Meet Our Team

• Administrator for Accessibility and Disability Services (ADS & SDS offices) with oversight for student and employee accommodations, disability services’ operations for students/staff/visitors, and ADA/Section 504 compliance and initiatives
• Responsible for managing policies, procedures, training, grievance and appeals process, staffing, and all fiscal operations/financial and budget management for the unit
• Primary liaison and consultant to University Committees, Provost’s Office, VPs & Deans, Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI), Human Resources, Student Affairs, Faculty Senate, General Counsel, Library, DO-IT, the Academic Success Center (ASC), Facilities Management, and the University of Maryland System (USM)
• Specialized training in psychoeducational and neuropsychological assessment, digital accessibility, ADA(AA), Section 504 & Title IX laws, and higher education administration

Michael Canale
Assistant Director, Office of Student Disability Services (SDS)

canale@umbc.edu
410-455-6358 (Desk)
410-688-5088 (Text, Facetime for DHOH students using ASL)

 

• Student Disability Services’ administrator responsible for assistive technology, IT accessibility consultation, and faculty liaison for course accessibility support
• Coordinator for Deaf and hard of hearing (DHOH) services and supervisor of ASL interpreter contractors
• Accessibility specialist with specialization in sensory disability challenges and accommodations (e.g.; vision, hearing, and autism)
• Assists Director in student grievance resolution, access concerns, and academic success planning for students with disabilities
• Trainer/Supervisor of SDS Graduate Assts for digital course material accessibility and special projects
• UMBC Inclusion council representative

• Student Disability Services’ administrator responsible for SDS accommodated testing administration
• Liaison for Orientation, Advising, and the Academic Success Center (ASC) offices assisting in resources and referrals for students with disabilities
• Responsible for disability services data management and serves as the Accommodate software administrator
• SDS representative to UMBC-USG campus (Universities at Shady Grove)
• DAPi Honor Society Co-Advisor
• UMBC Inclusion Council subcommittee member

• Intake & accommodation specialist
• Responsible for faculty, Residential Life, Counseling/Health, & Dining Services consultations
• Point of contact for disability services verification/eligibility accommodation forms (e.g., ETS, Graduate Admissions exams, and military requests)

• Manager of faculty and staff (employee) accommodations and disability access consultant for campus visitors
• Responsible for collaborations on campus accessibility initiatives, partnerships, training, access concerns/suggestions, and resource referrals
• Liaisons to multiple departments including Facilities Management, Environmental Safety & Health, Human Resources, Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA), General Counsel, Event planning, and University committees and academic departments/faculty for accessibility and inclusion initiatives and training campus-wide
• Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD), Access Maryland, and State ADA Coordinators liaison
• DAPi Honor Society Co-Advisor
• UMBC Inclusion Council subcommittee member

Erin Minnigh
Administrative Assistant II/Office Manager

Office of Accessibility & Disability Services (ADS) & Student Disability Services (SDS)

eminnigh@umbc.edu
410-455-8455

• Administrative support to ADS & SDS staff
• Responsible for all office business services, financial, payroll, procurement, billing/payment, maintenance and inventory operations

• Administrative support for the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) front office
• Manages accommodated student testing, procedures, and reception office operations
• Responsible for hiring, training, and supervision of student worker office staff
• Coordinator of SDS communications and inquiries

Part-Time SDS Staff

• Accessible course materials, assistive technology, and special project support

Garvit Patwa (HCC MS graduate student)

Graduate Assistant, SDS Accommodated testing and special projects support

disAbility@umbc.edu

• Accommodated testing administration, accessible course materials, database and website support

Julie Rosenthal
Program Management Specialist (temporary)

julier@umbc.edu

• Website and Social Media Management
• Testing & reception desk support

• Data entry and office reception support

Student Staff 2023:

Sumra Afzal               Ikeoluwa Adeloye          

Jason Cummings       Vidhi Panchal 

Rebecca John             Anita Kagbude

Bargav Katikey          Sivaji Konka

Alexander Marc         Vaishnavi Patil

Abdul Wahed            Shreya Salgia

Kimi Cease                Harshitha Yentrapragada