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Disability Support Services

Welcome to Disability Support Services
Main Office: 8:30am - 4:30pm | 617.879.5995 | Fax: 617.608.5888
Boston 617.879.5995 | Manchester 603.314.1709 | Worcester 857.337.5015
DSS@mcphs.edu

Disability Support Services (DSS) is a part of the Division of Student Affairs and provides services and accommodations to students across our four campuses (Manchester, Boston, Worcester, and Newton). MCPHS University and DSS are committed to ensuring that students with disabilities have equal, effective, and meaningful access to educational opportunities and programs through the Americans with Disabilities Act Amended (ADAAA) of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students who are otherwise qualified for admission are encouraged to meet with Disability Support Services to discuss reasonable accommodations on the basis of disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that limits a major life activity.

As part of the process, a student requesting accommodations may need to provide DSS with documentation of their disability. Documentation which may be required includes medical records, an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a 504 Plan, a psychoeducational evaluation, and/or letters from physicians, psychologists, or a licensed mental health professional.

Determination of reasonable accommodations is a deliberative and collaborative process between the student and DSS. This process often includes DSS’s review of third-party documentation provided by the student’s qualified professional. MCPHS University will consider the student’s disability, history, experience, request, and the unique characteristics of the course, program, or requirement, in order to determine if a specific accommodation is reasonable.

MCPHS University ensures FERPA compliance and therefore all information submitted to Disability Support Services will remain confidential.

For general information or specific questions, please call DSS at 617.879.5995 or email the office at DSS@mcphs.edu.

To initiate services, please complete STEPS 1 and 2 in the process described below:

Student completes the DSS Student Request for Services Form (SRS). Requests can be completed online, or if a student received a paper SRS, requests can be mailed, faxed, or hand delivered to the DSS office.

Student submits supporting, current, clinical documentation from a qualified professional which may include past 504 plans, IEP's, psychoeducational evaluations, and/or letters from physicians, psychologists, or a licensed mental health professional. Documentation can be uploaded to the online DSS Student Request for Services Form; mailed, faxed, or hand delivered to the DSS office.

Once DSS has received the Student Request for Services Form and qualifying documentation, DSS will invite the student (at the email address provided) to an Intake Appointment. During this appointment, individualized services and reasonable accommodations will be discussed.

 If a student is found eligible to receive services through DSS, the student will be provided a DSS Accommodation Letter, will receive training on approved services, and DSS will review how a student presents their Accommodation Letter to each professor, every semester.

Each student who receives a DSS Accommodation Letter is responsible for:

  • Communicating their individual accommodations to each professor.
  • Making all applicable ongoing, electronic service requests (testing, note-taking, and alternate text requests) within the specified time-frame.

Students are encouraged to follow-up with DSS as needed; DSS professional staff members are available to review communication of a students' approved accommodations with their professors, discuss additional accommodation requests, and/or disability-related resources and supports.