Student Accommodations

To receive accommodations you must complete the registration process with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD).

Accommodation Letters should be shared with instructors at the start of each semester through AccessMSU by following the steps below:

Log into your AccessMSU accommodation portal.

Select "Add Request for x Class" under the Accommodation Request box for the current academic term.
On the next page, you can select the classes you'd like to request accommodations for.
If you plan to request all of your accommodations for all of your classes, or if you'd like to bulk request the same accommodations for all of your classes (versus individually choosing each accommodation for each class), select the "Apply the same accommodations to all selected courses" option. We recommend this option so you don’t miss sharing any of your accommodations.
Select "Continue To Next Step" to move onto the accommodation selection page.
On the next page, you'll select all the accommodations you'd like for your classes. Choose the "Select All" option if you want to include all of your approved accommodation eligibility on your accommodation letter.
Note: If you did not select the "Apply all" option on the previous page, you will need to choose accommodations for each class individually.
Before submitting your request, you must agree to the terms of requesting your accommodations by reading the agreement statement and selecting the checkbox next to the statement.
To finally submit your request, select "Submit Request” and your accommodations will automatically be sent to your instructor(s).

For step-by-step instructions with screenshots, please review our AccessMSU resource page.

Providing Your Accommodation Letter

At the beginning of each semester, log into the AccessMSU student portal to select the accommodations you are requesting for each course. The system will send a copy of your Accommodation Letter to each instructor from whom you would like to receive accommodations. Instructions for how to request that through AccessMSU are above.
Plan to meet with instructors 1-on-1 to discuss your Accommodation Letter during office hours or a scheduled appointment time. Go through each accommodation you are requesting and discuss a plan for implementation.
Give your instructors reasonable notice for implementation of accommodations (at least 1 week for most accommodations, 2 weeks for final exams). Share your Accommodation Letter with each course instructor as early in the semester as possible.
You are encouraged to provide an Accommodation Letter to instructors even if you feel you may not need accommodations, to account for unexpected disability impacts.

Meeting with Your Instructors

Meet with instructors 1-on-1 to discuss your Accommodation Letter during office hours or a scheduled appointment time. Go through each accommodation you are requesting and discuss a plan for implementation.

Following Up with Your Instructors

It is strongly encouraged for you to follow up with your professor via email after your meeting to outline and summarize your discussed plan for accommodations, including communication expectations. This is beneficial because…

There is written record of your Accommodation Letter discussion and meeting
There will be a written reminder of accommodation plans for both of you to reference

Continue communication throughout the semester to notify your professor of needed accommodations.

Faculty are responsible for maintaining confidentiality and for facilitating accommodations outlined on the Accommodation Letter. The Accommodation Letter is a confidential document and should only be shared with need-to-know individuals who are part of the accommodations implementation process. If discussing student accommodations with others is necessary, keep students' identities confidential as often as possible. Students' disability statuses must also be kept confidential from other students in the class.

Assist students in finding a time to meet with you 1-on-1, especially if your scheduled office hours conflict with students’ other courses. Be open to meeting with students even if you don’t feel it is necessary. Many students value this time to learn about your course and expectations.
Listen closely to students’ requests and assist students in planning for your course. Carefully review each student’s Accommodation Letter as accommodations are individualized.
Outline your course with each student to ensure mutual understanding of policies, communication expectations, and what is needed to ensure accommodations can be smoothly and effectively implemented.
Contact a student’s RCPD Access Specialist listed on the Accommodation Letter with questions or at the first sign of concern regarding use of accommodations.

An Accommodation Letter Addendum is used for students who need accommodations in clinical rotations, field placements, or other practical settings that don’t fit well on our general Accommodation Letter form.

While RCPD specialists often have enough information about classroom settings to approve accommodations immediately, clinical/field placements typically require your specialist to reach out to the placement site for a thorough investigation.Because each practical setting and experience varies, the specialist must determine what is available in each individual situation. This means the process for determining accommodations for these settings is more in-depth than for academic accommodations.

First, you will share your accommodation requests with your RCPD specialist in writing. They are more than happy to help you brainstorm ideas for accommodations. AskJAN.org is a great resource for ideas for accommodation requests for the workplace.

Second, the RCPD specialist must determine whether an accommodation request is reasonable based on specific information about the requirements of your placement. Your specialist will reach out to your supervisor, course director, or other appropriate contact to learn more.

After they have been able to gather information from both the student and the program, the specialist makes a determination whether the accommodation request is “reasonable” according to the ADA.

Each determination will be determined “granted,” “granted as modified,”, “denied”, or "not applicable." Under each determination, there will be an explanation as to how RCPD reached its determination for the accommodation.

Granted: accommodation approved as written without modification based on location
Granted as Modified: Requested accommodation modified based on factors at the clinical site, approved with the modifications specified.
Denied: Accommodation requested not approved. Alternate accommodations provided and/or student can dispute/appeal determination
Not Applicable (NEW Spring 2026): no access barrier identified due to access already existing through a current program policy

Students and programs are both able to dispute a determination made through the Addendum process.

Your Access Specialist will tell you who to send your Addendum to once completed.

Clinical/medical students can find more details on our website.

Under both the Americans with Disabilities Act, as recently amended, and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, a reasonable accommodation is considered to be a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, or facility, which ensures that a qualified student with a disability is not excluded, segregated, or otherwise treated differently.

Reasonable accommodations are tailored adjustments that level the playing field.
Reasonable accommodations must not compromise essential functions of the course or program.
Reasonable accommodations are individually determined after review of medical documentation and an interactive needs assessment between an RCPD Access Specialist and the student.

An accommodation would not be considered reasonable if it:

Fundamentally alters the essential nature of the course, curriculum or program
Constitutes services of a personal nature (such as private tutoring)
Results in an undue administrative or financial burden for the institution
Results in posing a direct threat to the health or safety of self or others

Temporary Adjustment Letters are created for students with temporary conditions and/or conditions requiring additional documentation. Instructors should treat these the same as permanent Accommodation Letter accommodations during the time the adjustments are valid.

Sometimes, temporary adjustments will later become permanent, and an Accommodation Letter will be created for the student. Other times, when the Temporary Adjustment Letter expires the student no longer needs academic adjustments and services cease. There is an expiration date at the top right corner of the form; if an instructor receives an expired Temporary Adjustment Letter, they should reach out to the student and specialist, who are listed on the form.

Permanently registered RCPD students automatically receive priority in the course enrollment process each semester via a priority enrollment appointment assignment. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which classes to take, then take advantage of the RCPD priority enrollment date which is typically within the first day or two of the enrollment period. Enrollment by appointment dates are listed in the MSU academic calendar and students are notified by the Office of the Registrar. RCPD cannot assist with overrides into full classes.