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RCPD has been a great resource during my years at State. The staff is great and the books on tape and other assistive technologies have been helpful.
-Ali Faraj

Blindness and Visual Impairment

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Welcome

The Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at MSU is a state and national leader in providing opportunity, autonomy and self-sufficiency for individuals with visual disabilities ranging from partial sight through total blindness.

Full-time disability specialists coordinate disability type programs, and are also available for consultation to evaluate and address the needs of students, faculty and employees.

Getting Started with RCPD (MyProfile)

Log on to the MyProfile page with your MSU NetID and password to register with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities. MyProfile provides online forms and initiates communication with a Disability Specialist.

Documentation

Documentation of a disability must appear on official letterhead from a licensed medical or diagnostic professional and include a diagnosis, scope or degree of involvement (including visual acuity in both eyes, field loss in both eyes, any movement disorder of the eyes), and summary of related functional limitations.

After documentation of a disability has been provided and a needs assessment is completed, reasonable accommodations are determined. RCPD will provide a verification letter that includes: (a) verification of disability and status as a student or employee registered with the RCPD (b) an outline of reasonable accommodations.

Students will receive a Verified Individualized Services and Accommodations letter, otherwise known as a VISA.

Confidentiality

RCPD adheres to strict standards of confidentiality in the management of student and employee information. Since RCPD is the only holder of disability documentation, all disability-related documentation should be directed to RCPD (not other campus departments).

Accommodations

RCPD recognizes that accommodations may be required in order to assist students and employees in maximizing their educational and workplace experience at MSU. While the university is required to provide reasonable accommodations, it is not required to change essential academic requirements or job functions.

Before Requesting Accommodations, students and employees must Identify and Register as a person with a disability and provide appropriate documentation of their disability to RCPD. Employees should refer to the Reasonable Accommodations Policy for University Applicants and Employees, for the procedure on requesting worksite accommodations.

Students and employees with blindness/visual impairment may be eligible to receive the following accommodations facilitated by RCPD:

Resources

Building Community

MSU provides many venues for collaboration and community building on disability issues. Please consider becoming involved in the following organizations:

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have further questions that have not been answered on this page, please refer to the Blindness/Visual Impairment FAQ Page.

The Specialist Spotlight

Students and employees, join us for the RCPD Assistive Technology Fair on February 28, 2008 from 1:00 to 6:00 PM, in 151 Bessey Hall (RCPD ATC).

Contact Information

Virginia Martz

Virginia Martz

Blindness/Visual Impairment
Mobility Disabilities
(517) 884-1902


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