Persons with disabilities
Michigan State University has significant populations of students, faculty and staff with disabilities within its community and is committed to providing programs, services and activities that are equally accessible to all individuals who qualify and wish to participate. The following questions are frequently asked and you may find the information helpful to know about MSU’s population of persons with disabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the campus policy on protections for persons with disabilities?
Michigan State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in its programs, services and activities. Part of the prohibition on discrimination includes the affirmative obligation to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
Who is a person with a disability?
The term “disability” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) means, with respect to an individual:
- a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual;
- a record of such an impairment; or
- being regarded as having such an impairment.
Temporary, non-chronic impairments that have little or no long term impact usually are not disabilities. The determination of whether ran impairment is a disability is made on a case by case basis by the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities.
What is a major life activity?
To be considered a person with a disability under the ADA, the impairment must substantially limit one or more major life activities. Examples of major life activities include: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
What does “qualified” mean?
To be protected by the ADA, a person must not only be an individual with a disability, but must be qualified. For University employees, a qualified individual with a disability is a person who satisfies the requisite skill, experience, education and other job-related requirements of the employment position and who, with or without a reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of a position. For students, a qualified individual with a disability is a person who, with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies or practices, the removal of architectural, communication or transportation barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids or services, meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of services or the participation in programs or activities provided by the University.
What is a reasonable accommodation?
A reasonable accommodation is a modification made to the academic or work environment that helps assure equal employment or educational opportunity, and may include making existing facilities used by employees and students readily accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities; and acquisition or modifications of equipment or devices, appropriate adjustments or modifications of examinations, training materials, or policies, the provision of qualified readers or interpreters, and other similar accommodations for persons with disabilities.
Who is the ADA and Section 504 Coordinator for MSU?
The ADA and Section 504 Coordinator for MSU is:
Paulette Granberry Russell
444 Administration Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517)353-3924
What if I have a Complaint?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the ADA requires MSU to appoint an individual responsible for the campus coordination of the administrative requirements of ADA compliance and to respond to complaints filed by the public. If you are a member of the public and believe you were denied access to a service or activity based on your disability, please complete the ADA grievance form and send it to: Paulette Granberry Russell, ADA Coordinator, 444 Administration Building, Michigan State University, 48824.
If you are a member of the MSU community, please contact the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives at 517-353-3922, to speak with a specialist regarding your complaint. Please note that a decision by the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities may be appealed to this office.
Check here for a list of disability resources, or contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, (517) 884-7273; TTY: (517) 355-1293.