Welcome to Accessibility Resources

Welcome to the Accessibility Resource Office at MSU-Northern.  We provide students with reasonable accommodations though an interactive request process, reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  The student is an essential part of the interactive process.

All students who qualify for the program are encouraged to enroll with the Student Support Services (Cowan Hall 211) for tutoring and counseling services.

Registering with Accessibility Resources

There is no specific timeline for registering or submitting an accommodation request, but the interactive process may take time to complete.  In addition, accommodations or services are not retroactive and some accommodations may be limited in availability (such as housing).  It is recommended students begin the accommodation process early, especially for housing requests.

Step 1:  Submit an Application For Services

Students can begin the accommodation process by submitting an Application For Services to the Accessibility Resource Office.

Student Application For Services

Step 2:  Submit Supporting Documentation

Students will need to submit supporting documentation after or with their Student Application For Services.

Documentation Guidelines:

  1. Documentation should be provided that includes a clear statement of the disability with any appropriate
    supporting data or information.
  2. Medical or diagnostic documentation submitted by the student must be obtained from a licensed
    medical or health professional who has experience and expertise in the assessment and diagnosis of
    the particular disability. Any medical documentation must be signed by the medical or health
    professional and should include the names, titles, professional credentials, license number, addresses,
    phone numbers, and date of the document or report.
  3. Documentation written by a family member will not be accepted.
  4. Documentation for eligibility should be current, preferably within the last five years, but older data will
    be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  5. While not required in all cases, a summary of present symptoms including medical information relating
    to the student's needs, the status of the student's disability (static or changing), and its impact on the
    demands of the academic program, is recommended to help the University evaluate potential
    accommodations.
  6. Narrative or descriptive text may be helpful for understanding the student's profile and providing both
    quantitative and qualitative information about the student's abilities. This includes psycho-educational
    reports and the use of medication, therapy, medical devices or other treatments.
  7. While not required, documentation may include a summary of cognitive and achievement measures
    used and evaluation results including standardized scores or percentiles used to make the diagnosis if
    applicable.
  8. Documentation that includes suggestions of reasonable accommodation(s) which might be
    appropriate at the post-secondary level may assist the University in identifying appropriate
    accommodations. Any recommendations should be supported by the diagnosis and clearly articulate
    how the identified accommodations address any functional limitations of the student in the postsecondary academic setting. While any recommended accommodations are considered by the
    University, the University retains the sole discretion to determine what accommodations may be
    provided on a case-by-case basis.
  9. A history of receiving services, in and of itself, is not sufficient to approve accommodation. Submitting
    record of receiving accommodations in the past such as a, Individualized Education Plan, or other
    accommodation plan can be helpful in approving accommodations by giving the evaluator information
    on what has been helpful in the past. 

If you have questions whether or not your documentation meets these guidelines, please reach out to schedule an appointment to review your case with the office.

If your request is related to an Emotional Support Animal, it is recommended you make an appointment with the office to go through the process.

Step 3:  Schedule and Attend an In-Take Meeting

Students will need to schedule and attend an intake meeting with the Accessibility Resource Office.  This is time for the coordinator to understand your needs, review your request, and address any concerns you may have.  During the meeting the coordinator will review the accommodations available to you and how the accommodation may be implemented.

Book Appointment


Meetings can be in person at the Accessibility Resource Office (Cowan 213C), by Zoom (an invite will follow the meeting booking), or by phone.

Step 4:  After Accommodations Are Approved

After a reasonable accommodation is approved and a notification request is received, a student's instructors will be notified regarding the accommodation.    Students should meet with or email their instructors in a timely manner to discuss how the accommodation will be implemented.  (Ex. A testing accommodation may be proctored by your instructor or by the testing center, depending on the instructor's availability and the accommodation.  Either option must be timely arranged prior to the exam date and time).

If issues arise, contact the Accessibility Resource Office.

What are reasonable accommodations?

Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the learning environment that enable students with disabilities to have equal access to education. 

MSUN is not obligated to provide accommodations that:

  • would fundamentally alter the nature of a service, program or activity;
  • would result in an undue financial or administrative burden;
  • are personal devices or services; or
  • are retroactive accommodations.