FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. When should I notify Muhlenberg about my disability?

Although you need not disclose a disability during the admission process, it is advisable to disclose as soon as possible after being accepted. This will permit the appropriate offices (Disability Services, Academic Resources, Counseling, and Health) to contact you and assist in many areas of orientation to Muhlenberg. In all cases, this should be done before June Advising. By disclosing early, you will be invited for a special pre-advising session with a Learning Specialist during June Advising before meeting with a faculty advisor.  

Q. Who do I need to contact regarding my disability?

Depending on the nature of the disability, one of several offices would be contacted. Although many disabilities will be served through several offices, those impacting cognition will be coordinated through the Academic Resource Center. These would include Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorders, significant hearing loss, visual disabilities, cerebral palsy, head traumas, etc. For disabilities impacting mental health or psychological issues, services would be coordinated through the Counseling Center. For medical disabilities including chronic health disabilities, services would be coordinated through Student Health Services. For general information, Disability Services would be able to answer your questions.

Disability Services – General Information 484-664-3825
Academic Resource Center – Disabilities impacting cognition 484-664-3433
Counseling – Mental Health disabilities 484-664-3178
Student Health Services – Medical disabilities 484-664-3198

Q. What accommodations will I receive?

Accommodations are determined case-by-case based on the documentation and the nature of the disability. In all cases, a determination of eligibility for accommodations is dependent upon the documentation supporting a significant limitation in a major life function. The documentation must clearly connect with and support the requested accommodation. If the documentation is incomplete or does not support the requests, further information may be needed. Accomodation will not be given if they alter the essential element of the course. Refer to the Documentation section on the website.

Q. If I received 504 accommodations or had an IEP in high school, will the same accommodations be provided?

Although 504 plans and IEPs are helpful in understanding the history of the disability or disorder, they are not adequate to implement accommodations in a college environment. An excellent resource for the comparisons between the IDEA, 504, and the ADA can be found at the US Department of Education website http://www.ed.gov/ocr/transition.html. At the post-secondary level, supporting documentation through an evaluation done within the past 3 years or using adult norms would be required. Some accommodations received in a high school setting may not be appropriate for the college setting, such as unlimited time on tests or exams. Please refer to the documentation/disclosure policy.

Q. Who do I contact if I need special housing accommodations?

Students must fill out the Special Housing Request form through the Office of Residential Life. Documentation for the request must be on file in the appropriate disability office (Academic Resources, Counseling, or Health) where it is evaluated to determine what, if any, special housing would be appropriate. A recommendation would then be made to the Director of Residential Life. In most cases, requests for special housing are limited to those with physical disabilities rather than for a learning disability, ADHD, or mental health disorder. Special Housing requests will not be assigned until after the deadlines established by Residential Services. Refer to Special Housing Request.

Q. How will I notify my professors about my accommodations?

Each of the offices supporting students with disabilities (Academic Resources, Counseling, and Health) will provide you with a letter to be given to each professor. In order to activate the letter, the student must meet with one of the professional staff and have appropriate documentation on file. Based on the particular course, appropriate recommendations for accommodations will be made. The student will then deliver the letter to the professor and have a conversation about how the accommodations will be implemented. In all cases, accommodations will not be given if they alter the essential elements of a course.

Q. Who should I contact if I need any special adaptive technology?

You will first meet with one of the professionals in the office where your documentation is on file. They would then help in determining what adaptive technology you would need and refer you to the Adaptive Technology Specialist at Muhlenberg. This should be done as soon as possible before the beginning of each semester, especially if textbooks need to be requested in electronic format. For first year students, the request should be made during the June Advising session.

Q. I had a foreign language waiver in high school. Will I get it at Muhlenberg?