
are hooks in the hallway outside the testing rooms. Students may request secured areas for valuables.
If
supplemental materials are permitted for tests
(calculator, open book, open notes, etc.), ask the
instructor to include that information in writing with
the test. Students found with unauthorized instructional materials
will be referred to the instructor.
DSS staff is not authorized
to modify instructions given by the instructor.
To request extra time
for tests in online classes go to the DSS website at www.msubillings.edu/dss and click on Policies and Procedures. Then click
on Online Class Information. Download a
copy of the request form. The form needs to be
completed for each class and copies need to be sent to
the Online Coordinator, the instructor, and the Director
of DSS. This must be done at the beginning of the
semester.
I read
and understand the rules for alternative testing.
Name
_______________________________________________________
Date ______________
Disability Support Services
invites instructors to share any concerns regarding the alternative testing
procedures or concerns regarding students with the Director of Disability
Support Services [Academic Support Center, 657-2283(V/TTY)].
Students can schedule a test in the DSS office or email the information to
DSS.
GET THE FORM: alternative testing request form
(NOTE: This is a Microsoft Word document. Right-click on the form hyperlink, choose
"Save Target As" and save the document to your computer. Then, open the
document, complete the form, save, and close it. Finally, send an e-mail
with the completed form attachment to both of the e-mail addresses below.
Return to Table of Contents
Students who are
eligible for alternative text, as determined by the
Director or Coordinator, should follow these procedures:
1. In order to receive your
materials in a timely manner, you should request your
textbooks at least three weeks in advance of when you
will need them. You need a separate request form for
each of your books. You may copy the request form that
is available in the DSS office or request extra copies.
It is also available online on the DSS website under
"Forms."
2. DSS will contact the
publisher to see if the book is available in electronic
format. If it is, we will get the book and convert it
to an MP3 unless you prefer E-text, which works well
with JAWS, Zoomtext, and Kurzweil. In order to comply
with copyright laws, we will need a copy of your sales
slip.
3. If the book is not
available from the publisher, DSS will need your copy of
the book to create the alternative text. The campus
print shop will chop the binding off the book. The
pages are scanned, edited and turned into an MP3 file.
The print shop will rebind the book with plastic coiled
rings, and we can generally get it back to you within 48
hours.
4. If the book is already
available from our library, we will give you a copy of
it as soon as we have made a copy of your receipt.
5. Provide a
copy of the syllabi to DSS so that edited materials can
be provided in the order in which they are needed.
I
understand that I must purchase a copy of the book in
order to comply with copyright laws.
Name_______________________ Date ______________
GET THE FORM: Alternative Text Request Form
(NOTE: This is a Microsoft Word document. Right-click on the form hyperlink, choose
"Save Target As" and save the document to your computer. Then, open the
document, complete the form, save, and close it. Finally, send an e-mail
with the completed form attachment to both of the e-mail addresses below.
Return to Table of Contents
ADA COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCEDURE
(This procedure replaces all previous procedures for investigation of complaints
of discrimination.)
I. Scope
Disability Support
Services reviews complaints by students regarding
discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of
physical or mental disability relating to disability
accommodations in the classroom and physical access to
facilities. This would include:
1. student-to-student complaints (example, a student
complains that another student gets an advantage because
of a disability-based accommodation)
2. student-to-faculty accommodations complaints (example, a
student and a faculty member disagree on an agreed upon
disability-related accommodation)
3. student-to-university accessibility complaints (example,
a student encounters a barrier on the MSUB campus, such
as an inoperative wheelchair lift, icy sidewalks,
blocked access ramp, etc.)
The Human Resources
office investigates student complaints of unlawful
discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual
orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or
veteran status of any faculty, staff or visitor.
Contact the Director, Office of Human Resource/EEO-AA,
1500 University Drive, 310 McMullen, Billings, MT 59101,
(406) 657-2278 for information regarding filing a
complaint.
The Vice Chancellor for
Student Affairs can either review complaints from
students when they relate specifically to the Code of
Student Conduct (student-to-student offenses or acts of
discrimination) or assist the DSS department or Human
resources in the review of student complaints when they
are made toward DSS staff (as outlined in V. Transfer of
Function).
II. Filing Process
Complaints must be filed
with DSS. A complaint should be filed within 180
calendar days of the most recent incident. The
University will consider requests to extend this period
where the complainant can show he or she needed
additional time due to circumstances beyond his or her
control.
The complainant will
meet with a representative from Disability Support
Services to discuss options (informal, formal) for
proceeding. The complainant is not required to follow
the informal procedure before filing a formal complaint.
The respondent (the individual accused of
discrimination) will be notified of the complaint within
10 working days after it is filed.
Options:
Informal.
Discuss allegations and concerns with respondent (the
accused) and attempt to resolve the situation. The
respondent is reminded that Montana State University
Billings expects all to adhere to our equal opportunity
policies. Respondent is put on notice that behavior has
been questioned, and informal resolution sought, if
possible. If attempts to resolve the situation are not
successful, the complainant may pursue a formal
complaint.
Formal. A full written report describing the alleged
discrimination is filed with DSS which is located in the
Academic Support Center on both the main and the COT
campus. Assistance will be arranged if needed. The
report must contain the grievant name, address, the date
and a description of the alleged act. DSS will review
report received from the grievant. After review of the
complaint, DSS will take the necessary steps to resolve
the complaint.
Appeal. A finding may be
appealed in writing to the Director of Disability
Support Services by either party within 10 working days
of receipt of DSS’ determination. A party may appeal a
decision based on discovery of new evidence previously
unavailable or a significant irregularity in the
procedural process which could affect the outcome of
finding. The appellant should be as specific as
possible in setting out basis for appeal; general
dissatisfaction with the decision will not be
sufficient. The determination of Disability Support
Services will be forwarded to the Chancellor for final
approval.
At any time, prior to
filing a charge, or while a complaint proceeding is in
progress, a complainant may file their complaint with
the appropriate external agencies. A list of agencies,
along with contact information, is available on the
Disability Support Services website. (See
Internet Resources).
Time Line for
Investigation Process
Disability Support
Services will complete its investigations as
expeditiously as possible. The investigation shall
normally be completed within 45 working days from the
filing of a formal complaint, including notification of
the parties of the outcome of the investigation. In
extraordinary circumstances, DSS reserves the right to
extend this time to a reasonable period. All parties
will be notified if such an extension is necessary. Many
factors can interfere with an investigative
fact-finder’s commitment to complete a determination
promptly, including unavailability of witnesses or the
complexity of the issues involved or new evidence
resulting in an appeal. DSS will maintain contact with
the Complainant and Respondent throughout the course of
the investigation to keep them up to date on the
process.
IV. Confidentiality
DSS takes any allegation
of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation
seriously and is committed to protecting the integrity
of the investigation process including confidentiality
and the due process rights of all individuals. Note that
all those involved (the respondent, the complainant, and
the witnesses) have privacy interests. Therefore,
outside the scope of the investigation, all parties are
requested not to publicize or divulge the nature of the
proceedings, or the identity of those involved.
V. Right to Advisor
The complainant and the
respondent each have the right to bring an advisor to
the investigative meeting. If either party chooses to
exercise this option, please give DSS prior notice that
an advocate will attend. If either the complainant or
the respondent's advisor is a person degreed or
qualified in law, DSS must be notified within two
business days of the hearing.
Transfer of Function
If a complaint, whether
informal or formal, is directed against Disability
Support Services, the functions assigned to DSS by these
procedures will transfer to the Office of the Vice
Chancellor of Student Affairs or to the Human Resources
Department.
The Office for Civil
Rights serves student populations, promotes equal
educational opportunities, and resolves complains of
discrimination under federal civil rights laws.
Information about OCR is located at http://www.edu.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html.
They can be contacted at:
Office for Civil Rights,
Seattle Office
U. S. Department of Education
915 Second Avenue, Room 3310
Seattle, WA 98174-7900
FAX: (206) 220-7887 Telephone (206) 220-7900 TDD
(206) 220-2907
E-mail: OCR.Seattle@ed.gov
Return to Table of Contents
In an on campus emergency, notify authorities immediately using the following numbers:
| Campus police: |
#2147 |
| Campus Operator: |
#0 |
| City services: |
#9-911 |
Be aware of the location of pull
alarms in each building.
In emergency situations, persons
unable to use the stairways to exit a building will wait at the nearest
designated rescue assistance locations*, if safe to do so, until someone comes
to help them evacuate the building. Designated rescue assistance locations are
indicated by signs in buildings with stairwells. Montana State University
Billings Campus Police or the Billings Fire Department will check all designated
rescue assistance locations* for people who need assistance in the building when
an evacuation is in progress. In cases of fire drills, persons needing
assistance will be advised by those conducting the drill that if there had been
a fire or other emergency, they would have received the help necessary to leave
the building. Under no circumstances should anyone use the elevators, nor should
any person who is disabled be carried down the stairways unless by trained
personnel during an actual emergency evacuation.
Be aware of RESCUE ASSISTANCE
AREAS* in each multistory building.
If you know that someone needs
evacuation assistance, notify rescue personnel immediately.
KEEP DOORS TO STAIRWELLS CLOSED.
Some MSU Billings' fire alarms are also
equipped with flashing lights since hard-of-hearing students may not hear
the audio emergency alarms. It may be necessary to communicate with the
hard-of-hearing student by writing a note to explain the emergency.
Students who are visually impaired may need to
take someone's elbow and be escorted to the nearest emergency exit.
WHEEL CHAIR EVACUATION AREAS: It is the responsibility of people in wheelchairs to check out the locations
of exits and rescue assistance areas*. Please contact Security, (406)
657-2147 or Disability Support Services, (406) 657-2283 voice/TTY if you
have any questions.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER
APSARUKE WEST
- Ground level exit, 1st
floor west entrance
- Rescue assistance area, 1st
floor north entrance area
- Rescue assistance area, 2nd
and 3rd floors east and west corridor ends
ART ANNEX
CISEL
- Basement ramp up to south
auditorium exit
- Ground level exit, north
side of 1st floor
- Rescue assistance area, 2nd
floor north exit
- Rescue assistance area, 3rd
floor north exit
McDONALD HALL (COB)
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN
SERVICES
- East and west entrances on
first floor
- Rescue assistance area,
2nd-4th floors center stairwells
COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Main Building
- Rescue assistance area, 2nd floor stairwell between elevator and room B012
Health Sciences
Building
- Rescue Assistance areas, North and South side stairwells
LIBERAL ARTS
- 1st floor, ground level
exit out of south library doors
- Rescue Assistance areas,
2nd-8th floors south stairwell
LIBRARY
- Basement level, ground
level exit south library doors
- Rescue assistance area, 1st
floor east stairwell landing
- Rescue assistance area, 2nd
floor east stairwell
MCMULLEN
-
Rescue assistance area in
center stairwell for basement and 2nd and 3rd floors
-
First floor, exit north
doors to ramp
PETRO HALL
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
- 1st floor ground level exit
- Basement tunnel exit
RIMROCK HALL
SCIENCE
- 1st floor north and west
exits
- 2nd floor west stairwell
landing
Q. Does MSU Billings have specific emergency procedures for students with disabilities?
A. Students with disabilities need to become familiar with evacuation
procedures and rescue assistance areas in each building. Students
should be aware of at least two exits from each floor where they have a
class (the elevator cannot be one of them).
LOCATION OF RESCUE ASSISTANCE AREAS: Students
have the responsibility to verify the location of rescue assistance areas
upon arrival at MSU Billings. (See chart above.)
Students needing evacuation assistance should:
Be familiar with exits and rescue assistance
areas on every floor.
Notify your instructors and classmates if
you know that you will need assistance during an emergency evacuation.
Ask someone
to notify rescue personnel of your location if you are in a rescue
assistance area.
In emergency situations, persons unable to use
the stairways to exit a building will wait at the nearest designated rescue
assistance locations, if safe to do so, until someone comes to help them
evacuate the building. Signs in buildings with stairwells indicate
designated rescue assistance locations*. MSU Billings Campus Police or the
Billings Fire Department will check designated rescue assistance areas for
people who need assistance in the building where an evacuation is in
progress. In cases of fire drills, the persons needing assistance will be
advised by those conducting the drill that if there had been a fire or other
emergency, they would have received the necessary help to leave the
building. Under no circumstances should anyone use the elevators, nor should
any person who is disabled be carried down the stairways unless by trained
personnel during an actual emergency evacuation.
In an emergency, students should ask to have
emergency personnel notified immediately of their location. KEEP DOORS TO
STAIRWELLS CLOSED.
Emergency Numbers
Campus police ----- 2147
City services including police, fire, and ambulance ----
9-911
Health Center ----- 2153
MSU Billings Operator
From off campus - (406) 657-2011 (Voice/TTY)
From on campus - 2011 or 0 (Voice/TTY)
Hospital Emergency Health Care (from on campus)
Deaconess ------- 9-657-4150
Saint Vincent ----- 9-237-4100
*Rescue assistance
areas refers to a designated location where a person may wait for
rescue personnel. The wording is not meant to imply compliance with ADAAG
requirements required for new multi-story buildings.
Return to Table of Contents
To provide equal access and
nondiscrimination according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title
II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Montana State University Billings
requires documentation of a Specific Learning Disability.
To be eligible for services, documentation must validate that the disability
substantially limits a major life activity and demonstrate that there is a need
for accommodation. Students with a Specific Learning Disability who
request accommodations must
register with Disability Support Services (DSS). It is the student's
responsibility to initiate the request for services.
LEARNING DISABILITIES
DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES
Documentation for a learning disability
should include:
-
A clear statement of a learning disability diagnosed by a
qualified professional such as
certified and/or licensed psychologists, learning disabilities
specialists, educational therapists, diagnosticians in public schools or
colleges and rehabilitation services and private practitioners who is
not a family member
-
The names,
titles, and professional credentials (e.g., licensed psychologist) of the
evaluators as well as the date(s) of testing. All reports must be
typed. Handwritten scores or summary sheets are not acceptable.
-
A summary of academic
strengths and substantial functional limitations
-
A recommendation of
accommodations (academic adjustments) for the substantial functional
limitations
-
A written summary of or background information about the
student's relevant educational, medical, and family histories that relate to
the learning disability
-
A description of the
comprehensive testing and techniques used to arrive at the diagnosis
including evaluation dates and testing results with subtest scores
Acceptable Data
Testing should be
comprehensive. It is not acceptable to administer only
one test for the purpose of diagnosis or establishing
that substantial limitation in a major life activity
currently exists in individuals with a previous
diagnosis of LD. Testing should include the following:
Aptitude. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - III (WAIS-III)
with subtest scores is the preferred instrument. The
Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery - III: Tests
of Cognitive Ability or the Stanford-Binet Intelligence
Scale: Fourth Edition are acceptable. The Kaufman Brief
Intelligence Test (KBIT) is not a comprehensive
measure and therefore is not suitable.
Achievement. Current levels of functioning in reading, mathematics
and written language are required. Acceptable
instruments include the Woodcock-Johnson
Psychoeducational Battery - III: Tests of Achievement;
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - II (WIAT-II);
Stanford Test of Academic Skills (TASK); Scholastic
Abilities Test for Adults (SATA); or specific
achievement tests such as the Test of Written Language -
3 (TOWL-3), Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests - Revised,
and the Stanford Diagnostic Mathematics Test. The Wide
Range Achievement Test - 3 (WRAT-3) and the Mini-Battery
of Achievement (MBA) are NOT comprehensive
measures of achievement and therefore are not suitable.
Information
Processing. Specific areas of information processing
(e.g., short- and long-term memory; sequential memory;
auditory and visual perception/processing; processing
speed) must be assessed. Information from subtests on
the WAIS-III, the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive
Ability, or the Detroit Tests of Learning
Aptitude- Adult (DTLA-A), as well as other
instruments relevant to the presenting learning
problem(s) may be used.
Policies & Procedures
Return to
DSS Main Page
Montana State
University Billings adheres to the civil rights
definition of disability. In order to be eligible for
accommodations based on disability, students must
provide Disability Support Services with evidence that
they have a physical or mental condition that
substantially limits one or more major life activities.
Major life activities include walking, seeing, hearing,
reading and learning, to name a few. Accommodations (sometimes
called academic adjustments) are adjustments made for students with disabilities
in order to allow them to access the same education experiences as their peers.
The purpose of an accommodation is to "level the playing field".
1. Students with disabilities who request
accommodations need to register with Disability Support Services (DSS). It
is the student's responsibility to initiate the request for services.
Students are encouraged to request accommodations at least four weeks before the beginning of classes. Students can make an
appointment for an intake with the DSS Director on the East Campus (406-657-2283
tty/vp) or the DSS Coordinator at the COT (406-247-3029 tty/vp).
2. Disability
Support Services will verify a student's disability
prior to recommending reasonable accommodations.
a. Policies for required
documentation vary according to the disability. The documentation must
clearly identify the disability and provide sufficient information
regarding the limitations of the disability in order to permit Montana
State University Billings to make a determination as to whether the
requested adjustments are appropriate. While MSU Billings must consider
the documentation provided by the student, it is not required to adopt
the recommendations of the evaluator regarding the appropriate academic
adjustments. It is MSU Billings' right to determine, based upon the
evaluative data, what those adjustments should be (Disability
Accommodation Digest, Volume 1, No. 3). Please ask what the
documentation requirements are for your disability.
b. Releases of information to obtain
documentation are available from Disability Support Services. It is usually in the students' best interest
to keep their own file of documentation and allow service providers
(such as DSS) to make copies. Students are responsible for
any charges incurred obtaining documentation.
3. Accommodations will be
determined based upon the documentation of the disability and the student's
self-report during an intake interview with the Director or the Coordinator.
4. After accommodations have been established,
students with disabilities will be issued an identification card verifying that they are registered with Disability Support Services and listing
the accommodations for which they qualify.
5. It is in the best interest of
students requiring classroom accommodations to notify the instructors before the
semester begins so that if there are any problems there is time to negotiate a
resolution. Students may request help from DSS to facilitate this process.
6. Students who are experiencing
unresolved problems receiving appropriate accommodations should contact the
Director of Disability Support Services.
Return to Table of Contents
To provide equal access and
nondiscrimination according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title
II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Montana State University Billings
requires documentation of Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (AD/HD).
To be eligible for services, documentation must validate that the disability
substantially limits a major life activity and demonstrate that there is a need
for accommodation. Students with AD/HD who require accommodations must
register with Disability Support Services (DSS). It is the student's
responsibility to initiate the request for services.
AD/HD is considered a medical or
clinical diagnosis. Individuals qualified to render a diagnosis for this
disorder are practitioners who have been trained in the assessment of AD/HD and
are experienced in assessing the needs of adult learners. Recommended
practitioners may include: developmental pediatricians, neurologists,
psychiatrists, licensed clinical or education psychologists, family physicians
or a combination of such professionals. The diagnostician should be impartial
and not a family member.
The following guidelines are
provided to assist the service provider in collaborating with each student to
determine appropriate accommodations. Documentation serves as a foundation that
legitimizes students' requests for appropriate accommodations. Recommended
documentation includes:
-
A clear statement of AD/HD
with the DSM IV diagnosis and a description of supporting past and present
symptoms;
-
Current documentation,
preferably within the last three years; the age of acceptable documentation
is dependent upon the disabling condition, the current status of the student
and the student's specific request for accommodations;
-
A summary of assessment
procedures and evaluation instruments used to make the diagnosis;
-
A narrative summary,
including all scores, which supports the diagnosis;
-
Medical information
relating to the student's needs, including the impact of medication on the
student's ability to meet the demands of the postsecondary environment;
-
Suggestions supported by
the diagnosis of reasonable accommodations which might be appropriate
at the postsecondary level
Further assessment by an
appropriate professional may be required if co-existing learning disabilities or
other disabling conditions are indicated. Appropriate accommodations are
collaboratively determined by the student and the Director or Coordinator of Disability Support
Services.
Special thanks to R.J. Fink,
Ph.D., former Director of Disability Services at the University of Colorado at
Boulder, for sharing information included in this document.
Return to Table of Contents
Disability Support Services (DSS) provides
academic and physical accessibility to students who have documented disabilities
in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
Students who receive
alternative testing accommodations as determined by the
DSS Director or Coordinator should do the following:
Inform
the instructor that
you are registered with DSS and receive alternative
alternative testing as an accommodation.
Schedule exams at least one week in advance and note on the test request form any special
accommodations needed. This ensures that DSS has time
to get the test from the Instructor and that a testing
room and special accommodations are available. (Quiet
room, scribe, proctor, etc.) Test request forms are now
online. Go to www.msubillings.edu/dss and click on Forms, then on Testing Accommodation
Requests for tests in DSS office.
Arrive
at the scheduled time. Tests are often scheduled
back-to-back in the testing rooms, and you may not get
your full time if another test is scheduled immediately
following yours.
Students should notify
instructors and DSS if they are not able to test at their scheduled time. The consent of the instructor and the
availability of space will determine whether or not an
exam can be rescheduled.
The
rules of the classroom apply in the testing rooms.
Smoking breaks aren’t appropriate. Use the restroom
before testing. (Some physical conditions are
accommodated by restroom availability.)
All
possessions must be left outside the testing area. This
includes backpacks, coats, hats, cell phones, etc. There
are hooks in the hallway outside the testing rooms. Students may request secured areas for valuables.
If
supplemental materials are permitted for tests
(calculator, open book, open notes, etc.), ask the
instructor to include that information in writing with
the test. Students found with unauthorized instructional materials
will be referred to the instructor.
DSS staff is not authorized
to modify instructions given by the instructor.
To request extra time
for tests in online classes go to the DSS website at www.msubillings.edu/dss and click on Policies and Procedures. Then click
on Online Class Information. Download a
copy of the request form. The form needs to be
completed for each class and copies need to be sent to
the Online Coordinator, the instructor, and the Director
of DSS. This must be done at the beginning of the
semester.
I read
and understand the rules for alternative testing.
Name
_______________________________________________________
Date ______________
Disability Support Services
invites instructors to share any concerns regarding the alternative testing
procedures or concerns regarding students with the Director of Disability
Support Services [Academic Support Center, 657-2283(V/TTY)].
Students can schedule a test in the DSS office or email the information to
DSS.
GET THE FORM: alternative testing request form
(NOTE: This is a Microsoft Word document. Right-click on the form hyperlink, choose
"Save Target As" and save the document to your computer. Then, open the
document, complete the form, save, and close it. Finally, send an e-mail
with the completed form attachment to both of the e-mail addresses below.
Return to Table of Contents
Students who are
eligible for alternative text, as determined by the
Director or Coordinator, should follow these procedures:
1. In order to receive your
materials in a timely manner, you should request your
textbooks at least three weeks in advance of when you
will need them. You need a separate request form for
each of your books. You may copy the request form that
is available in the DSS office or request extra copies.
It is also available online on the DSS website under
"Forms."
2. DSS will contact the
publisher to see if the book is available in electronic
format. If it is, we will get the book and convert it
to an MP3 unless you prefer E-text, which works well
with JAWS, Zoomtext, and Kurzweil. In order to comply
with copyright laws, we will need a copy of your sales
slip.
3. If the book is not
available from the publisher, DSS will need your copy of
the book to create the alternative text. The campus
print shop will chop the binding off the book. The
pages are scanned, edited and turned into an MP3 file.
The print shop will rebind the book with plastic coiled
rings, and we can generally get it back to you within 48
hours.
4. If the book is already
available from our library, we will give you a copy of
it as soon as we have made a copy of your receipt.
5. Provide a
copy of the syllabi to DSS so that edited materials can
be provided in the order in which they are needed.
I
understand that I must purchase a copy of the book in
order to comply with copyright laws.
Name_______________________ Date ______________
GET THE FORM: Alternative Text Request Form
(NOTE: This is a Microsoft Word document. Right-click on the form hyperlink, choose
"Save Target As" and save the document to your computer. Then, open the
document, complete the form, save, and close it. Finally, send an e-mail
with the completed form attachment to both of the e-mail addresses below.
Return to Table of Contents
ADA COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCEDURE
(This procedure replaces all previous procedures for investigation of complaints
of discrimination.)
I. Scope
Disability Support
Services reviews complaints by students regarding
discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of
physical or mental disability relating to disability
accommodations in the classroom and physical access to
facilities. This would include:
1. student-to-student complaints (example, a student
complains that another student gets an advantage because
of a disability-based accommodation)
2. student-to-faculty accommodations complaints (example, a
student and a faculty member disagree on an agreed upon
disability-related accommodation)
3. student-to-university accessibility complaints (example,
a student encounters a barrier on the MSUB campus, such
as an inoperative wheelchair lift, icy sidewalks,
blocked access ramp, etc.)
The Human Resources
office investigates student complaints of unlawful
discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual
orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or
veteran status of any faculty, staff or visitor.
Contact the Director, Office of Human Resource/EEO-AA,
1500 University Drive, 310 McMullen, Billings, MT 59101,
(406) 657-2278 for information regarding filing a
complaint.
The Vice Chancellor for
Student Affairs can either review complaints from
students when they relate specifically to the Code of
Student Conduct (student-to-student offenses or acts of
discrimination) or assist the DSS department or Human
resources in the review of student complaints when they
are made toward DSS staff (as outlined in V. Transfer of
Function).
II. Filing Process
Complaints must be filed
with DSS. A complaint should be filed within 180
calendar days of the most recent incident. The
University will consider requests to extend this period
where the complainant can show he or she needed
additional time due to circumstances beyond his or her
control.
The complainant will
meet with a representative from Disability Support
Services to discuss options (informal, formal) for
proceeding. The complainant is not required to follow
the informal procedure before filing a formal complaint.
The respondent (the individual accused of
discrimination) will be notified of the complaint within
10 working days after it is filed.
Options:
Informal.
Discuss allegations and concerns with respondent (the
accused) and attempt to resolve the situation. The
respondent is reminded that Montana State University
Billings expects all to adhere to our equal opportunity
policies. Respondent is put on notice that behavior has
been questioned, and informal resolution sought, if
possible. If attempts to resolve the situation are not
successful, the complainant may pursue a formal
complaint.
Formal. A full written report describing the alleged
discrimination is filed with DSS which is located in the
Academic Support Center on both the main and the COT
campus. Assistance will be arranged if needed. The
report must contain the grievant name, address, the date
and a description of the alleged act. DSS will review
report received from the grievant. After review of the
complaint, DSS will take the necessary steps to resolve
the complaint.
Appeal. A finding may be
appealed in writing to the Director of Disability
Support Services by either party within 10 working days
of receipt of DSS’ determination. A party may appeal a
decision based on discovery of new evidence previously
unavailable or a significant irregularity in the
procedural process which could affect the outcome of
finding. The appellant should be as specific as
possible in setting out basis for appeal; general
dissatisfaction with the decision will not be
sufficient. The determination of Disability Support
Services will be forwarded to the Chancellor for final
approval.
At any time, prior to
filing a charge, or while a complaint proceeding is in
progress, a complainant may file their complaint with
the appropriate external agencies. A list of agencies,
along with contact information, is available on the
Disability Support Services website. (See
Internet Resources).
Time Line for
Investigation Process
Disability Support
Services will complete its investigations as
expeditiously as possible. The investigation shall
normally be completed within 45 working days from the
filing of a formal complaint, including notification of
the parties of the outcome of the investigation. In
extraordinary circumstances, DSS reserves the right to
extend this time to a reasonable period. All parties
will be notified if such an extension is necessary. Many
factors can interfere with an investigative
fact-finder’s commitment to complete a determination
promptly, including unavailability of witnesses or the
complexity of the issues involved or new evidence
resulting in an appeal. DSS will maintain contact with
the Complainant and Respondent throughout the course of
the investigation to keep them up to date on the
process.
IV. Confidentiality
DSS takes any allegation
of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation
seriously and is committed to protecting the integrity
of the investigation process including confidentiality
and the due process rights of all individuals. Note that
all those involved (the respondent, the complainant, and
the witnesses) have privacy interests. Therefore,
outside the scope of the investigation, all parties are
requested not to publicize or divulge the nature of the
proceedings, or the identity of those involved.
V. Right to Advisor
The complainant and the
respondent each have the right to bring an advisor to
the investigative meeting. If either party chooses to
exercise this option, please give DSS prior notice that
an advocate will attend. If either the complainant or
the respondent's advisor is a person degreed or
qualified in law, DSS must be notified within two
business days of the hearing.
Transfer of Function
If a complaint, whether
informal or formal, is directed against Disability
Support Services, the functions assigned to DSS by these
procedures will transfer to the Office of the Vice
Chancellor of Student Affairs or to the Human Resources
Department.
The Office for Civil
Rights serves student populations, promotes equal
educational opportunities, and resolves complains of
discrimination under federal civil rights laws.
Information about OCR is located at http://www.edu.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html.
They can be contacted at:
Office for Civil Rights,
Seattle Office
U. S. Department of Education
915 Second Avenue, Room 3310
Seattle, WA 98174-7900
FAX: (206) 220-7887 Telephone (206) 220-7900 TDD
(206) 220-2907
E-mail: OCR.Seattle@ed.gov
Return to Table of Contents
In an on campus emergency, notify authorities immediately using the following numbers:
| Campus police: |
#2147 |
| Campus Operator: |
#0 |
| City services: |
#9-911 |
Be aware of the location of pull
alarms in each building.
In emergency situations, persons
unable to use the stairways to exit a building will wait at the nearest
designated rescue assistance locations*, if safe to do so, until someone comes
to help them evacuate the building. Designated rescue assistance locations are
indicated by signs in buildings with stairwells. Montana State University
Billings Campus Police or the Billings Fire Department will check all designated
rescue assistance locations* for people who need assistance in the building when
an evacuation is in progress. In cases of fire drills, persons needing
assistance will be advised by those conducting the drill that if there had been
a fire or other emergency, they would have received the help necessary to leave
the building. Under no circumstances should anyone use the elevators, nor should
any person who is disabled be carried down the stairways unless by trained
personnel during an actual emergency evacuation.
Be aware of RESCUE ASSISTANCE
AREAS* in each multistory building.
If you know that someone needs
evacuation assistance, notify rescue personnel immediately.
KEEP DOORS TO STAIRWELLS CLOSED.
Some MSU Billings' fire alarms are also
equipped with flashing lights since hard-of-hearing students may not hear
the audio emergency alarms. It may be necessary to communicate with the
hard-of-hearing student by writing a note to explain the emergency.
Students who are visually impaired may need to
take someone's elbow and be escorted to the nearest emergency exit.
WHEEL CHAIR EVACUATION AREAS: It is the responsibility of people in wheelchairs to check out the locations
of exits and rescue assistance areas*. Please contact Security, (406)
657-2147 or Disability Support Services, (406) 657-2283 voice/TTY if you
have any questions.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER
APSARUKE WEST
- Ground level exit, 1st
floor west entrance
- Rescue assistance area, 1st
floor north entrance area
- Rescue assistance area, 2nd
and 3rd floors east and west corridor ends
ART ANNEX
CISEL
- Basement ramp up to south
auditorium exit
- Ground level exit, north
side of 1st floor
- Rescue assistance area, 2nd
floor north exit
- Rescue assistance area, 3rd
floor north exit
McDONALD HALL (COB)
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN
SERVICES
- East and west entrances on
first floor
- Rescue assistance area,
2nd-4th floors center stairwells
COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Main Building
- Rescue assistance area, 2nd floor stairwell between elevator and room B012
Health Sciences
Building
- Rescue Assistance areas, North and South side stairwells
LIBERAL ARTS
- 1st floor, ground level
exit out of south library doors
- Rescue Assistance areas,
2nd-8th floors south stairwell
LIBRARY
- Basement level, ground
level exit south library doors
- Rescue assistance area, 1st
floor east stairwell landing
- Rescue assistance area, 2nd
floor east stairwell
MCMULLEN
-
Rescue assistance area in
center stairwell for basement and 2nd and 3rd floors
-
First floor, exit north
doors to ramp
PETRO HALL
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
- 1st floor ground level exit
- Basement tunnel exit
RIMROCK HALL
SCIENCE
- 1st floor north and west
exits
- 2nd floor west stairwell
landing
Q. Does MSU Billings have specific emergency procedures for students with disabilities?
A. Students with disabilities need to become familiar with evacuation
procedures and rescue assistance areas in each building. Students
should be aware of at least two exits from each floor where they have a
class (the elevator cannot be one of them).
LOCATION OF RESCUE ASSISTANCE AREAS: Students
have the responsibility to verify the location of rescue assistance areas
upon arrival at MSU Billings. (See chart above.)
Students needing evacuation assistance should:
Be familiar with exits and rescue assistance
areas on every floor.
Notify your instructors and classmates if
you know that you will need assistance during an emergency evacuation.
Ask someone
to notify rescue personnel of your location if you are in a rescue
assistance area.
In emergency situations, persons unable to use
the stairways to exit a building will wait at the nearest designated rescue
assistance locations, if safe to do so, until someone comes to help them
evacuate the building. Signs in buildings with stairwells indicate
designated rescue assistance locations*. MSU Billings Campus Police or the
Billings Fire Department will check designated rescue assistance areas for
people who need assistance in the building where an evacuation is in
progress. In cases of fire drills, the persons needing assistance will be
advised by those conducting the drill that if there had been a fire or other
emergency, they would have received the necessary help to leave the
building. Under no circumstances should anyone use the elevators, nor should
any person who is disabled be carried down the stairways unless by trained
personnel during an actual emergency evacuation.
In an emergency, students should ask to have
emergency personnel notified immediately of their location. KEEP DOORS TO
STAIRWELLS CLOSED.
Emergency Numbers
Campus police ----- 2147
City services including police, fire, and ambulance ----
9-911
Health Center ----- 2153
MSU Billings Operator
From off campus - (406) 657-2011 (Voice/TTY)
From on campus - 2011 or 0 (Voice/TTY)
Hospital Emergency Health Care (from on campus)
Deaconess ------- 9-657-4150
Saint Vincent ----- 9-237-4100
*Rescue assistance
areas refers to a designated location where a person may wait for
rescue personnel. The wording is not meant to imply compliance with ADAAG
requirements required for new multi-story buildings.
Return to Table of Contents
To provide equal access and
nondiscrimination according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title
II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Montana State University Billings
requires documentation of a Specific Learning Disability.
To be eligible for services, documentation must validate that the disability
substantially limits a major life activity and demonstrate that there is a need
for accommodation. Students with a Specific Learning Disability who
request accommodations must
register with Disability Support Services (DSS). It is the student's
responsibility to initiate the request for services.
LEARNING DISABILITIES
DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES
Documentation for a learning disability
should include:
-
A clear statement of a learning disability diagnosed by a
qualified professional such as
certified and/or licensed psychologists, learning disabilities
specialists, educational therapists, diagnosticians in public schools or
colleges and rehabilitation services and private practitioners who is
not a family member
-
The names,
titles, and professional credentials (e.g., licensed psychologist) of the
evaluators as well as the date(s) of testing. All reports must be
typed. Handwritten scores or summary sheets are not acceptable.
-
A summary of academic
strengths and substantial functional limitations
-
A recommendation of
accommodations (academic adjustments) for the substantial functional
limitations
-
A written summary of or background information about the
student's relevant educational, medical, and family histories that relate to
the learning disability
-
A description of the
comprehensive testing and techniques used to arrive at the diagnosis
including evaluation dates and testing results with subtest scores
Acceptable Data
Testing should be
comprehensive. It is not acceptable to administer only
one test for the purpose of diagnosis or establishing
that substantial limitation in a major life activity
currently exists in individuals with a previous
diagnosis of LD. Testing should include the following:
Aptitude. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - III (WAIS-III)
with subtest scores is the preferred instrument. The
Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery - III: Tests
of Cognitive Ability or the Stanford-Binet Intelligence
Scale: Fourth Edition are acceptable. The Kaufman Brief
Intelligence Test (KBIT) is not a comprehensive
measure and therefore is not suitable.
Achievement. Current levels of functioning in reading, mathematics
and written language are required. Acceptable
instruments include the Woodcock-Johnson
Psychoeducational Battery - III: Tests of Achievement;
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - II (WIAT-II);
Stanford Test of Academic Skills (TASK); Scholastic
Abilities Test for Adults (SATA); or specific
achievement tests such as the Test of Written Language -
3 (TOWL-3), Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests - Revised,
and the Stanford Diagnostic Mathematics Test. The Wide
Range Achievement Test - 3 (WRAT-3) and the Mini-Battery
of Achievement (MBA) are NOT comprehensive
measures of achievement and therefore are not suitable.
Information
Processing. Specific areas of information processing
(e.g., short- and long-term memory; sequential memory;
auditory and visual perception/processing; processing
speed) must be assessed. Information from subtests on
the WAIS-III, the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive
Ability, or the Detroit Tests of Learning
Aptitude- Adult (DTLA-A), as well as other
instruments relevant to the presenting learning
problem(s) may be used.
Documentation such as
an IEP or Section 504 Plan is an educational record that
may supplement clinical information, but it rarely
stands on its own as documentation of adult disability.
Accommodations are arranged based upon the current
impact of a disability, so it is in a student's best
interest to provide recent and appropriate
documentation.
Appropriate accommodations are collaboratively
determined by the student and the Director or
Coordinator of Disability Support
Services.
Return to
Table of Contents
a. Disability Support Services (DSS) encourages you to arrange
for your own notetakers. When you do, bring us a schedule highlighting the
classes for which you receive notes and give us the names of the notetakers in
those classes.
b. A folder for each class labeled with the subject and course
number (i.e. HIST 205) will be available to store your notes. Your
notetaker may bring the notes to DSS to be duplicated and put in your folder.
Check your folder at least twice a week to pick up notes.
c. Discuss with your notetaker how you would like to receive a
copy of the notes. Both NCR (no carbon required) paper and a copy machine are
available for you to use free of charge for class notes.
d. Copies of notes and NCR paper are only available for
students with a documented disability who qualify for notetaking services by the
director of DSS.
e. If you want DSS to help you with the notetaking process,
you need to bring a class schedule with the classes highlighted for which you
would like a notetaker. The request needs to be made at least two weeks before
the beginning of the semester. A notetaker request letter will be printed
for each class that you highlighted, and it will be put in your notetaker
folder(s). You need to pick up the letter(s) before the first day of class
and ask the professor(s) to read the letter during class. (The letter is
designed to be confidential.)
f. Because communication between the notetaker and the person
receiving notes facilitates better notetaking, your name and the notetaker’s
will be exchanged. Please notify DSS immediately if this is not acceptable to
you.
g. You must attend class to receive notes. Notify DSS
immediately if you have an emergency or if you withdraw from class.
h. If you have any problems with the notetaking process,
please notify DSS as soon as possible. If you are not receiving notes, let us
know so we can work with you to find a solution.
i. The notetakers are volunteers. They don't receive any
compensation for taking notes, and they should be treated with courtesy and
respect. Cultivate a good relationship by telling your notetaker thank you!
j. If you would like to know how to take better notes, please
ask. There are proven strategies available to help with the notetaking process.
Return
to Table of Contents
Notetaker Agreement
NAME
SEMESTER /YEAR
I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE
FOLLOWING TERMS:
1. Disability-related information
is considered confidential. At no time will I discuss disability-related
information about students who have qualified for services from Disability
Support Services (DSS) with anyone except DSS staff, unless the student has
given me permission.
2. If I am going to be absent
from class, I will notify the qualified student ahead of time. If there is an
emergency, I will call DSS at 657-2283 (V/TTY) or 247-3209 (COT).
Signed
Date
Return
to Table of Contents
To request accommodations for online classes,
please contact the DSS office before the class begins. Intake interviews
can be conducted by telephone. Appropriate documentation of disability
will be reviewed by the Director or Coordinator. Accommodations will be
determined based upon the interview and the documentation.
Requesting
accommodations
Alternative textbooks:
The following
directions for requesting alternative text apply to the
online student; however, if the textbooks needs to be
returned to the student by mail, it may take longer than
48 hours. Therefore, it is critical for students
to communicate with the DSS office well ahead of the
beginning of the semester in order to ensure timely
delivery of textbooks.
Students who are
eligible for alternative text, as determined by the
Director or Coordinator, should follow these procedures:
1. In order to receive your
materials in a timely manner, you should request your
textbooks at least three weeks in advance of when you
will need them. You need a separate request form for
each of your books. You may copy the request form that
is available in the DSS office or request extra copies.
It is also available online on the DSS website under
"Forms."
2. DSS will contact the
publisher to see if the book is available in electronic
format. If it is, we will get the book and convert it
to an MP3 unless you prefer E-text, which works well
with JAWS, Zoomtext, and Kurzweil. In order to comply
with copyright laws, we will need a copy of your sales
slip.
3. If the book is not
available from the publisher, DSS will need your copy of
the book to create the alternative text. The campus
print shop will chop the binding off the book. The
pages are scanned, edited and turned into an MP3 file.
The print shop will rebind the book with plastic coiled
rings, and we can generally get it back to you within 48
hours.
4. If the book is already
available from our library, we will give you a copy of
it as soon as we have made a copy of your receipt.
5. Provide a
copy of the syllabi to DSS so that edited materials can
be provided in the order in which they are needed.
I
understand that I must purchase a copy of the book in
order to comply with copyright laws.
Name_______________________ Date ______________
Alternative testing:
In order to allow
additional time for testing the Online Testing Request
Form must be completed by the student and emailed to the
instructor, the online coordinator and the DSS director
prior to the beginning of the semester. After
receiving the request, the DSS director will contact the
instructor to verify that the student does receive the
accommodation.
GET THE FORM: Online Testing Request
Form (NOTE: This is a Microsoft Word document. Right-click on the form hyperlink, choose
"Save Target As" and save the document to your computer. Then, open the
document, complete the form, save, and close it. Finally, send an e-mail with
the completed form attachment to the two e-mail addresses below AND to your
online course instructor.
* It is the student’s responsibility to
contact the instructor and the online coordinator at the beginning of the
semester in order to ensure that these accommodation arrangements are made in
well in advance of the first test.
Return to Table of Contents
To provide equal access and
nondiscrimination according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title
II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, MSU Billings requires documentation
of psychological disabilities. To be eligible for services, documentation
must validate that the disability substantially limits a major life activity and
demonstrate that there is a need for accommodation. Documentation needs to
be completed and signed by the appropriate medical, psychological, educational
or rehabilitation personnel. The documentation must include a statement
describing the disability and how the disability limits the student physically
and/or academically. Students with a psychological disability who require
accommodations must register with Disability Support Services (DSS). It is
the student's responsibility to initiate the request for services.
Definition:
A psychological disability is
defined as any persistent psychological, psychiatric, or mental disability
resulting in impairment of educational, social, or vocational functioning per
the following criteria:
1. Excluded Conditions
The following conditions excluded
in the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act are not defined as psychological
disabilities: 1) transvestitism, transsexualism, pedophilia, exhibitionism,
voyeurism, gender identity disorders not resulting from physical impairments, or
other sexual behavior disorders; 2) compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or
pyromania; and 3) psychoactive substance use disorders resulting from current
illegal use of drugs.
2. DSM-IV Classifications
Implementing Guidelines: Students
must have a classification from the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV that is coded on Axis I or II, that was
based on a score from Axis V of 60 or below on the Global Assessment of
Functioning Scale or Social and Occupational Functioning and Assessment Scale
(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Edition 4, p. 758-9,
761). The classification must reflect a condition that interferes with a major
life activity.
3. Excluded Classifications
The following do not qualify as
acceptable DSM-IV classifications: V code conditions not attributable to a
Mental Disorder that are a focus of attention or treatment, or all other
conditions that are not predictive of resulting functional limitations.
4. Diagnosis
A licensed psychiatrist or
licensed psychologist (Ph.D.) must make the appropriate diagnosis according to
DSM-IV criteria. The documentation must include the professional's license
number.
6. Other Requirements
Students who have a verifiable
disability also must meet the admission requirements and adhere to the campus
student code of conduct currently in effect at Montana State University
Billings.
Return to Table of Contents
1. Students requesting special
equipment are encouraged to bring written documentation which specifically
supports the request to Disability Support Services at least four weeks before
the equipment is needed.
2. Documentation must be from a
medical professional qualified to give appropriate recommendations for the
disability in question.
3. The Director of Disability
Support Services reserves the right to contact the medical professional who
makes the recommendation to discuss alternatives.
4. The request will be evaluated
by the Director of Disability Support Services to determine whether the request
is a personal or institutional responsibility.
5. Disability Support Services
reserves the right to label equipment if it is supplied by Montana State
University Billings.
6. Students who quality for
equipment which is not personal must sign an equipment use agreement.
Return to Table of Contents
- Interpreters/captioners are
an accommodation provided to a student to access the spoken word.
Interpreter/captioners act as a conduit for the student and the
professor/lecturer. Professional/ethical standards require that interpreter/captioners
not actively participate or monitor students.
- Sign language interpreters/captioners
provide communication access for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing students and hearing
people who do not sign.
- Interpreting/Captioning is
not verbatim.
- Lag time is inherent when
interpreting/captioning. The interpreter/captioner will be a few words
behind the speaker. Therefore, when posing questions extra time is required
to give full access to Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing students.
- Team
interpreting/captioning, (i.e. providing two interpreters/captioners for a
course/lecture) is appropriate when lectures exceed one hour in length, are
complex in nature or when there are several presenters.
- Captioning is not a
substitute for class attendance.
- Interpreters/captioners do
not function as aids, tutors or participants in classes.
- Transcripts are not shared
with other students; they are an accommodation and not for general usage.
This is a critical issue as it relates to academic ownership. DSS reserves
the right to terminate provision of course transcripts in the event they are
shared with other students
- As with all technology,
malfunctions may occur with the computers used for captioning.
Rights and Responsibilities
Disability Support Services Responsibilities
- Determine if speech-to-text captioning
is an appropriate accommodation for an individual student
- Educate and consult with faculty about
speech-to-text captioning
- Hire, train and evaluate the
captionists
Captionist
Responsibilities
Faculty Responsibilities
- Provide the captionist with a list of
vocabulary and technical terms specific to the course.
- Be sure videos are captioned, and films
are scripted.
- Maintain a classroom environment in
which the captionist can hear what is spoken.
Student
Responsibilities
- Discuss the use of speech-to-text
captioning with the DSS Director and Lead Interpreter
- Notify DSS of any schedule changes.
- Follow the speech-to-text captioning
policy and procedures as outlined in this document.
- Report any problems to DSS immediately,
so appropriate steps can be taken to correct the situation.
Return to Table of
Contents
Montana State University Billings enforces a no-pets policy in its
residence halls and University-owned housing. In accordance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act, service animals are permitted in University facilities
for persons with documented disabilities. A service animal is any guide dog,
signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for
the benefit of an individual with a disability, including but not limited to
guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired
hearing, providing minimal rescue or protection work, pulling a wheelchair or
fetching dropped items.”
Service animals/service dogs are not considered "pets" and are explicitly
covered under state and federal civil rights laws. See Montana Code Annotated,
Title 49 Human Rights: MCA
49-4-214. Right to be accompanied by service animal -- identification for
service animals in training Billings
City Code Sec. 4-431 Required states “the owner of every dog/cat kept, harbored
or maintained within the city shall register the dog/cat within thirty (30) days
after the dog/cat becomes three (3) months old, or within thirty (30) days in
the case of a dog/cat three (3) months or older newly brought into the city or
acquired by new owner.” Sec. 4-433. Proof of vaccination prerequisite states
that “no dog/cat registration shall be issued unless the applicant therefore
produces satisfactory proof that the dog/cat has been vaccinated with a rabies
vaccine currently effective.” To read Article 4-400 of the city code in its
entirety see CODE, City of Billings, Article 4-400, Divisions
1-3.
Therapy or companion animals are not service animals and are not covered
under the ADA and requests will be looked at on an individual basis with
clinical documentation.
REQUIREMENTS
OF SERVICE ANIMALS AND THEIR PARTNERS/HANDLERS
A) Identification and Other Tags: The animal must have tags or some other
method indicating ownership and rabies clearances. It is suggested that service
animals be fitted with appropriate identifying equipment, such as a harness,
cape or backpack. Minimal equipment is a leash by which the animal is kept
under control.
B) Health and Vaccinations: All animals must comply with local, county,
and/or state vaccination and health requirements. Animals to be housed in
campus housing must have an annual “clean bill of health” from a licensed
veterinarian including current vaccinations and immunizations.
C) Leash: The animal must be on a leash at all times. Exceptions will be
made for service animals where a leash is not feasible.
D) Under Control of Partner/Handler: The partner/handler must be in full
control of the animal at all times. The care and supervision of a service animal
is the sole responsibility of its partner/handler. The animal must be
maintained and used at all times in ways that do not create safety hazards for
other people.
E) Cleanup Rules: The partner/handler must (a) always carry equipment
sufficient to clean up the animal’s feces whenever the animal and
partner/handler are off the partner’s property; (b) never allow the animal to
defecate on any property, public or private except the partner’s own property),
unless the partner/handler immediately removes the waste; (c) be responsible for
the proper disposal of the animal’s feces and for any damage caused by the waste
or its removal. If the partner/handler is physically unable to perform these
tasks, the partner/handler must contact the DSS office.
F) Training certification: If an animal is certified by a training
program stating that the animal has successfully completed training, a copy of
the certificate must be filed with Disability Support Services.
G) Disruption: The partner/handler of a service animal that is unruly or
disruptive to the extent that the animal poses a direct threat to the health or
safety of other students, or the animal’s presence fundamentally alters the
program, may be asked to remove the animal from the university facilities.
Concerns about a service animal’s behavior will be handled on a case-by-case
basis, and if the improper behavior happens repeatedly, the partner/handler may
be required to take steps to mitigate the behavior before bringing the animal
back into any university facility. Mitigation may include muzzling an animal,
obtaining refresher training for both the animal and the partner, or other
appropriate measures.
H) Residence Hall Arrangements: The partner/handler is responsible for
maintaining his/her residence hall room in a clean and orderly fashion so as to
minimize the presence of pet hair and animal dander. Any damage caused by the
service animal will be the responsibility of the partner/handler. Food dishes
are to be cleaned and empty when not in use by the service animal.
Registering
with Disability Support Services
Students with documented
disabilities whose disability functionally limits them in an academic
environment may request services. Students with a disability have the
responsibility to identify themselves and request reasonable and appropriate
accommodations and/or modifications.
If you would like to request
services:
- Contact Disability
Support Services as soon as you are admitted to Montana State University
Billings
- Make an appointment for
an intake interview
- Bring documentation of
your disability
- Documentation must
include:
- A statement of
disability on the letterhead of a qualified professional
- A statement of how
the disability limits you in an academic environment
- A statement
recommending accommodations based upon the functional limitations
All students are encouraged
to contact Disability Support Services in the early stages of their academic
planning. Please call (406) 657-2283 (Voice/TTY) for more information.
Back to Top
Documentation such as
an IEP or Section 504 Plan is an educational record that
may supplement clinical information, but it rarely
stands on its own as documentation of adult disability.
Accommodations are arranged based upon the current
impact of a disability, so it is in a student's best
interest to provide recent and appropriate
documentation.
Appropriate accommodations are collaboratively
determined by the student and the Director or
Coordinator of Disability Support
Services.
Return to
Table of Contents
a. Disability Support Services (DSS) encourages you to arrange
for your own notetakers. When you do, bring us a schedule highlighting the
classes for which you receive notes and give us the names of the notetakers in
those classes.
b. A folder for each class labeled with the subject and course
number (i.e. HIST 205) will be available to store your notes. Your
notetaker may bring the notes to DSS to be duplicated and put in your folder.
Check your folder at least twice a week to pick up notes.
c. Discuss with your notetaker how you would like to receive a
copy of the notes. Both NCR (no carbon required) paper and a copy machine are
available for you to use free of charge for class notes.
d. Copies of notes and NCR paper are only available for
students with a documented disability who qualify for notetaking services by the
director of DSS.
e. If you want DSS to help you with the notetaking process,
you need to bring a class schedule with the classes highlighted for which you
would like a notetaker. The request needs to be made at least two weeks before
the beginning of the semester. A notetaker request letter will be printed
for each class that you highlighted, and it will be put in your notetaker
folder(s). You need to pick up the letter(s) before the first day of class
and ask the professor(s) to read the letter during class. (The letter is
designed to be confidential.)
f. Because communication between the notetaker and the person
receiving notes facilitates better notetaking, your name and the notetaker’s
will be exchanged. Please notify DSS immediately if this is not acceptable to
you.
g. You must attend class to receive notes. Notify DSS
immediately if you have an emergency or if you withdraw from class.
h. If you have any problems with the notetaking process,
please notify DSS as soon as possible. If you are not receiving notes, let us
know so we can work with you to find a solution.
i. The notetakers are volunteers. They don't receive any
compensation for taking notes, and they should be treated with courtesy and
respect. Cultivate a good relationship by telling your notetaker thank you!
j. If you would like to know how to take better notes, please
ask. There are proven strategies available to help with the notetaking process.
Return
to Table of Contents
Notetaker Agreement
NAME
SEMESTER /YEAR
I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE
FOLLOWING TERMS:
1. Disability-related information
is considered confidential. At no time will I discuss disability-related
information about students who have qualified for services from Disability
Support Services (DSS) with anyone except DSS staff, unless the student has
given me permission.
2. If I am going to be absent
from class, I will notify the qualified student ahead of time. If there is an
emergency, I will call DSS at 657-2283 (V/TTY) or 247-3209 (COT).
Signed
Date
Return
to Table of Contents
To request accommodations for online classes,
please contact the DSS office before the class begins. Intake interviews
can be conducted by telephone. Appropriate documentation of disability
will be reviewed by the Director or Coordinator. Accommodations will be
determined based upon the interview and the documentation.
Requesting
accommodations
Alternative textbooks:
The following
directions for requesting alternative text apply to the
online student; however, if the textbooks needs to be
returned to the student by mail, it may take longer than
48 hours. Therefore, it is critical for students
to communicate with the DSS office well ahead of the
beginning of the semester in order to ensure timely
delivery of textbooks.
Students who are
eligible for alternative text, as determined by the
Director or Coordinator, should follow these procedures:
1. In order to receive your
materials in a timely manner, you should request your
textbooks at least three weeks in advance of when you
will need them. You need a separate request form for
each of your books. You may copy the request form that
is available in the DSS office or request extra copies.
It is also available online on the DSS website under
"Forms."
2. DSS will contact the
publisher to see if the book is available in electronic
format. If it is, we will get the book and convert it
to an MP3 unless you prefer E-text, which works well
with JAWS, Zoomtext, and Kurzweil. In order to comply
with copyright laws, we will need a copy of your sales
slip.
3. If the book is not
available from the publisher, DSS will need your copy of
the book to create the alternative text. The campus
print shop will chop the binding off the book. The
pages are scanned, edited and turned into an MP3 file.
The print shop will rebind the book with plastic coiled
rings, and we can generally get it back to you within 48
hours.
4. If the book is already
available from our library, we will give you a copy of
it as soon as we have made a copy of your receipt.
5. Provide a
copy of the syllabi to DSS so that edited materials can
be provided in the order in which they are needed.
I
understand that I must purchase a copy of the book in
order to comply with copyright laws.
Name_______________________ Date ______________
Alternative testing:
In order to allow
additional time for testing the Online Testing Request
Form must be completed by the student and emailed to the
instructor, the online coordinator and the DSS director
prior to the beginning of the semester. After
receiving the request, the DSS director will contact the
instructor to verify that the student does receive the
accommodation.
GET THE FORM: Online Testing Request
Form (NOTE: This is a Microsoft Word document. Right-click on the form hyperlink, choose
"Save Target As" and save the document to your computer. Then, open the
document, complete the form, save, and close it. Finally, send an e-mail with
the completed form attachment to the two e-mail addresses below AND to your
online course instructor.
* It is the student’s responsibility to
contact the instructor and the online coordinator at the beginning of the
semester in order to ensure that these accommodation arrangements are made in
well in advance of the first test.
Return to Table of Contents
To provide equal access and
nondiscrimination according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title
II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, MSU Billings requires documentation
of psychological disabilities. To be eligible for services, documentation
must validate that the disability substantially limits a major life activity and
demonstrate that there is a need for accommodation. Documentation needs to
be completed and signed by the appropriate medical, psychological, educational
or rehabilitation personnel. The documentation must include a statement
describing the disability and how the disability limits the student physically
and/or academically. Students with a psychological disability who require
accommodations must register with Disability Support Services (DSS). It is
the student's responsibility to initiate the request for services.
Definition:
A psychological disability is
defined as any persistent psychological, psychiatric, or mental disability
resulting in impairment of educational, social, or vocational functioning per
the following criteria:
1. Excluded Conditions
The following conditions excluded
in the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act are not defined as psychological
disabilities: 1) transvestitism, transsexualism, pedophilia, exhibitionism,
voyeurism, gender identity disorders not resulting from physical impairments, or
other sexual behavior disorders; 2) compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or
pyromania; and 3) psychoactive substance use disorders resulting from current
illegal use of drugs.
2. DSM-IV Classifications
Implementing Guidelines: Students
must have a classification from the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV that is coded on Axis I or II, that was
based on a score from Axis V of 60 or below on the Global Assessment of
Functioning Scale or Social and Occupational Functioning and Assessment Scale
(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Edition 4, p. 758-9,
761). The classification must reflect a condition that interferes with a major
life activity.
3. Excluded Classifications
The following do not qualify as
acceptable DSM-IV classifications: V code conditions not attributable to a
Mental Disorder that are a focus of attention or treatment, or all other
conditions that are not predictive of resulting functional limitations.
4. Diagnosis
A licensed psychiatrist or
licensed psychologist (Ph.D.) must make the appropriate diagnosis according to
DSM-IV criteria. The documentation must include the professional's license
number.
6. Other Requirements
Students who have a verifiable
disability also must meet the admission requirements and adhere to the campus
student code of conduct currently in effect at Montana State University
Billings.
Return to Table of Contents
1. Students requesting special
equipment are encouraged to bring written documentation which specifically
supports the request to Disability Support Services at least four weeks before
the equipment is needed.
2. Documentation must be from a
medical professional qualified to give appropriate recommendations for the
disability in question.
3. The Director of Disability
Support Services reserves the right to contact the medical professional who
makes the recommendation to discuss alternatives.
4. The request will be evaluated
by the Director of Disability Support Services to determine whether the request
is a personal or institutional responsibility.
5. Disability Support Services
reserves the right to label equipment if it is supplied by Montana State
University Billings.
6. Students who quality for
equipment which is not personal must sign an equipment use agreement.
Return to Table of Contents
- Interpreters/captioners are
an accommodation provided to a student to access the spoken word.
Interpreter/captioners act as a conduit for the student and the
professor/lecturer. Professional/ethical standards require that interpreter/captioners
not actively participate or monitor students.
- Sign language interpreters/captioners
provide communication access for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing students and hearing
people who do not sign.
- Interpreting/Captioning is
not verbatim.
- Lag time is inherent when
interpreting/captioning. The interpreter/captioner will be a few words
behind the speaker. Therefore, when posing questions extra time is required
to give full access to Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing students.
- Team
interpreting/captioning, (i.e. providing two interpreters/captioners for a
course/lecture) is appropriate when lectures exceed one hour in length, are
complex in nature or when there are several presenters.
- Captioning is not a
substitute for class attendance.
- Interpreters/captioners do
not function as aids, tutors or participants in classes.
- Transcripts are not shared
with other students; they are an accommodation and not for general usage.
This is a critical issue as it relates to academic ownership. DSS reserves
the right to terminate provision of course transcripts in the event they are
shared with other students
- As with all technology,
malfunctions may occur with the computers used for captioning.
Rights and Responsibilities
Disability Support Services Responsibilities
- Determine if speech-to-text captioning
is an appropriate accommodation for an individual student
- Educate and consult with faculty about
speech-to-text captioning
- Hire, train and evaluate the
captionists
Captionist
Responsibilities
Faculty Responsibilities
- Provide the captionist with a list of
vocabulary and technical terms specific to the course.
- Be sure videos are captioned, and films
are scripted.
- Maintain a classroom environment in
which the captionist can hear what is spoken.
Student
Responsibilities
- Discuss the use of speech-to-text
captioning with the DSS Director and Lead Interpreter
- Notify DSS of any schedule changes.
- Follow the speech-to-text captioning
policy and procedures as outlined in this document.
- Report any problems to DSS immediately,
so appropriate steps can be taken to correct the situation.
Return to Table of
Contents
Montana State University Billings enforces a no-pets policy in its
residence halls and University-owned housing. In accordance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act, service animals are permitted in University facilities
for persons with documented disabilities. A service animal is any guide dog,
signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for
the benefit of an individual with a disability, including but not limited to
guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired
hearing, providing minimal rescue or protection work, pulling a wheelchair or
fetching dropped items.”
Service animals/service dogs are not considered "pets" and are explicitly
covered under state and federal civil rights laws. See Montana Code Annotated,
Title 49 Human Rights: MCA
49-4-214. Right to be accompanied by service animal -- identification for
service animals in training Billings
City Code Sec. 4-431 Required states “the owner of every dog/cat kept, harbored
or maintained within the city shall register the dog/cat within thirty (30) days
after the dog/cat becomes three (3) months old, or within thirty (30) days in
the case of a dog/cat three (3) months or older newly brought into the city or
acquired by new owner.” Sec. 4-433. Proof of vaccination prerequisite states
that “no dog/cat registration shall be issued unless the applicant therefore
produces satisfactory proof that the dog/cat has been vaccinated with a rabies
vaccine currently effective.” To read Article 4-400 of the city code in its
entirety see CODE, City of Billings, Article 4-400, Divisions
1-3.
Therapy or companion animals are not service animals and are not covered
under the ADA and requests will be looked at on an individual basis with
clinical documentation.
REQUIREMENTS
OF SERVICE ANIMALS AND THEIR PARTNERS/HANDLERS
A) Identification and Other Tags: The animal must have tags or some other
method indicating ownership and rabies clearances. It is suggested that service
animals be fitted with appropriate identifying equipment, such as a harness,
cape or backpack. Minimal equipment is a leash by which the animal is kept
under control.
B) Health and Vaccinations: All animals must comply with local, county,
and/or state vaccination and health requirements. Animals to be housed in
campus housing must have an annual “clean bill of health” from a licensed
veterinarian including current vaccinations and immunizations.
C) Leash: The animal must be on a leash at all times. Exceptions will be
made for service animals where a leash is not feasible.
D) Under Control of Partner/Handler: The partner/handler must be in full
control of the animal at all times. The care and supervision of a service animal
is the sole responsibility of its partner/handler. The animal must be
maintained and used at all times in ways that do not create safety hazards for
other people.
E) Cleanup Rules: The partner/handler must (a) always carry equipment
sufficient to clean up the animal’s feces whenever the animal and
partner/handler are off the partner’s property; (b) never allow the animal to
defecate on any property, public or private except the partner’s own property),
unless the partner/handler immediately removes the waste; (c) be responsible for
the proper disposal of the animal’s feces and for any damage caused by the waste
or its removal. If the partner/handler is physically unable to perform these
tasks, the partner/handler must contact the DSS office.
F) Training certification: If an animal is certified by a training
program stating that the animal has successfully completed training, a copy of
the certificate must be filed with Disability Support Services.
G) Disruption: The partner/handler of a service animal that is unruly or
disruptive to the extent that the animal poses a direct threat to the health or
safety of other students, or the animal’s presence fundamentally alters the
program, may be asked to remove the animal from the university facilities.
Concerns about a service animal’s behavior will be handled on a case-by-case
basis, and if the improper behavior happens repeatedly, the partner/handler may
be required to take steps to mitigate the behavior before bringing the animal
back into any university facility. Mitigation may include muzzling an animal,
obtaining refresher training for both the animal and the partner, or other
appropriate measures.
H) Residence Hall Arrangements: The partner/handler is responsible for
maintaining his/her residence hall room in a clean and orderly fashion so as to
minimize the presence of pet hair and animal dander. Any damage caused by the
service animal will be the responsibility of the partner/handler. Food dishes
are to be cleaned and empty when not in use by the service animal.
Registering
with Disability Support Services
Students with documented
disabilities whose disability functionally limits them in an academic
environment may request services. Students with a disability have the
responsibility to identify themselves and request reasonable and appropriate
accommodations and/or modifications.
If you would like to request
services:
- Contact Disability
Support Services as soon as you are admitted to Montana State University
Billings
- Make an appointment for
an intake interview
- Bring documentation of
your disability
- Documentation must
include:
- A statement of
disability on the letterhead of a qualified professional
- A statement of how
the disability limits you in an academic environment
- A statement
recommending accommodations based upon the functional limitations
All students are encouraged
to contact Disability Support Services in the early stages of their academic
planning. Please call (406) 657-2283 (Voice/TTY) for more information.
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