College of MedicineMD ProgramStudent AffairsStudent HandbookDisabilities and Accommodations

Disabilities and Accommodations

The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine makes accommodations available to students who have approved accommodations through WSU Spokane Access Services. Accommodations can be for a documented disability, temporary injury, other medical conditions, or a temporary change in abilities. Students seeking accommodations must follow procedures outlined in the Technical Standards Policy. More information is available on the WSU Spokane Access Services website. 

All students admitted to and enrolled in the WSU College of Medicine MD program must meet the Technical Standards throughout their enrollment.  

The college is responsible for the safety of patients with whom candidates will interact. Consideration of patient safety is an essential factor in establishing the skills necessary for admission, continued enrollment, promotion and graduation.  

Essential abilities and characteristics required for completion of the MD degree consist of certain minimum physical, cognitive, mental, and emotional abilities to ensure that candidates for admission, promotion, and graduation can participate fully in all aspects of medical training with or without reasonable accommodation. The ability to ultimately perform these essential skills is expected for continued enrollment, promotion, and graduation from the college. Therefore, all students must attest to their ability to fulfill the requirements of the program with or without accommodations as part of the acceptance process and annually during their enrollment.  

Disability Resource Professional

College Accommodations 

medicine.accommodations@wsu.edu  

Reasonable Accommodation 

The College of Medicine is in full compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended). The college abides by the Washington State University Disability Accommodations policy and Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment. The college does not discriminate against qualified applicants or enrolled students with disabilities. 

The college is committed to the full and equitable inclusion of qualified learners with disabilities. The Technical Standards are not intended to deter any candidate or enrolled student for whom reasonable accommodation will allow the fulfillment of the complete curriculum. Students who, after review of the Technical Standards, determine that they require reasonable accommodation to fully engage in the program should contact the Disability Resource Professional (DRP) to confidentially discuss their accommodation needs. Students will work with the Spokane Campus Access Services if the DRP is unavailable. Given the clinical nature of the MD program, time may be needed to create and implement appropriate accommodations. Accommodation is never retroactive; therefore, timely requests are essential and encouraged. 

If at any point during a student’s enrollment the student’s ability to meet the Technical Standards is compromised, it is the student’s responsibility to report this change via email to the medicine.accommodations@wsu.edu inbox. If at any time the college has reason to question a student’s certification that they meet the Technical Standards, the college can require the student undergo an evaluation and review by the college to determine whether the student is able to meet the Technical Standards. This may, at the college’s discretion, include an evaluation by an external medical professional designated by the school. 

Students who require accommodation at any time during their enrollment with the college of Medicine must seek approval from the college’s Disability Resource Professional. Students receiving accommodation approval must submit the accommodation letter to the medical school via email to medicine.accommodations@wsu.edu. Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with college policies and procedures.