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Rights & Responsibilities for Students With Disabilities

It is critically important that students understand and familiarize themselves with both their rights and responsibilities relating to their disability in an academic setting. All SVSU students with disabilities are entitled to the same rights, privileges and opportunities as any other student on our campus. These individuals are protected by federal, state and collegiate laws affording them the opportunity to enter a post-secondary setting for further education. Likewise, these self-identifying students who request accommodations have a responsibility to identify, educate, advocate, plan, and work on transitioning and accommodation implementation. For help with this transition and implementation, please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations (ARA). 

Students have the right to...

Students have the right to have equal access to courses, programs, services, jobs, activities and facilities available through Saginaw Valley State University.


Students have the right to have reasonable, appropriate and effective accommodations, academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids as determined on an individual basis.


Students have the right to appropriate confidentiality of all information pertaining to their disability. They have the right to not disclose their disability information with anyone except if there is a threat to an individual’s safety, an emergency or otherwise as required by law.


Students have the right to receive University information in accessible formats.


Students have the general responsibility of...

Students should understand that it is their responsibility to notify their faculty members at the start of each term and email faculty members with their Faculty Notification Letter found via AIMS. This will ensure that the faculty member understands the student’s accommodation needs.


Students must understand that accommodations cannot alter the learning outcomes and objectives of a course. Each student must meet the learning outcomes and objectives of each course, as decided by Saginaw Valley State University.


It is necessary to request accommodations each semester. To do so, email your accommodation(s) letters through the AIMS system. This can be done at minimum one week before the semester begins. 

Should students need additional help please call the office at (989) 964-7000, email us at accessibility@svsu.edu or stop in at Wickes 260B.


Each semester, students must...

Check their contact information in AIMS to make certain it is up to date.


Email their accommodation(s) letters through the AIMS system. This can be done at minimum one week before the semester begins. Assistance sending faculty notification letters is provided in the ARA Office. 


Select which accommodations they require for each class.


If students plan to use Accessibility Resources & Accommodations for testing, they must schedule their quizzes, tests and exams as soon as they get their syllabus and know when their test dates are. Accessibility Resources & Accommodations requires a 7 business day advanced notice when scheduling quizzes, tests and exams. If an assessment date needs to be changed, students are responsible for letting their faculty know of the proposed change. 


CONTACT US.


Shawn Wilson, Director of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations
Wickes 260
swilson@svsu.edu
(989) 964-7000

Ryan McCracken, Associate Director of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations
Wickes 260
rmmccrac@svsu.edu
(989) 964-7000

Debbi Abeare-Jacobs, Administrative Secretary
Wickes 260
dabearej@svsu.edu
(989) 964-7000