Section 504 Accommodations

 In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Misericordia University strives to ensure that "no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program administered by the university."

Self-Disclosure

All students entering the University receive a Disability Declaration Form which affords them the opportunity to seek academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services under Section 504 free of charge. Students with a documented disability may seek services at any time by contacting Leslie Kelly, 570-674-6323 or lkelly@misericordia.edu.

Alternative Learners Project

Students may also elect to apply to Misericordia University's fee-based Alternative Learner's Project (ALP) for services that extend beyond those accommodations referred to under Section 504.  Detailed information regarding the Alternative Learners Project can be found on the MU website.

Documentation

A qualified professional must provide documentation and interpretation which clearly identifies and explains the applicant's disability.

Applicants with learning disabilities should submit the results of recent (no more than two years old) tests of:

• Aptitude/Cognitive Ability: The preferred instrument is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS III).  The results of Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III), or Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale IV are also acceptable.
• Achievement:  Assessment in the following areas is required
  -Reading (decoding, rate, and comprehension)
  -Mathematics (calculations, reasoning, and algebra)
  -Written Language (spelling and written expression)
• Other: Pertinent diagnoses or recommendations from other evaluations as needed.

Students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder need to provide the following documentation:

• A specific diagnosis that conforms to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - IV (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association for Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity.
• Current functional limitations on major life activities, resulting from the Attention Disorder.
• Evidence to support the functional limitations derived from Aptitude/Cognitive Ability and Achievement testing as described in the previous paragraph related to applicants with learning disabilities.
• Requested accommodations; additional information (optional): Tests of information processing, clinical observations/interview, teacher observations.
• Other pertinent diagnoses or recommendations from other evaluations that may be needed.

Students with a sensory, physical, or psychological disability must meet the following documentation requirements:

• Documentation must be completed by a professional qualified to diagnose the nature and extent of the disability.
• Documentation from a professional must be no more than one year old.
• Documentation must contain a specific diagnosis, state major life activities limited by the disability and resulting functional limitations, and list prescribed medications.
• Documentation must include recommendations regarding accommodations; and
• Other pertinent evaluations as needed.

Accessing Accommodations

At the beginning of each semester, a student who is registered with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) should submit a written request to OSD for an updated Accommodation Plan (AP)Examples of accommodations include: extended time on tests, use of a note sharer, and tape recording of lectures.

Once the AP  is completed and approved by the student and the OSD, faculty can be informed of the accommodations they can expect to be utilized by the students.  Students should provide a copy of the AP to their professors.

By contacting the OSD each semester and informing the professors in a timely manner, students who need accommodations will be supported for academic success.  Any student who has concerns about the provision of reasonable accommodations should first contact the Office for Students with Disabilities.

 Additional Resources

Misericordia's  Student Success Center operates a wide variety of programs to support students.

Program	Population Served	Description
Bridge	Freshmen	Pre-College academic preparation
Freshmen Year Experience	Freshmen	Extension of orientation; academic preparation; engagement in MU
AIM	Freshmen	Academic intervention for freshmen posting two D's or one F at mid-semester
Choice	Freshmen	Advisement of undeclared students
Early Alert Program	All students	Referral system used by facaulty and staff to identify students in academic difficulty
Academic Workshops	All students	Academic assistance workshops offered to all
Tutorial Program	All students	Management of all requests for tutoring (full and part-time students)