Office of Accessibility

Minnesota State College Southeast is committed to providing equitable access for students with disabilities. The Office of Accessibility works closely with faculty, staff, and students to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students to ensure that disability-related barriers do not impede a student's success. 

Reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, job, activity or facility that enables a qualified student with a documented disability to have an equitable opportunity. An equitable opportunity means an opportunity to obtain the same level of performance or to enjoy benefits and privileges as are available to similarly situated students without a disability. Reasonable accommodation depends upon the nature and degree of severity of the documented disability. While the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires that priority consideration be given to the specific methods requested by the student, it does not imply that a particular accommodation must be granted if it is deemed not reasonable and other suitable techniques are available.  

A student seeking disability-related accommodations must self-disclose the nature of their documented disability to the Office of Accessibility. We serve currently enrolled students (including PSEO) who experience barriers in school settings due to the impact of a diagnosis such as:

• Mental Health Conditions (e.g. anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia)
• Learning Disability (e.g. dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia)
• Attention-deficit Disorder or Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Blind, Vision Loss/Impairment
• Deaf, Deafness, Hearing Loss/Impairment
• Physical Disabilities
• Brain Injuries (Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion)
• Chronic Health Condition (Autoimmune Disorders)
• Other conditions that lead to disability

To Request an Accommodation

1. Apply. Please fill out the online Accessibility Registration Form.
   a. Submit Documentation. At the end of the form, you will be asked to upload the necessary documentation. Examples of helpful documentation are:
   i. Psychological or neuropsychological evaluation
   ii. Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)
   iii. 504 Plan -Vocational Assessment
   iv. Information on previous use of accommodations
   v. Statement from health or service provider
   vi. Mobility assessment 
2. Check your Southeast email account. Your Accessibility Registration Form and documentation will be reviewed, and you will be contacted via your Southeast email address regarding next steps. 
3. Meet. Meet with the Director of Academic Support and Advising to discuss reasonable and appropriate accommodations aimed at providing your equitable access. 

* The college requests that students give reasonable notice to allow time for any needed accommodation such as equipment, supplies, or a sign language interpreter. The college will respond in a timely fashion.

Difference between Accommodations Offered at High School and College

We recognize many of our students are looking to continue the support they received in high school.  We are committed to working with each student to provide reasonable accommodation. There are some differences between the policies, procedures, and accommodations that students should be aware of. Such as 

In high school, the school:

• is responsible for identifying students with disabilities.
• must provide the assessment of disability, classify disability, and involve parents.
• will discuss academic progress with parents or legal guardians.
• must develop an Individualized Educational Program
• must provide a free and appropriate education including modified program and appropriate related services. 
• must coordinate the provision of all services, monitor progress, and evaluate results. 

In college, the student: 

• must self-identify or disclose their disability. 
• must provide documentation of their disability to the designated office.
• is considered an adult with privacy and confidentiality protections. Staff cannot discuss a student's academic process with parents or legal guardians without the appropriate release of information.
• must request specific accommodations and provide supporting evidence through documentation.
• must act as an independent adult to activate and obtain accommodations and structure weekly schedules. 

Office of Accessibility Contact

Kate Parsi, M.S.
Director of Academic Support & Advising
[email protected]

Minnesota State College Southeast strives to fully comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination in employment and public educational services on the basis of any individual's disabilities: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to ensure campuses, website, and on-line course offerings meet the requirements therein. 

Minnesota State College Southeast follows Minnesota State Board Policy. 1B.4 Access and Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities.