Students with Disabilities

Minimal Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation (KCOM)

Categories, Standards & Examples
Application Procedures for Accommodations

Introduction

A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) is committed to equal access for all qualified applicants and students. Minimal Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation (the “Standards”) state expectations of KCOM students. The Standards provide sufficient information to allow the candidate to make an informed decision for application. Minimal Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation are a guide to accommodation of students with disabilities. Accommodations can be made for disabilities in some instances, but a student must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. Procedures to apply for accommodations are found at the conclusion of this policy.

Statement of Inclusion

KCOM admits and matriculates qualified osteopathic medical students. KCOM prohibits discrimination against anyone on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual preference or disability. KCOM expects all applicants and students to meet certain minimal technical standards as set forth herein. In adopting these standards the College believes it must keep in mind the ultimate safety of the patients who may be involved in the course of the student’s education as well as those patients for whom its graduates will eventually care. The Standards reflect what the College believes are reasonable expectations of osteopathic medical students (and physicians) in learning and performing common osteopathic medical treatment.

Categories, Standards and Examples

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care. In order to carry out the activities described below, students must be able to consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate, analyze, and synthesize data. Students must possess, at a minimum, the following abilities and skills: observation; communication; motor; sensory; strength and mobility; intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative; and, behavioral and social. These abilities and skills comprise the categories of KCOM Minimal Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation and are defined below. Standards and examples appear in table format here. The examples mentioned are not intended as a complete list of expectations, but only as samples demonstrating the associated standards.

1. Observation: Students must have sufficient vision to observe demonstrations, experiments and laboratory exercises. Students must have adequate visual capabilities for proper evaluation and treatment integration. They must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and up close.
2. Communication: Students should be able to hear, observe and speak to patients in order to elicit and acquire information, examine them, describe changes in mood, activity, and posture, and perceive their nonverbal communication. Students must also be able to communicate effectively in oral and written form with staff and faculty members, the patient and all members of the health care team.
3. Motor: Motor demands include reasonable endurance, strength and precision. Students should have sufficient motor function to execute movements reasonably required for general care and emergency treatment. Such movements require coordination of both gross and fine muscular activity, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
4. Sensory: Students need enhanced sensory skills including accuracy within specific tolerances and functional use for laboratory, classroom and clinical experiences. Students who are otherwise qualified but who have significant tactile sensory or proprioceptive disabilities must be evaluated medically. These disabilities include individuals who were injured by significant burns, have sensory motor deficits, cicatrix formation, or have malformations of the upper extremities.
5. Strength and mobility: Students must have sufficient posture, balance, flexibility, mobility, strength and endurance for standing, sitting and participating in the laboratory, classroom and clinical experiences.
6. Intellectual, conceptual, perceptual, integrative and quantitative: These abilities include reading, writing, measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. In addition, students should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of physicians, requires all of these intellectual abilities.
7. Behavioral and social: Students must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships. Students must be able to tolerate physically demanding workloads and to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical problems of patients. Compassion, maturity, honesty, ethics, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admission and educational processes. Students shall be prepared to endure the physical and emotional demands of the medical profession.
   

Application Procedures for Accommodations

The institution remains open to the possibilities of human potential and achievement, providing supports for students with disabilities. The Vice President and Dean of Students are responsible for administration of and compliance with the Technical Standards and Accommodations Policy through the Director of Student Resources. Accepted students and matriculates who have disabilities and are otherwise qualified may request accommodations in writing to the Director of Student Resources, A.T. Still University, 800 West Jefferson Street, Kirksville, Missouri, 63501.

The Director of Student Resources will confer with the student and may request documentation and may refer the student for individual assessment by qualified experts. The KCOM Technical Standards and Accommodations Committee shall review any requests for accommodations. The Committee determines whether there are disabilities as protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and then decides if reasonable accommodations can be made without altering the essential nature of the medical school program.

The Committee makes recommendations for or against accommodations to the Director of Student Resources who then notifies the student and appropriate faculty and staff members who have an educational need to know. The student can appeal the decision in writing within ten days of notification to the Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of KCOM.