Welcome to RCPD's WOW!
We are so excited you joined us at the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) and Michigan State University. Even though we are learning and working remotely, we are still one Spartan community. On this page, you'll find numerous resources that will help you be a successful Spartan. Open each accordion menu below to meet Team RCPD, watch videos, visit campus and community resources' webpages, and download guides. You will learn so much, including how to access accommodations, support services, and opportunities.
Keep in mind that some of this information will be most relevant for when you come to campus. Be sure to bookmark this page for future reference!
RCPD conducted LIVE video sessions for WOW! You can re-watch here:
Links from the Zoom chats: Office of Admissions, Student Success Dashboard (scheduling with your academic advisor), Graduate Student Wellness, MSU Academic Calendar, RCPD Events, RCPD Scholarships, MSU Scholarships, RCPD's Assistive Technology page, MSU IT, Team RCPD
**As of November 2020, students schedule academic advising appointments through the new Student Information System (not the Student Success Dashboard). RCPD appointments are still made through Microsoft Bookings. Find your specialist's Bookings link on our Team RCPD page**
Sponsored by Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSU FCU)
RCPD's Welcome Orientation Workshop is sponsored by Michigan State University Federal Credit Union! Watch MSU FCU's video to learn more about how to get connected and become financially independent.
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) General Office Information
Liz Fuller will tell you all about RCPD in this video! RCPD will be operating remotely during Fall 2020. Learn about our location and parking information, office location within Bessey Hall, hours (during regular operations: M-F 8am-5pm), checking in for appointments, and Team RCPD. Explore RCPD's website to learn about our office, including commonly asked questions, recent news stories, resources for implementing accommodations, RCPD programming, and RCPD history. You can also log into MyProfile from the homepage. If questions or concerns arise, you can call the RCPD front desk 517-884-RCPD (7273) and we will be happy to help!
During Fall 2020, RCPD operations will continue to be remote. Please schedule virtual appointments with your RCPD specialist through their Microsoft Bookings links, found on the Team RCPD page. Specialists are available by phone and email as usual and can meet via video chat on Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Watch our Coronavirus/COVID-19 Disability Resources page for continuous updates.
Education Abroad
John Pedraza, RCPD Ability Access Specialist, discusses Education Abroad in this video! Each year, hundreds of RCPD students participate in a program through the MSU Office for Education Abroad. Every site around the world can be made accessible, but you must coordinate with your RCPD specialist to arrange accommodations for your Education Abroad experience. Watch John's video and visit our Education Abroad page to learn more. If you decide to go abroad, you might also want to apply to RCPD's Education Abroad Scholarship!
Transportation
Watch RCPD Ability Access Specialist, Caleb Sandoval, explain transportation options for getting around MSU's campus. Download Caleb's guide for links to all the resources mentioned, and more!
CATA is a great way to move around campus and the greater Lansing/East Lansing area. However, due to the pandemic and other factors, some things are different this fall. Here is the most up-to-date route information that could affect Spartan riders.
Changes to the routes below began on 8/26/2020 and will remain in effect until further notice. Please see Updated Spartan Service Changes for updates in real time.
· 12 - W. Michigan - Waverly - LCC
· 20 - South Harrison – Jolly – Dunckel
· 22 - MSU – Haslett – Meridian Mall
· 24 - East Lansing – Lake Lansing Road
· 23 - MSU – Okemos – Meridian Mall
· 25 - North Harrison
· 26 - Abbot – Chandler
· 32 - Commuter Lot - Auditorium - Clinical Center
· 34 - Brody Neighborhood – University Village
· 35 - South Neighborhood - Spartan Village
· 36 - East Neighborhood
· 30 - South & East Neighborhoods
· 31 - Brody & East Neighborhoods
· 33 - Union - South Neighborhood
· 38 - Spartan Village
· 39 - University Village
Health, Wellness, and UGS 110
Meet RCPD Ability Access Specialist Ashley Maloff and learn about MSU health and wellness resources in this video, including RCPD's very own course - UGS 110 Maximize Ability and Resiliency at MSU! You will learn about Olin Health Center, Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), Health Promotion, and Recreational Sports and Fitness.
Download Ashley's presentation to access links and resources!
Proactive Communication with Faculty and the RCPD
When you get to MSU, communicating your needs with faculty and your RCPD specialist is hugely important! Darryl Steele, RCPD Ability Access Specialist, will tell you all about communication in this video. Make sure to send your VISA to each of your instructors, meet with them during office hours, and have a discussion about how your accommodations will be implemented in each course. As successes or concerns arise, connect with your RCPD specialist!
During fall semester 2020, your instructors will be holding virtual office hours. You must still meet with them to discuss your VISA and your plan for implementing accommodations! This meeting is especially important this semester as you will likely not see your instructors throughout the week and have the opportunity to ask questions (as you would with in-person classes!). Reviewing the syllabus and VISA with your instructors to create a plan for accommodation at the beginning of the semester helps ensure accommodations are smoothly implemented for your online classes.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
In this video, Ginger Martz, Ability Access Specialist will tell you about MSU and RCPD scholarship opportunities and tips for applying! You can find all scholarships listed in the MSU Scholarship system. To see RCPD's scholarship opportunities, you can visit our Scholarships & Awards page.
Download Ginger's presentation to access links and resources!
Building Community and the Council of Students with Disabilities (CSD)
In this video, Virginia Rutan, RCPD Ability Access Specialist and advisor for the Council of Students with Disabilities (CSD), shares ways to build community and get connected on campus. Learn about MSU's Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) through the MSU Department of Student Life, CSD, and recreational opportunities. Join MSU's virtual Sparticipation event to learn even more about getting involved!
Download Virginia's resource guide for even more info!
How to Schedule Appointments with Your RCPD Specialist
In this video, Leslie Johnson, RCPD Assistant Director for Assistive Technology, will guide you through how to schedule an appointment with your RCPD specialist. Each RCPD specialist has a Microsoft Bookings page for appointments, found on our Team RCPD page.
MSU-MRS Bosco Careers Collaborative
Join Mallory Godin, Careers Collaborative counselor, to learn all about the program! The Careers Collaborative is a partnership between RCPD, Michigan Rehabilitation Services (state vocational rehabilitation), and the MSU Career Services Network. RCPD students can utilize the Careers Collaborative throughout their time at MSU to help with employment skills, job shadowing and work experiences, finding jobs and internships, and securing post-graduation careers. You can learn more by watching the Careers Collaborative video!
Library Resources
Join Heidi Schroeder to learn about MSU Libraries! Heidi is the RCPD liasion and Accessibility Coordinator at the MSU Libraries. Heidi and the Libraries are excited to help you throughout your MSU journey. MSU Libraries can assist you through their "Ask a Librarian" service, finding books/articles on specific topics or for certain classes, accessibility services and information, and finding/creating accessible books and articles. They numerous resources for students with disabilities!
Campus Safety
Join Jennifer Montague, RCPD Ability Access Specialist, in learning about safety on MSU's campus. In this video, Jennifer speaks about many safety resources including: MSU Police, emergency green-light phones, the MSU alert system, residence hall security, late-night travel (CATA Night Owl, StateWalk by Alpha Phi Omega at the MSU Libraries and the MSU Union, ASMSU SafeRide), MSU Center for Survivors, MSU Community Mental Health, MSU SafePlace (domestic violence shelter), and MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS).
Download Jennifer's presentation to access links and resources!
Campus Resources
Join Kelsey Foote, RCPD Ability Access Specialist, in learning about the resources that MSU has to offer! MSU has numerous places to visit for academic and career assistance, taking care of your physical and mental health, and having FUN!
Implementing Testing Accommodations
Get refreshed on testing accommodations with RCPD Ability Access Specialist, Grace Tong! Grace shares general resources, tips, and reminders for implementing your testing accommodations. Remember to check RCPD's Alternative Testing page for additional reminders. If you or your instructors have questions about testing accommodations, your RCPD specialist can answer them!
Alternative Formats (Accessing Electronic Text - "E-Text")
RCPD Ability Access Specialist Angela Sebald tells you all about RCPD's Accessible Textbook program in this video! Students who are eligible for e-text can find electronic textbooks in RCPD's STAR Database. You will also learn how to work with RCPD to turn your physical textbooks into an electronic format. Electronic textbooks can be used with Kurzweil 3000, a text-to-speech software that is free for MSU students!
CART Instruction
In this video, RCPD CART Provider, Shelly Martinez, explains CART services for students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and in need of live captioning for their courses. RCPD's CART providers - Shelly, Susie, and Denise - work remotely to caption live course lectures. You must meet with Virginia Martz and provide documentation to see if you qualify for this service. Watch Shelly's video for more information! You can also join CART's Facebook group once you begin services.
Contact information:
Shelly Martinez, Marti742@msu.edu
517-884-1919 (office)
517-290-8093 (cell)
Denise Hartmann, Hartm106@msu.edu
517-884-1917 (office)
517-420-1438 (cell)
Susie Hoffmann, smh@msu.edu
517-884-1918 (office)
517-896-2676 (cell)
Assistive Listening Devices
Download RCPD Ability Access Specialist Ginger Martz's presentation to learn about using assistive listening devices during remote instruction! Ginger works with students who are deaf or hard of hearing. You can contact Ginger for more information!
Assistive Technology
Leslie Johnson, RCPD's Assistive Director for Assistive Technology, introduces a few of the most commonly used Assistive Technology tools in this presentation! Download to learn more about Assistive Technology and how it can support your academic success as an MSU student. Visit RCPD's Assistive Technology page for more information.
Remote Learning
RCPD is here to support you while we are learning virtually! If you want to work on time management and organization in your online classes or have questions about implementing accommodations, be sure to schedule with your RCPD specialist through their Bookings link on the Team RCPD page.
Here are some additional tips:
- Ensure you have a dedicated workspace in your residence.
- Create a schedule for each day/week. Enter important dates from your syllabi, your lecture days/times, time to work on homework and projects, etc.
- For self-paced/asynchronous classes, be sure to dedicate a specific weekly time to watch lectures (as if they were scheduled!).
- Make sure your accommodations are still implemented! Some accommodations may be irrelevant right now, but there are others that can and should be implemented online. Meet with your professor and/or TA for each class to request your accommodations and make a plan for implementing them.
- Stay in communication with your professors and TAs, RCPD specialist, and academic advisor. Instructors will be holding virtual office hours - be sure to pop in and introduce yourself! You can schedule with your RCPD specialist and academic advisor virtually as well.
Finally, connect with MSU virtual resources!
- Online Engagement Center: your one-stop shop for academic resources, health and wellness, and more!
- Online Learning Resources
- Mental Health
- MSU Keep Learning
- Together We Will, Student and Parent Information
- MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
- Student Success Dashboard: for scheduling with your academic advisor and other campus entities
- Circles of Success Mentoring Program: for first-year and transfer students
- Financial Aid FAQ
- Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) Academic Success Skills Workshops