What is a Disability?

Montana Tech adheres to the Civil Rights definition of a disability. Eligibility for Civil Rights protection requires the applicant to meet one of the following three criteria in the civil rights definition of disability.

1. Have a physical or mental condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
2. Have a record of such a physical or mental condition.
3. Be regarded as having such an impairment, whether actually having the impairment or not.

Examples of disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Arthritis
• Attention deficit disorders
• Blindness/low vision
• Cerebral palsy
• Communication disorders, deafness/hearing impairments
• Emotional/psychological disabilities
• Multiple sclerosis
• Seizure disorders
• Specific learning disabilities
• Spinal cord injuries
• Temporary disabilities
• Traumatic brain injuries, and
• Other health impairments

Each student must provide current written documentation that verifies the existence of the disability. Verification of the disability should include a diagnosis, a description of the functional limitations that may affect academic performance, a rating of severity and a recommendation for accommodations. The documentation must contain the printed and signed name of a physician, psychologist, rehabilitation professional, social worker or any authority qualified or certified to assess the disability. This person cannot be related to the student.

Montana Tech DSS reserves the right to request additional documentation. All documents are regarded with strict confidentiality. No documents will be released to any internal or external individual, department or agency without the written permission of the student or the student's guardian. On occasion, statistical information may be distributed to federal, state and/or local legal or auditing authorities.

Contact Student Life
Engineering Hall, Room 102
406-496-4477 or e-mail