RCPD's LD/ADHD Ability Access Specialists work closely with individuals to coordinate accommodations and programs to develop academic, employment and personal success strategies
Learning Disabilities (LDs) are neurological processing disorders that affect individuals' basic learning skills, such as reading, writing, and/or math. They can also affect skills such as time management, organization, memory, and attention. LDs vary from person to person and can vary greatly in severity. Examples of LDs include:
- Dyslexia: difficulty in reading
- Dyscalculia: difficulty in math
- Dysgraphia: difficulty in written expression
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) are diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as concentrating or performing essential job functions.
The most common symptoms include:
- Distractibility (poor sustained attention to tasks)
- Impulsivity (impaired impulse control and delay of gratification)
- Hyperactivity (excessive activity and physical restlessness)
Please keep in mind that the exact nature and severity of ADHD symptoms varies from person to person. ADHD is broken down into three presentations: Combined, Predominantly Inattentive, and Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive.
RCPD's LD/ADHD Ability Access Specialists work closely with individuals to coordinate accommodations and programs to develop academic, employment and personal success strategies
A note on documentation: There are numerous online entities that offer diagnoses in exchange for a fee. These predatory companies often operate completely on a self-report surveys and the “patient” does not have direct contact with a licensed clinician/evaluator. We’re seeing this most often with ADHD diagnoses. We cannot accept this kind of documentation and will support students to retrieve additional documents to complete their registration. We want to make sure our students are protected; if you have questions about an online diagnosis service, please feel free to reach out to an ADHD or Neurodivergent specialist (listed below)!

Kelsey Foote
Ability Access Specialist: Learning Disabilities, ADHD
Call Kelsey Foote: (517) 884-1902

Virginia Rutan
Ability Access Specialist: Learning Disabilities, ADHD, Student-Athlete Liaison
Call Virginia Rutan: (517) 884-1908

Ellie Brigger
Ability Access Specialist: Neurodivergence (psychiatric/mental health, learning disabilities, & ADHD)
Call Ellie Brigger : 517-884-1907

Madison Overbey
Ability Access Specialist: Neurodivergence (psychiatric/mental health, learning disabilities, & ADHD)
Call Madison Overbey: 517-884-1916
Getting Started with RCPD
RCPD provides services and accommodations to persons with disabilities for both academic and workplace settings. Before receiving accommodations, students and employees must Identify and Register as a person with a disability and provide appropriate documentation of their disability to RCPD.
Step 1: Self-Identify
To get started in the process of registering with RCPD, start by self-identifying as a person with a disability. Use your MSU NetID and password to log into the MyProfile system to create a profile and initiate contact with RCPD. This process will then assign you to an Ability Access Specialist.
Step 2: Disability Documentation
Submit documentation to your assigned Ability Access Specialist. The disability documentation is necessary to verify the presence and impacts of your disability. 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, and summary of related functional limitations. RCPD provides downloadable Learning Disabilities and ADHD documentation forms that may be used by medical providers to document conditions.
Other options for documentation may be a copy of a recent high school IEP or 504 Plan or a psychological, neuropsychological, or psychoeducational evaluation. Your RCPD specialist can review your documentation to ensure it has the needed information, and help you gather additional documents if needed.
Step 3: Needs Assessment
Once your Ability Access Specialist has received sufficient disability documentation, they will reach out to arrange a Needs Assessment meeting. During this meeting reasonable accommodations are discussed and determined.
The MSU Disability and Reasonable Accommodation Policy provides additional guidance.
Implementing Accommodations
RCPD recognizes that accommodations may be required in order to assist individuals in maximizing their educational and workplace experience at MSU. While the university provides reasonable accommodations, we do not change essential academic requirements or job functions. Accommodation determinations are based on documentation and an individualized needs assessment.
The MSU Disability and Reasonable Accommodation Policy provides additional guidance.
Student Accommodations
Students will receive a Verified Individualized Services and Accommodations letter, otherwise known as a VISA. The VISA is the primary method for students to communicate their RCPD approved accommodations to course instructors. A similar document that performs the same functions as a VISA for students with conditions of a temporary nature is known as a VISTA.
Students registered with the RCPD should contact their assigned specialist by phone, email, or by scheduling a meeting to request their VISA.
- The VISA typically has an expiration date, so students will need to request an updated VISA at least 2 weeks prior to when a current VISA is needed.
- Accommodations are not retroactive and will not apply to events or situations that occurred prior to the student notifying and providing a copy of the VISA to the course instructor.
- Accommodations can be updated at anytime and students should reach out to their assigned specialist to discuss this further.
Employee Accommodations
Employees will receive a Statement of Employee Accommodation Determination letter, otherwise known as a SEAD. The SEAD is issued by the Office of Employee Relations (OER), when an accommodation is granted. The employee should then work with their supervisor to discuss implementation of the SEAD.
Confidentiality & Manditory Reporting
The RCPD adheres to strict standards of confidentiality in the management of student information. Since RCPD is the only holder of disability documentation, all disability-related documentation should be directed to RCPD (not other campus departments).
The RCPD staff are designated as mandatory reporters and must promptly report incidents of sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual misconduct, stalking, and relationship violence that are observed or learned about in their professional capacity and involve a member of the university community or occurred at a university-sponsored event or on university property.
Dispute Resolution
RCPD Ability Access 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.
Building Community & Resources
MSU provides many venues for collaboration and community building on disability issues. Please consider becoming involved in the following organizations:
Accommodating Technology Committee
Council of Students with Disabilities
Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD)
President's Advisory Committee on Disability Issues
Stern Tutoring and Alternative Techniques for Education (STATE)