Mission Statement Of Disability Support Services

Disability Support Services reflects the College's commitment to diversity by providing educational opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities through accessible programs, services and a campus environment in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability rights legislation. DSS also serves as a resource to faculty, staff and the College community by providing consultation and advocacy services on issues related to compliance.

The Disability Support Services office believes students need the best preparation possible for success in the community and workforce following graduation from Mount Union College. Therefore, the College is committed to providing equal opportunities in higher education to academically qualified students with disabilities who demonstrate potential for success in college. Students with disabilities attending the College will be integrated as completely as possible into the College community.

Federal Mandates

"No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States...shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)

"Subject to the provisions of this title, no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by such entity." (Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act)

Mount Union College has the right to:

• Identify and establish essential functions, abilities, skills, knowledge, and standards for courses, programs, services, activities and facilities;
• Request and receive, through DSS, current documentation that supports requests for accommodations, academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids and services;
• Deny a request for accommodations, academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services if the documentation demonstrates that the request is not warranted, or if the individual fails to provide appropriate documentation;
• Select among equally effective accommodations, adjustments and/or auxiliary learning aids and services;
• Refuse an unreasonable accommodation that imposes a fundamental alteration in a program or activity of the College.

Mount Union College has the responsibility to:

• Ensure that courses, programs, services, activities and facilities are available and usable in the most integrated and appropriate setting;
• Evaluate students on their abilities and not their disabilities;
• Maintain confidentiality of records and communication, except where permitted by law;
• Provide or arrange reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services for students with disabilities in courses, programs, jobs, activities and facilities;
• Provide information to students with disabilities in accessible formats upon request.

Non-Discrimination Statement

It is the policy of Mount Union College not to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, marital or parental status, or disability in student admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or employment as now or may hereafter be required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, regulations of the Internal Revenue Service, and all other applicable federal, state and local statutes, ordinances and regulations. Inquiries regarding compliance may be directed to (330) 823-2886, Associate Dean of Students, Hoover-Price Campus Center, or to (330) 829-6560, Director of Human Resources and Employee Development, Beeghly Hall.