Disability Services

Miami University Hamilton provides general services such as assessment tests for course selection, academic advising, orientation, tutoring, workshops, career counseling, and developmental classes in reading, math, writing, and study skills. However, it recognizes that general services may be inadequate for meeting the special needs of students with disabilities. Therefore, the Coordinator of Disability Services provides the following:

Admission - provides information for prospective students, parents, and counselors, and arranges pre-admission visits, upon request, in conjunction with the Office of Admission and Financial Aid Campus Visit program.

Orientation - supplements the New Student Orientation program to address special concerns such as emergency evacuation procedures and campus accessibility.

Academic - provides assistance with course selection in conjunction with the student's faculty adviser; acts as a liaison with faculty; assesses the need for classroom accommodations, based on documentation; and provides referrals to University resources.

Liaison - arranges for proctors, readers, scribes, note-takers, etc., and works closely with the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and other agencies and professionals in the area.

Mobility - coordinates with other University departments in providing access to services and programs in the most integrated setting possible.

While the coordinator assists students with disabilities, all students are ultimately responsible for their own academic achievement. Each student is responsible for class attendance, assignments, and all other course requirements. Disability services are available, but it is up to the student to seek assistance and to use the agreed-upon classroom adjustments.

This information is supplemental to other University publications. All Miami University policies, regulations, and procedures, apply equally to students with disabilities.

Miami University Hamilton is an open-admission campus for entering freshmen. Students are admitted if they have a diploma from an accredited high school or are the recipient of a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Alternatively-educated students may be considered for admission upon presenting credentials which demonstrate equivalent levels of academic achievement , ability, and performance.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Miami Hamilton established the Office of Disability Services (ODS) to provide access to University programs for students with diagnosed disabilities. ODS provides academic adjustments and works with other campus offices and state agencies to coordinate services. In order to make these arrangements, please take the following steps.

• Apply early for admission. Early applicants can expect wider course selection, prompt processing, full services, and time to file for financial aid.

• Take the assessment tests. Please request accommodations, if needed, when you schedule your testing date.

• Meet with an academic adviser and register for classes.

• Meet with the Coordinator of disability services to provide documentation and discuss accommodations. According to the Americans with Disability Act, students with a disability must self-identify, request services, and provide documentation to receive academic adjustments.

• Psychoeducational evaluations for learning disabilities should be current and must present clear and specific evidence and identification of a learning disability. When you request a copy from your high school, please ask for the most recent report that measures intellectual assessment and academic achievement. Sometimes they have to send two reports to get both sets of scores. The most recent IEP is helpful, but not sufficient to establish eligibility.

• Forms are available from the coordinator for you to use in securing documentation for medical and psychological disabilities and for AD(H)D. All disability information is strictly confidential.

• For more detailed information please refer to the Miami University Student Handbook/Services to Students with Disabilities. While this section was primarily written for use by students attending the Oxford campus, the section on guidelines for students with attention deficit disorder and the policy statement and procedures for students with specific learning disabilities contain the information for all three campuses.

• The Coordinator of Disability Services is available to meet with prospective students. Contact Dave Bush, Coordinator of Disability Services at 513.785.3211 (TTY/TDD accessible) or direct your questions via e-mail to bushdp@muohio.edu. Read Dave Bush's bio information.