Equal Access
The faculty, staff, and administration of Massachusetts College of Art and Design are committed to fostering the academic, personal, and professional growth of our students. We are especially committed to ensuring that students with documented disabilities, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), are provided equal access to all campus resources and opportunities.
MassArt recognizes and respects federal laws prohibiting disability discrimination. We take our obligation seriously and strive to meet the needs of students with documented disabilities in the most appropriate ways possible. It is our goal to serve students in ways that not only level the playing field, but also promote development of self-advocacy skills and strategies in order to promote life-long learning and academic, personal, and professional success.
Federal guidelines require that a college student age 18 or over who wishes to request accommodations under the ADA-AA may do so by self-identifying with the institution. Self-identification refers to the act of a student voluntarily disclosing to an institution the fact that he or she has a documented disability and is requesting protection under the ADA-AA. This is the first step in applying for disability-related accomodations. Parents, guardians, former guidance counselors, and clinicians cannot self-identify for a college student over the age of 18. He/she must self-identify on his/her own.
Self Identifying and requesting accommodations:
1. Secure appropriate documentation from your doctor or qualified professional. To speed the process, please provide your clinician with the appropriate documentation guidelines required by Mass Art as stipulated on our website.
2. Complete the Disability Accommodations Request for Services form (available in the Academic Resource Center, Suite 550 Tower). Return the completed form to Erla Shehu in the Academic Resource Center, along with the appropriate supporting documentation.
3. MassArt's learning specialist (617) 879-7958, will interpret the documentation in order to 1) determine the student's eligibility for accommodations under ADA-AA guidelines; 2) determine reasonable and appropriate accommodations, and 3) determine the student's strengths and weaknesses in order to provide additional support that may allow the student to develop strategies for academic, personal and professional growth. You may be asked to come in for an in-take interview and/or to provide additional information.
4. The student should meet with the learning specialist each semester in order to secure an ADA Accommodation letter for professors and to discuss individual needs and responsibilities.
Accommodations must be requested at least two weeks in advance and can not be implemented retroactively.
(Note: Having a disorder and/or having had accommodations in other settings does not guarantee the student will receive such services/accommodations/aids at MassArt. Having an evaluator make recommendations about specific accommodations does not guarantee the student will receive these accommodations.)
Subject to Revision
Revised 09/14/12
Medical disclosure questionnaire [PDF]