MaryKate Carter
MSU’s Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities provides accommodations and programming to maximize ability and opportunity through an organizational model in which specialists focus on specific disability types. Because the RCPD is dedicated to this level of service for each student and employee, the blind and visually impaired population will now work directly with Specialist Tom Hwang, instead of Virginia Martz.
Martz will continue to serve individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing, persons with mobility disabilities and others who do not identify with the eight primary disability categories. Unique conditions, such as speech and communication disorders, dwarfism/little person, limited use or amputation of upper extremities and others require individualized services and accommodations. Virginia will now have more time to provide these individuals with the attention to detail the RCPD is known for.
Tom Hwang will remain the Media Access Specialist and take over as the Specialist for Blindness and Visual Impairment concurrently. Individuals will transition to Hwang’s expertise smoothly as many already work closely with him to acquire books and other materials in accessible formats, such as Braille and E-text.
“With the assistance from Virginia, who has many years of experience in that job, and my graduate study and work experience with students in visual impairment, I look forward to working more closely with MSU students and employees with visual disabilities,” Hwang said.
Tom’s newly acquired responsibilities include conducting needs assessments to determine appropriate accommodation requests for students and employees and facilitating the implementation of these accommodations. Additionally, Tom will foster networking opportunities for individuals studying at MSU to expand future career options. He will continue to introduce assistive technology to students and employees, which enhances studying and professional efficacy.
This shift will directly and positively affect the students and employees moving to Tom’s oversight. In developing closer relationships with individuals using the media he produces, he will be more in tune and better prepared to meet their needs and challenges in that area.
Persons remaining with Virginia should notice better service too with increased appointment availability. The organizational change ensures that all individuals will continue to receive exceptional disability accommodation and advocacy.
“I look forward to providing improved service to students and employees with mobility disabilities, hearing loss, and the low incident populations in the “other” disability category, through a focused and concentrated look at their specific needs and concerns,” Martz said.
This is not the only change students and employees can look forward to this summer. For many, the season brings a transition to college, a first experience with higher education accommodations or a transfer to a new school. Services and needs vary, but the process for registering with the RCPD to access accommodations is the same for all disability categories.
Before requesting accommodations, students and employees must identify and register as a person with a disability. Based on the categories identified on the MyProfile website during this process, needed and appropriate documentation will be listed and print-ready versions of the form(s) made available.
Once medical professionals have completed applicable forms and submitted sufficient documentation to the RCPD office, a specialist will contact the student or employee directly, via his or her MSU email address. The specialist and individual schedule a needs assessment, so proper accommodations can be evaluated and secured. Employees should also refer to the Reasonable Accommodations Policy for University Applicants and Employees, for the procedure on requesting worksite accommodations.
At MSU, the official process of requesting accommodations follows ADA guidelines and respects confidentiality of all parties. However, the formality does not compromise customer service. This system is designed to be as comfortable and efficient as possible.
Team RCPD continues to passionately and creatively facilitate full campus experiences for every individual they serve. Job titles may have changed hands, but the mission of accessibility and inclusive philosophy remain across the board.