The University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) within the Accessibility & Disability Services Department under the Division of Institutional Equity is committed to ensuring that all University courses, programs, and activities are accessible to UMBC students with disabilities through the provision of reasonable accommodations, modifications, or adjustments when necessary for access and participation that has been limited due to a disability barrier. UMBC prohibits discrimination against any individual on the basis of disability.
A UMBC student with a disability who feels they have not received or have been denied accommodations or disability access under the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA AA) as amended has the right to pursue a prompt and equitable resolution. The SDS office has established an internal appeals process to facilitate the resolution of concerns reported by UMBC students with disabilities. Documentation of a student’s disability and UMBC SDS accommodations must be on file in the SDS office for this process.
- Students registered with SDS with an accommodation letter are encouraged to attempt to resolve disability-related concerns informally first by contacting a UMBC Disability & Accessibility Specialist/staff person to discuss the circumstances of the situation.
- The Disability Specialist and the student will discuss possible solutions to the concerns and next steps or actions. The Disability Specialist may need to contact the instructor(s)/persons involved and will also ask the student to share any relevant correspondence related to the matter (for example, emails, a summary of conversations between involved parties, or supporting medical documentation, when appropriate).
- If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of their meeting or the proposed access solution plan recommended by the Disability Specialist, the student may be referred to meet with an SDS Assistant Director (AD) for a review of the concerns and a second opinion to explore additional solutions or options to remedy the concerns or barriers experienced.
- If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of this resolution plan and would like to request an appeal of the AD’s proposed solution, the student is welcome to submit an appeal to the department head, the Assistant Vice President for Accessibility & Disability Services (AVP). The student is asked to submit a statement outlining the actions or inactions that precipitated the grievance, including dates and persons involved, alleged violation or behavior, efforts or actions made to settle the matter informally, whether through the instructor/department, disability specialist, or Assistant Director, and then indicate the desired resolution/outcome that is being sought. As little or as much information as the student can provide assists the AVP in gathering information to best understand the circumstances.
- The AVP will schedule a meeting with the student to discuss the concerns (either in-person or virtually), will review supporting documentation, correspondence, and available information that is relevant (i.e. transcripts, advising notes, etc.), investigate the circumstances through additional information gathering from meetings with involved parties, and will attempt to resolve the problem through creating a final determination via an access solution, mediation, or corrective action plan. This process could include meetings with the department chair, supervisor, or Dean over the person(s) directly involved, to develop a reasonable resolution. If desired, a support person is welcome to attend any meetings with the student. A resolution finding and recommendation will be provided to the student in writing/email within 14 days of the meeting. If delayed pending additional information gathering needed, the student will be notified of the timeframe adjustments promptly.
- If a student does not believe the disability-access-related concern has been effectively resolved upon the AVP’s finding issuance, and feels that they have been the subject of disability-based discrimination, the student has the right to submit a formal complaint to UMBC’s Office of Equity & Civil Rights (ECR) for investigation (https://ecr.umbc.edu/).
- Students also have the right to seek information or to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/file-complaint).
Office of Student Disability Services (SDS)
Accessibility & Disability Services Department, Division of Institutional Equity
Math/Psychology Building, Room 212 (410) 455.2459 disAbility@umbc.edu