Services for students with disabilities

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities values diversity in its college and university communities and is committed to ensuring equal access and opportunity to qualified students with physical, learning or psychological disabilities. Buildings are accessible and a wide variety of accommodations are available to help students with disabilities succeed. To request accommodations, contact the disability coordinator at the college or university you wish to attend.

Frequently asked questions
Services and information
Information for parents
Resources and links

For more information about disability services at a specific college or university, please select an institution from the pull-down menu below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about disability services at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

View complete disability services FAQ

Services and Information

Student Responsibilities and Advocacy
Students with disabilities who want services are responsible for contacting the disability services office at the campus to request services. Prior planning is the key to insuring the proper delivery of services. On your visit to the disability services office, a disability office staff member will meet with you to discuss the services you may need and the procedures for setting up those services. Your disability information is maintained separate from your academic record in compliance with federal and state data practices laws. You are responsible for providing the disability office with current documentation as it relates to your disability and the services you are requesting.

Self-advocacy is critical to success in college. Colleges and universities are restricted from seeking out students with disabilities due to privacy laws. You are responsible for requesting the services you believe you need; the college or university generally does not provide accommodations unless or until you ask. The ability to advocate will benefit you in your life and career.

Here are a few suggestions:

Know yourself and your disability. Before you can advocate for yourself, you need to know how to talk about your disability in a way that other people will understand.
Know your rights and responsibilities. Colleges and universities cannot close their doors to you solely because you have a disability. The college or university must provide services that will allow you an equal opportunity to access and participate in school activities. Please refer to disability office services for information about the college's legal responsibilities.
Know where to go for help. A very important part of being successful in college is knowing when you need help and where to find it. Writing down the names and phone numbers of the people on campus who can help you, including staff at the disability services office, is a good idea.
Take action. Develop a plan for communicating your needs. While the disability services office can assist you, developing your own communication skills may be very helpful. Consider practicing before talking with your instructors. You might practice explaining to a counselor or a trusted friend the accommodations you believe you will need.

Transfer students
If you are transferring to another institution, contact the disability services offices at your new institution for advice on how to register for services. You may be able to obtain copies of your documentation from your previous institution to provide to your new institution. Otherwise, you may be asked to sign release forms for transferring this information directly between the institutions. For specific procedures on transferring disability and accommodation information, contact your new institution's disability services office.

Information for parents

College life poses different challenges for students with disabilities. When students enroll in a college or university, they are considered to be responsible adults by faculty and staff. The expectations are that they will assume responsibilities for meeting their class requirements.

This added responsibility is coupled with a change in environment. High school is a teaching environment in which students acquire knowledge and skills. A college or university has a learning environment in which students take responsibility for thinking through and applying what they have learned.

Another student responsibility is that of self-advocacy. Students must become adept at realistically assessing and understanding their strengths, weaknesses, needs and preferences. They must become experts at communicating this information to other adults, including instructors and service providers. Although services will be available to students through an office specializing in services to students with disabilities, students will be responsible for seeking these services and supports. Good communication skills and knowledge about oneself become crucial to success at any college or university.

Parents can help their son or daughter achieve a smooth transition to college life. The following questions and their answers are designed to help you to do that.

Resources & Links

The following is a partial list of agencies that serve people with disabilities. These agencies may provide a variety of services, such as useful information, advocacy, funding, career assistance and academic assistance. For more information on how agencies can assist students with disabilities, contact the Disability Services Office on your campus.

ADA Minnesota
Technical assistance on ADA compliance, training for businesses and individuals

Association on Higher Education and Disability
Organization of professionals committed to full participation in higher education for individuals with disabilities

Careers.Org
Career research and job hunting, includes disability issues

Center for Applied Special Technology
Information on universal design for learning

Job Accommodations Network
Information on job accommodations, ADA, and employability

Minnesota Department of Human Rights
All human rights issues in Minnesota

Minnesota Life College
2-4 year post-secondary life skills training for young adults with learning disabilities

Minnesota State Council on Disability
Information on quality of life and empowerment for individuals with disabilities

Minnesota Workforce Centers/Rehabilitation Services
Information on rehabilitation services for Minnesotans with disabilities

Minnesota Workforce Centers/State Services for the Blind
Services for Minnesotans who are blind or visually impaired

Paratransit Service
Door-through-door public transportation for people with disabilities in Twin Cities area

The Post-secondary Education Programs Network
Regional centers for issues regarding education and individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing

ReadPlease
Free downloadable text-to-speech software

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
Source for taped textbooks

Social Security Online
All social security issues

WorkSupport.Com
Information, resources and research about work and disability