Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Michigan State University provides services and accommodations to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing for both academic and workplace settings. RCPD's Deaf/Hard of Hearing Ability Access Specialist works with students, staff, and faculty to access accommodations and campus resources.

Virginia (Ginger) Martz

Ability Access Specialist: Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Mobility

Contact Virginia (Ginger) Martz

(517) 355-1293

Schedule an appointment

American Sign Language (ASL) and CART Services

Students 

The RCPD is fully engaged in providing ASL and Real-Time Captioning services for RCPD registered students who are deaf or hard of hearing and meet eligibility criteria.  These services are provided by RCPD at no cost to the student or department when used in credit-granting courses at MSU.

Employees, Visitors, Extracurricular Activities, and Non-credit Courses  

MSU departments are responsible for filling ASL and Real-Time Captioning requests in situations that are not for students in credit-granting MSU courses. State regulations mandate use of state-registered, appropriately-qualified ASL interpreters as identified at LARA's Michigan Online Interpreter System. Using ASL interpreters who are not certified by the State of Michigan may cause the University and the Department to incur noteworthy fines and penalties.  Using this registry allows departments to directly contract with service providers which may represent cost savings over agency coordination services as the agencies necessarily charge a per hour fee for a Real-Time Captioner or ASL interpreting team to reclaim real costs associated with service coordination.

Some regional agency ASL Interpreting and Real-Time Captioning services that the RCPD has successfully used are listed below. Some have the ability to provide remote services using a laptop, tablet or mobile device for urgent needs.

CART

  1. Archer Captioning, Contact: Elizabeth Archer, Phone: (503) 319-0122, Email: Elizabeth@ArcherCaptioning.com
  2. Karasch & Associates, Phone: 800-621-5689
  3. The Captioning Group, Phone: 800-717-9707
  4. DynamicCaptioning, Phone: 866-355-0811
  5. 20/20 Captioning, 800-870-1795

ASL Interpreting

  1. CAICS: Capital Area Interpreting and Consulting Services. PO Box 14264 Lansing, MI 48901. Email: CAICSLansing@gmail.com. Phone: 517-862-5815
  2. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services: 3680 44th St. SE – Suite 201 Kentwood, MI 49512, Phone: 616-732-7358, Fax: 616-732-7365, After Hours: 616-732-6124, Email: InterpreterServices@Deafhhs.org
  3. Deaf Community Advocacy Network: 2111 Orchard Lake Rd. Suite #101 Sylan Lake, MI 48320, Phone: 248-332-3331, Emergency Phone: 248-523-1998, Email: deafcan@deafcan.org
  4. Sorenson Community Interpreting Services, Contact: Candace Bruton - National Accounts Consultant, Phone: 757-472-3048, 24-Hour Toll Free: 800-659-4783, Email: communityinterpreting@sorenson.com

Building Community

 

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Will RCPD inform my professors about my accommodations?

Once registration steps are completed with the RCPD, the student receives an accommodation letter. Students are responsible for presenting this letter to each professor at the start of the semester during office hours. It is important to go over the letter to coordinate accommodations.

What accommodations will I receive for my disability?

Each person and setting is unique and needs will vary. Accommodations are determined during a confidential needs assessment with an Ability Access Specialist.

How do I make arrangements to have my service or assistance animal on campus?

Students and employees with a disability who wish to utilize a service or assistance animal on campus should reference the Service Animal Policy page.

How does MSU facilitate note taking services?

Students work with their Ability Access Specialist to identify an individualized solution. Solutions often include: technology assisting independent note taking, shared notes with a peer, or other approaches. Visit our Note Taking Assistance guidelines for an overview of possibilities.

What kind of transportation is available on and off campus?

The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides fixed route services on and off campus, covering all of Ingham County. MSU provides complimentary bus services for on-campus routes.

CATA buses are equipped with ramps or lifts, and run every 7 to 35 minutes depending on the route. CATA also provides a curb-to-curb, advanced reservation (1 day prior) transit service for persons with disabilities, called Spec-Tran. For more information about CATA, visit their website.

For more information about campus accessible parking and transportation, see RCPD's page.

Will I receive the same accommodations that I got in high school?

Upon registering with RCPD, you will talk to an Ability Access Specialist about the appropriate accommodations for your disability during an individualized needs assessment. While RCPD takes historical accommodations into consideration, the college environment has different demands that may shape essential functions and accommodations. Visit our Future Students page for information about coming to Michigan State University.

I'm having trouble in my class, where can I find tutoring?

First, talk to your professor during office hours for ideas on how to succeed in the class. The Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative (NSSC) also offers a variety of resources and supports.

How do students make a request for an interpreter or real-time captioner?

Visit the Team RCPD page to make an appointment with the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Ability Access Specialist. The specialist will assess your individual needs. See this page to learn how to register RCPD.

Are MSU campus events and activities interpreted or captioned?

If there is a specific event that you would like to attend you may request an interpreter or real-time captioner by contacting the department sponsoring the event.

What if I disagree with the disability determination or level of accommodation I receive?

RCPD Specialists are committed to an active partnership with students and employees who make reasonable accommodation requests through our office. In the case you experience a disagreement regarding disability determination or appropriateness of accommodations, you may consider taking the steps outlined in our dispute resolution process.

What campus organizations focus on disability issues? 

Several organizations on campus exist including:

To learn more about CSD, Tower Guard, and the Adaptive Sports & Recreation Club, please visit Department of Student Life's Registered Student Organizations or contact your RCPD Ability Access Specialist.