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Disabilities:
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Director's Welcome
 Thank you for visiting Messiah College's Disability Services website. As a private college, Messiah is "unapologetically Christian." Messiah College is dedicated to certain foundational values, including the importance of the person.
regardless of gender, race, nationality, status, or position, because each person is created in the image of God..." In support of this commitment, Messiah College formally initiated a Disability Services office in the Fall of 1996. Thirty-six students were served that year primarily through instructional accommodation. About 130 students receive accommodations for disabilities ranging from Attention Deficit Disorder and Learning Disabilities to psychiatric disorders and vision or hearing impairments. Housing accommodations are provided for many students with chronic health problems or physical limitations. The main campus in Grantham, PA is situated on 360 beautiful acres in a park-like setting. Located on the rolling hills of the Appalachian mountains, the campus is not without challenge to those using wheelchairs. One should have sufficient arm strength to move among campus facilities, or have use of motorized equipment. Designated parking areas near most buildings assure good access for those using vehicles. Most buildings are accessible, and sidewalks are well-tended. Pennsylvania does get snow. Crews are out early and often, and routes used by students with mobility impairments are cleaned first. Your safety is our primary concern. Many residence halls are accessible and modern. New science and academic buildings provide access to quality labs and classrooms. Older residence halls have been renovated to update their decor and facilities, and elevators and ramps have been added to most to improve accessibility. Adaptive technology is available or can be acquired if needed to meet specific needs. The campus is fully networked, and dormitory rooms have network access. In some cases, the College has arranged for specialized software or hardware to assure that students with disabilities have full access to library and Internet resources. Audio support for students with hearing impairment is available campus-wide, and a CCTV (closed circuit television) is available in the Murray Library for those needing text enlargement. E-text is widely available, and the college offers transcription services as needed. Liberated Learning, a new speech-to-text project is underway. I think you'll agree that this is a very beautiful place to be and to study. Be sure to look through the Virtual Campus for pictures of the campus. You'll love our covered bridge over the Yellow Breeches creek, which flows gracefully through campus. For students interested in studying at our "Philly Campus" located adjacent to Temple University, special arrangements can be made with Temple Disability Services for accommodations. Housing requirements currently specify that Messiah students must reside on-site at the Philly Campus. This facility is NOT accessible for those using wheelchairs. The nature of the five converted townhouses prevents significantly improving accessibility. If attendance there is part of your plans, special arrangements for housing at Temple may be required. We will do all we can to facilitate your attendance there. We suggest you inquire early to allow for arrangements to be made if possible. Messiah College is committed, not only to the legal requirements of the ADA, but to the moral and ethical responsibility to treat all members of the community with fairness. Standards remain high, but students are accommodated when possible to assure opportunities to demonstrate skills and knowledge. If you have questions after looking through our pages, please feel free to send an email or call. I look forward to hearing from you. Keith W. Drahn, Ph. D., Director
Messiah College Disability Services
Phone: (717) 796-5382
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