Walking to her class each day, Molly Conley looks no different than any of the 42,000 other students at MSU. She is cheerful, friendly, and always has a big smile. People may be surprised to learn this outgoing hockey goalie is also a client at the RCPD. Molly does not seem to fit the stereotypic image of a person with a disability. An ambitious young woman who aspires to be a physician some day, Molly struggles with frustrating invisible disabilities--learning disability and dyspraxia. Dyspraxia is a disturbance in the programming, control, and execution of gross motor movements. Molly laughed about her dismissal from a ballet class as a little girl because she could not do the pirouetting.
Molly is a Zoology junior and is president of the Council of Students with Disabilities (CSD). Molly played a major role in the recent reactivation of CSD, the organization which seeks to increase awareness of and advocate for students with disabilities. CSD has been inactive since 1996 when several key members graduated. Under her leadership, the membership has grown to 17 students in less than half a semester. Molly hopes the use of e-mail lists will elicit more responses and feedback from students who care about disability-related issues.
A strong believer in self-efficacy, Molly thinks students with disabilities need to take a stand for themselves in order to improve the present conditions at MSU. Students registered with RCPD have to speak out to let the university administration know of their needs and to educate fellow students who otherwise may feel uncomfortable interacting with students with disabilities.
Molly is the representative for CSD at the ASMSU Student Assembly. Through her persistent efforts, the Assembly passed a bill on November 11, 1999 persuading the university to make accessibility a priority in the university's strategic plan.
The Council of Students with Disabilities is part of the Council of Progressive Students and has seats on ASMSU Academic Assembly and ASMSU Programming Board. The Residence Halls Association also has one seat for CSD. Students with disabilities are urged to become actively involved with these organizations.
Some of CSD’s current activities include pushing for more audible traffic crossings, more power doors at academic and administrative buildings, building curb cuts on medians, finding a permanent home for CSD, and educating teaching assistants and faculty members. Out of ignorance and misunderstanding, some TAs and professors are reluctant to provide necessary accommodations for students with disabilities. These TAs and professors have the misconception that students with disabilities will gain an advantage by having accommodations such as extended test times or using alternative methods to take a test.
CSD meets weekly at Wells Hall and currently has about a dozen regular participants. Topics of discussion include brainstorming future events, generating ideas for improving future outreach, sharing experiences in how to manage a balance in studies and social activities, and getting to know each member better. If you are interested in advocating your rights and helping fellow students with disabilities, please contact Molly Conley at conleymo@pilot.msu.edu.
If testing is part of the interview process, make sure the test does not reveal information about physical or mental impairments (i.e., make sure it is not a medical examination.) Other tests which demonstrate the applicant's ability to perform actual or simulated job tasks are permitted under the ADA. Inform the applicant before the interview that a test will be part of the interview process. The applicant can then request an accommodation such as a different format for written tests.
If you are not prepared to make a commitment to hire her or him immediately, the usual reasons given to applicants who are not hired at the close of the interview apply: "Thank you for coming in, we will notify you in a few days of our decision," "It will be necessary for you to talk with the supervisor in charge of that unit," "The boss isn't available today," and so on.
For additional information contact:
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Technical Assistance: (800) 669-4000 (V), or (800) 800-3302 (TDD)
Documents: (800) 669-3362 (V), or (800) 669-3302 (TDD)