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Brain Injury

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RCPD works together with Michigan State University to provide a variety of academic and workplace services and accommodations to individuals with brain injury. By enabling both students and employees learn to utilize appropriate strategies, providing them with accommodations, and locating additional resources, RCPD strives to foster independence in the learning process. An injury to the brain may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness but is not of a degenerative or congenital nature. Each person with a brain injury is unique; physical disabilities, impaired learning, and personality changes are common. Accommodations will vary according to documentation. (more information about brain injury)

The information on this page is meant to be helpful to you as you seek answers to your questions about services and accommodations for individuals with brain injury. In addition, disability specialists coordinate disability type programs, and are available for consultation with faculty and staff to evaluate and address specific needs of students, faculty and staff. We look forward to working with you to help maximize your experience at MSU!

Getting Started (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, 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 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 individuals 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 Brain Injury may be eligible to receive the following accommodations facilitated by RCPD:

  • Individualized assessment
  • Consultation with faculty on classroom accommodations
  • Assistance with University academic orientation and enrollment.

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 FAQ Page.

The Specialist Spotlight

Virginia Rutan also serves as the advisor to the Michigan State University student Brain Injury Group (BIG). Founded in August of 2003, BIG was established with the following goals in mind:

  • To provide support and service for persons with brain injury (survivors)
  • To contribute to self awareness of its members
  • To establish the opportunity for meaningful exchange of ideas as individuals and as a group
  • To recognize and encourage leadership and achievement
  • To educate the community regarding brain injury and the recovery process

For further information, please contact Virginia Rutan at walkerv4@msu.edu or (517) 353-9642 ext. 224.

Contact Information

Virginia Rutan

Virginia Rutan

Cognitive Disabilities
Brain Injury
Student-Athlete Liaison
(517) 884-1908


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