Accessible Housing

MU Disability Services

View the MU Accessibility Map

Your decision to attend MU is the beginning of an exciting journey. Along with that excitement comes a lot of questions. Among them are safety, accessibility and ease of mobility across campus.

Your personal needs merit consideration, and helping you meet those needs is important to us. The Department of Residential Life at MU is committed to providing and improving accessible residence hall space for students with disabilities. Residential Life will help provide appropriate housing accommodations for students who show a documented need.

This brochure provides information about MU's residence halls and related facilities. We encourage you to visit our campus and tour the halls that interest you, either during Summer Welcome or by appointment through our Housing Operations office at any time during the year. Our staff will be happy to assist you and answer any questions.

Buildings and Rooms

Nineteen MU residence halls at various locations around campus are ADA accessible. (See the chart inside this brochure for detailed information.) Student rooms range in size from 120-150 square feet and can accommodate an extra wheelchair, desk, personal computer, microwave and a refrigerator that is 4.5 cubic feet or smaller. If you plan to bring your own furniture or other equipment, please call Housing Operations a minimum of four weeks before classes begin. Single occupancy rooms are available when medical need is verified and documented by your doctor; otherwise, single rooms are granted as space permits. Although independent living devices are the responsibility of the student, Housing Operations will provide necessary power sources.

In order to receive assistance, you must provide documentation of your need. You can do this most easily by sending an e-mail to Residential Life (reslife@missouri.edu) and either e-mailing, faxing or mailing appropriate documentation for housing assistance. You must also send separate documentation to the Office of Disability Services to facilitate academic assistance.

Halls and Amenities

Residence Hall Amenities (Halls listed by name with amenities)
Residence Hall Amenities (Halls grouped by specific amenities)

Campus Access

A Campus Accessibility Map is available online at ability.missouri.edu/mucats/adamap.asp. This map can be used to locate curb cuts and residence halls in relationship to other buildings on campus, and an additional map is located in the back of the housing booklet for locations of accessible residence halls.

For detailed information on accessibility within the residence halls, you may call Housing Operations at (573) 882-7211 or e-mail questions to reslife@missouri.edu.

Enhancing Personal Safety

Upon arrival, notify your residence hall coordinator of your medical concerns and needs. Your safety and well-being are of the utmost importance to us. Your hall coordinator will help you develop an emergency plan that meets your needs.

The City of Columbia's Enhanced 911 service provides specific information about your special needs to police, fire and ambulance personnel if an emergency situation arises in or near your hall. Forms for this service are available at iatservices.missouri.edu/voice/phone-service/911.html. Either complete the form online or print and mail the form to the City of Columbia.

Room Modifications

With appropriate advance notice, certain modifications, such as changing the type of door lock or lowering clothes racks, shelves and mirrors are easily accomplished. Visual and audio alarms are provided in a number of designated rooms. Students with visual or hearing disabilities who will benefit from these alarms must indicate their need early. This ensures assignment to an appropriately equipped room. They must also contact Residential Life immediately to explain their specific needs. There is no cost associated with these adjustments.

Personal and Other Assistants

Recruiting and supervising personal care assistants are the responsibilities of the student. However, there are campus and community resources available to help students with recruitment. The Office of Disability Services provides a Columbia Resource Guide, which includes contacts and resources for recruiting attendants. You can request a copy by calling (573) 882-4696. The MU Career Center (success.missouri.edu/career/) also provides an online help-wanted service where students can advertise positions.

Residential Life allows part-time assistants of the opposite sex to assist students in the residence hall; however, live-in assistants are required to be of the same sex and MUST be enrolled MU students.

Guide and service dogs may stay in your room. Please notify Housing Operations in advance if you plan to bring a service dog with you.

Summer Room Availability

Accessible housing is available during summer sessions. In addition, Cramer, Graham, Stafford, South and Laws halls are open nine months during the academic year and do not require residents to leave campus during semester breaks or holidays.

Dietary Needs

If you have special dietary needs, contact a member of the management staff at the dining locations you visit. For specific nutritional information about campus dining locations, visit the Campus Dining Services (CDS) Web site: food.missouri.edu. For more information, call the CDS office at (573) 882-FOOD (3663).

Learning community options

Learning communities are available to all students. These programs allow students with shared majors, interests or experiences to live together or near each other. Students who would like to join a community that is located in a hall that is not fully suited to their individual needs may join the community and participate in all community activities while living in another hall.

Freshman interest groups (FIGs) and sponsored learning communities are available to all residents. Once you apply to the University, you will receive information on all the housing options available. If you are interested in becoming a part of any of these learning communities, contact Residential Life at (573) 882-7275 for more information.

Parking and transportation

Parking & Transportation Services will issue a campus parking permit to accompany your state-issued permit. Employees and students will be required to pay a parking fee equal to the current parking rate. Use of a disabled permit is limited to the individual who has been issued the state disabled tag. Parking for personal assistants can also be arranged by contacting Parking and Transportation Services.

The Missouri Department of Revenue requires your physician to complete a "Physicians' Statement for Disabled Persons' license plates/placard" form. This form can be obtained from your physician's office or from the Parking and Transportation Office. Once the form is completed, take it to a Department of Revenue office to acquire a state disabled permit. The Missouri Department of Revenue may charge $2 per permit. Parking and Transportation Services will issue a temporary disabled permit for two weeks to be used until your state disabled permit arrives. Out-of-state students may bring in a permit from their home state with receipt of issue from that state.

An intra-campus, lift-equipped shuttle is available during the fall and spring semesters. Call Parking and Transportation Services two weeks before coming to MU for more information. There is no shuttle service during the summer session.

Lift-equipped Shuttle Service Hours

Fall and spring semesters only
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Saturday: 7 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
Sunday: 3 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

Contact the Disability Services Office at (573) 882-4696 to make arrangements for lift-equipped shuttle service during the day from your residence hall to wherever you need to go on campus during Fall and Spring semesters.

Produced by the Department of Residential Life 125 Jesse Hall, Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 882-7275 or 1-800-225-6075 (in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois) E-mail: reslife@missouri.eduWeb: reslife.missouri.edu

If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and need this publication in an alternative format, please notify us by calling (573) 882-7275.

The University of Missouri does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. For more information, call Human Resource Services at (573) 882-4256 or the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights.