Disabled Student Services | Middle Tennessee State University

GENERAL INFORMATION

ADA Compliance
Complaints
Due Process
Customs
Emergency Assistance
Maps
Newsletter

FACILITIES

Adaptive Recreation and Exercise
Counseling & Testing Center
Housing & Residence Life
MTSU Military Center
University Writing Center

SERVICES

Accommodations
Accommodations Instructions Letters
Alternative Media
Interpreter Services
Note Taking Assistance
Priority Registration for Classes
Relocation of Inaccessible Classes
Resources for Students with Disabilities Taking Standardized Exams
Testing Procedures
Tutoring Services

ACCOMMODATIONS
The Disabled Student Services office provides a wide range of accommodations and services to students with disabilities at MTSU that include:

Academic aides including note takers, readers, and scribes
Recreational and social activities
Adaptive technologies including, but not limited to, screen readers, screen magnifiers, text-to-speech applications, speech-to-text services, tactile graphics, enlarged print materials, etc.
Testing accommodations including, but not limited to, extended test time, reduced distraction environment, and adaptive testing technology
Guidance, referral, and advocacy services
Liaison services with rehabilitation agencies

ACCOMMODATIONS INSTRUCTIONS LETTERS
Each semester, it is the student's responsibility to request accommodations for that semester.

It is then the student's responsibility to present the Accommodations Instructions Letters to their professors, meet with them privately, raise their level of understanding of their strengths and disability, and work out the logistics of providing the approved accommodation. Since the primary relationship in the learning process is with the professor, we strongly encourage the student to take the initiative within the first two weeks of the semester, or earlier, as appropriate, to develop that relationship.

If the faculty member is unable to provide the recommended accommodations for testing, DSS can assist in providing an alternative testing environment and then it becomes the student's responsibility to advise faculty of any scheduled testing appointments with DSS.

If difficulties occur in the actual provision of approved accommodations and the student is unsuccessful in resolving those issues, then the student may appeal to DSS and request assistance with securing the appropriate accommodations. Appeals and requests for assistance should be made as soon as any difficulties arise. DSS will work with both the student and the faculty member or department to arrive at an appropriate resolve.

ADA COMPLIANCE
For accommodation requests from individuals outside the institution (including access during events), contact ADA/504 Campus Coordinator at 615-898-5366.

ADAPTIVE RECREATION AND EXERCISE
Campus Recreation's new Adaptive Recreation and Exercise program provides students with disabilities and special needs to participate in both fitness and recreational programs. Being active is easy and fun, and there is almost always something that you can participate in, including adaptive exercise (assisted or independent), outdoor adventures, therapeutic water exercise. A new exercise room with specialized equipment for those with mobility issues is now available for use. Some equipment in the weight and cardiovascular rooms can also be adapted. Students may also participate in a variety of other activities offered or you may also volunteer to help fellow students, or simply share your recreational experiences with others who may not be aware of what is available to them. Get active; and if we do not have an adaptive program for you, we are interested in things we can offer in the future.

ALTERNATIVE MEDIA
For those eligible students, Disabled Student Services (DSS), via the Adaptive Technology Center (ATC), offers a wide variety of alternative media options for required academic materials in the following formats:

Kurzweil Files
MP3 Files
Text Files
Enlarged Print Materials
Braille
Tactile Graphics
Other alternative media options may be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

The student is responsible for working with the DSS office or the ATC in determining which alternative media options best meet their needs. Students should schedule a meeting as early in the semester as possible with the DSS office and/or the ATC to discuss how and when to initiate requests, the student's responsibility in the process, and how to get the most out of your materials. Every attempt will be made to provide materials to you in a timely manner; however, we cannot guarantee that requests will be processed and completed before the onset of the semester.

Student Responsibilities and Procedure for Alternative Media:

Self advocating is encouraged and students should initially approach their instructor(s) and request all class materials in a format that meets their learning needs.
Books in alternative format must be an approved accommodation by DSS.
- Every effort should be made by the student to contact faculty as early in the semester as possible to determine the semester's required reading.
- Students should provide the ATC with a class syllabus which designates all such required reading(s).
- Students must complete and sign an "Alternative Media Request Form" for each required reading. The form can be obtained in the Forms section of the DSS website.
- Students must buy and present a copy of the book to the ATC staff to satisfy copyright law.
- Students must indicate the specific alternative format desired.
- Students must provide title, edition, author, and ISBN for all book requests.
- Students must pick up materials as soon as they are notified of completion. If you have not been notified to pick up your materials within two (2) weeks of submitting, you are encouraged to contact the ATC to see if materials are ready for pickup.
- Materials will not be delivered.

A request for change in format, additional materials, or impromptu materials could cause a delay in getting materials in a timely manner, so please prioritize your alternative media requests accordingly.
Students should meet regularly with DSS and/or the ATC to discuss any concerns/issues that may occur related to needed or received alternative media.

COMPLAINTS
To register discrimination complaints, contact Institutional Equity and Compliance at 615-898-2185.

CUSTOMS
CUSTOMS is the Middle Tennessee State University new student orientation program. CUSTOMS helps new undergraduate students make the transition into the university; prepares new students for MTSU's educational opportunities; and initiates the integration of new students into the intellectual, cultural, and social climate of the institution. For additional, important information regarding your transition to MTSU, please visit http://www.mtsu.edu/customs/index.php .

DUE PROCESS

RECONSIDERATION OF ACCOMMODATIONS
Once students with disabilities have been approved for accommodations, there may be cause for such students to request a change to an accommodation or to request an additional accommodation. Students with disabilities who would like to change or add an accommodation should contact Disabled Student Services to request an appointment with either the Director or Assistant Director of DSS to review the request.

If an accommodation has been denied, and you wish to appeal, you should put your appeal in writing within ten (10) days of the denied accommodation, along with your name, address, and a phone number where you can be reached. Your appeal should be submitted to Dr. K. Watson Harris, University ADA Coordinator, CAB 111, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. The University ADA Coordinator will review and consider your request and issue a written determination within 20 days of receipt.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

If you have a disability, you should notify your instructor in each of your classes that you will require assistance.
In the event of an emergency, instructors should inform emergency response personnel, police, or the fire department of any students with disabilities in their classes or areas of responsibility.
For more information about evacuation policies and assistance, please visit http://frank.mtsu.edu/~pvpaa/ada/evac.htm and www.mtsu.edu/alert4u .

INTERPRETER SERVICES
As a deaf student at MTSU, you have services available to you through the DSS office. With these services you have rights as well as responsibilities.

The DSS office provides many services to allow you access to MTSU classes and programs. However, it is important to remember that instructors will not make exceptions for you in terms of classroom policies and procedures because you are deaf. It is your responsibility to attend class in the manner outlined by your instructor.

Every student receiving services through DSS is required to sign up for services each semester they will be attending MTSU. Signing up for services will allow us to provide interpreters and other accommodations for your classes. Keep in mind the following when requesting interpreters:

Please be sure to make all your requests through the DSS office. You are not allowed to contact the vendor directly.
Remember to take advantage of priority registration each semester as the DSS office will send your course schedule to the vendor several weeks prior to the start of class in order to have interpreters ready for your first day.
If you make changes to your course schedule after priority registration, you must notify the DSS office immediately. Any courses added within the two week period before classes begin may not be eligible for interpreting services.
DSS must have a minimum of 48 hours notice for an unscheduled interpreter (outside of classroom). Weekends, holidays, and days the University is closed do not count in that 48 hour minimum requirement.
For more detailed information regarding our Interpreting Services, please read our Interpreter Use Information.

MAPS

To access a campus map, click here . For driving directions to the MTSU campus and additional maps outlining accessible parking and entries, please click here.

MTSU MILITARY CENTER
The purpose of the MTSU Military Center is to provide a comprehensive support structure to serve veteran/military students attending MTSU. This includes providing services and programs to ensure a positive and successful academic experience. Visit www.mtsu.edu/military for more information.

NEWSLETTER
The DSSNewsletter is now available on line. The newsletters require Adobe Reader. Reader is available at no cost from www.adobe.com .

NOTE TAKING ASSISTANCE
Note taking assistance is provided as an accommodation for students whose documented disability interferes with their ability to take notes as approved by the University's Disabled Student Services office (DSS). Note taker assistance is intended for the student's personal study use and is not to be shared with other individuals. This service is provided as a necessary academic accommodation and is not considered a substitute for a student's full participation in each class. Notes will not be released to the student unless approved by DSS if the student does not attend class two (2) consecutive class sessions or three (3) sessions during the semester.

Obtaining a Note Taker:

Students approved for note taking assistance should obtain a carbonless notebook from DSS.
DSS suggests students approved for note taking assistance recruit students currently enrolled in the class to become their designated note taker.
DSS suggests faculty could assist students with recruiting a note taker.
Within two (2) weeks, designated note takers must complete the necessary paperwork in DSS in order to obtain volunteer hour credit or to be compensated $50.00 per class, per semester.
Please advise DSS of any difficulties encountered if note taking assistance cannot be secured within two (2) weeks of the request.

PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES
If you are a student in good standing, priority registration is made available for students with disabilities. You have the opportunity to view the upcoming semester's schedules from your PipelineMT account before the general population has access. If you need information about your registration status, holds, advisor, or to confirm, log onto your PipelineMT account, choose the RAIDERNET tab, choose the STUDENT tab, then choose one of the four categories to obtain the information you need.

Priority registration is a service at MTSU for students with disabilities. If this service is not utilized by our students with disabilities population, our ability to provide you this service may be prohibited in future semesters.

Remember, any bills or holds appearing on your account will prevent you from selecting your classes, so pay all fees due and eliminate all holds. Also, you must meet with your advisor to ensure you get the appropriate classes required for your degree.

If you are a wheelchair user or have other physical impairments that prevent you from using stairs please do not register for classes in the following locations:

Forest Hall 2nd Floor, Ellington Human Science 2nd Floor, Voorhies Industrial Studies 2nd Floor, KOM 4th Floor, and the Fairview Building 2nd Floor.
Only these rooms are accessible in the Alumni Memorial Gym (AMG): 210, 213, 218, and 219. Classes in these rooms can be accessed via a ramp and automatic door on the North side of the building.
If options are not available and you must register for a class in the above listed locations, please advise the DSS office immediately. If you fail to complete your course selection and notify DSS of conflicts, MTSU may not be able to fully accommodate your request for reassignment of specific sections or courses to accessible locations.
If you fail to confirm on RaiderNet by the posted confirmation deadline for the following semester, MTSU will not be able to accommodate your requests for assignment to specific sections/courses in accessible locations.

TESTING PROCEDURES
To schedule an exam, the student must either phone the DSS office at 615-904-8246 or 615-898-2783 or schedule in person in the KUC,Room 120.

It is recommended the student schedule all exams as far in advance as possible. It is mandatory exams be scheduled a minimum of 48 hours in advance (not including weekends and holidays) to provide DSS the opportunity to reserve a room and obtain a proctor. Failure to do so will result in the student's inability to take the exam on the student's requested appointment.

To ensure equal opportunities, the student must take the exam on the same day and time as the class unless the student obtains pre-approval by instructor.

Because we do not have contact information for the instructors, it is the student responsibility to notify the instructor of the testing appointment and to ensure the instructor delivers the exam prior to the student's scheduled test time.

If the student is sick with anything contagious such as a cold, flu, etc. or has a fever, the student should call the DSS office ASAP and reschedule the testing appointment. The student should not come to the DSS office sick. DSS strongly recommends the student contact the instructor regarding rescheduling the testing appointment.

The student must arrive prepared with all needed testing material such as bubble sheet, calculator, pencil, pen, etc. as DSS does not provide these supplies for the student.

Prohibited items include any of the following: electronic timers of any kind, beeping watches, alarm watches, calculator watches, cellular phones, beepers, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDA's), books, dictionaries, papers of any kind, briefcases, handbags, backpacks, earplugs, headsets, photographic or recording devices, listening devices, electronic devices of any kind, weapons or firearms.

Please read the complete Testing Accommodations Guidelines.

RELOCATION OF INACCESSIBLE CLASSES
If you are a wheelchair user or have other physical impairments that prevent you from using stairs please do not register for classes in the following locations:

Forest Hall 2nd Floor, Ellington Human Science 2nd Floor, Voorhies Industrial Studies 2nd Floor, KOM 4th Floor, and the Fairview Building 2nd Floor.
Only these rooms are accessible in the Alumni Memorial Gym (AMG): 210, 213, 218, and 219. Classes in these rooms can be accessed via a ramp and automatic door on the North side of the building.
If options are not available and you must register for a class in the above listed locations, please advise the DSS office immediately. If you fail to complete your course selection and notify DSS of conflicts, MTSU may not be able to fully accommodate your request for reassignment of specific sections or courses to accessible locations.
If you fail to confirm on RaiderNet by the posted confirmation deadline for the following semester, MTSU will not be able to accommodate your requests for assignment to specific sections/courses in accessible locations.

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TAKING PROFESSIONAL EXAMS
If you are a student with a disability and will be taking a professional exam such as the GRE, MAT, Praxis, TOEFL, LSAT, or the MCAT and would like to receive accommodations for these exams, please read the Resources for Test Takers with Disabilities.

TUTORING SERVICES
For a listing of FREE campus tutoring services for students, please click here . All students are encouraged to take advantage of these resources.

KHAN ACADEMY TUTORING SERVICES
A web site that provides YouTube tutoring videos on subjects like math, science, history, etc.

UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER
The University Writing Center is now located in the James E. Walker Library, Room 362. It is requested you schedule an appointment if you wish to utlize this service. The number to call is 615-904-8437. To view their hours please visit www.mtsu.edu/uwc/ .