SDS Registered Students

Staff and student meeting

Services

Once you have completed your initial intake appointment and been approved for disability-based accommodations, you are a student “registered” with SDS. Registered students can contact SDS staff members for appointments to discuss accommodation questions or concerns year-round.

  • Accommodation questions for already registered SDS students can be answered by contacting a staff member directly through email, the SDS general office email, or the office phone line at (410) 455-2459 or by making an appointment in their online Accommodate student portal.

Upon accommodation approval, the next step is to have your accommodation letters sent to your faculty members. You must submit a “Semester Request” every semester you want your letters sent out.

Semester Requests

A Semester Accommodation Request must be completed for each semester a student is enrolled and seeking accommodations.

INSTRUCTIONS: The Semester Accommodation Request can be completed and submitted to SDS through Accommodate. Click “Student Accommodate Login”  to access Accommodate. The Semester Request request notifies SDS that you would like an official accommodation letter sent to your faculty member(s) and designates which accommodations and courses you need to use them in. This is done every semester you are enrolled in courses that you would like letters sent out.

Please remember that accommodations are not retroactive. They begin when the letter is sent to the faculty member. Submitting your request at the beginning of the semester is essential for timely accommodation implementation, course access, and your success. Accommodation letters can be sent at any time during the academic year. They can be revised/amended when necessary, but they are implemented once a letter of approval is sent from SDS to the instructor.

If a student’s status changes, such as a worsening of a medical condition, or a new diagnosis, hospitalization, change from undergraduate to graduate program, engaging in a fieldwork/internship placement, study abroad, etc., we request that you notify an SDS staff member promptly so we can best support you and determine if any change in accommodation is needed.

Testing Accommodations

Quiz/Exam Administration and Proctoring is provided to students who are registered with Student Disability Services and have been approved for testing accommodations. Students may schedule their quizzes/exams at any time during the semester.

SDS requires 96 hours advance notice to ensure testing space availability and to ensure we receive the quizzes/tests. SDS encourages scheduling all quizzes and exams as soon as they are known; the course syllabus often lists all dates for the entire semester. For additional information, please go to the Testing Accommodation page.

Interpreting (ASL) Requests

UMBC’s Student Disability Services (SDS) office can coordinate interpreters/transcribers and related services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individual’s communication access needs. A minimum of 4 business days are needed to fulfill interpreting requests, but as much advanced notice as possible is preferred. Please schedule an appointment with the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services Coordinator, Mr. Michael Canale, to review access needs and procedures (email or schedule using the Accommodate online portal).

**For any interpreting requests outside of the scheduled course time/class schedule, registered Deaf/HOH SDS students should complete the Interpreter/Transcriber Form.

Campus visitors/guests requesting interpreter or transcriber access: Please make accommodation requests known to the department/office they will visit two weeks in advance when possible. Departments will coordinate with SDS for accommodation provision if needed.

UMBC departments needing an interpreter or transcriber (or related communication access services) for meetings or events should coordinate with SDS at least two weeks in advance. Please feel free to contact the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services Coordinator anytime during the semester when assistance or consultation is needed. Costs/billing and payment process for securing interpreters will be discussed during scheduling.

SDS provides deaf/HOH services for all registered SDS students and should be initiated and requested by the student.

For departments seeking to provide access without a student/employee request, please get in touch with the Deaf/HOH Coordinator to discuss the process for delivering general accessibility. For all public events on campus, departments are encouraged to include and plan for accessibility well in advance.