Students with disabilities have the right to:
- An equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from all courses, programs, services, activities and facilities at UMBC;
- Reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids that allow for access, inclusion, and participation;
- Confidentiality of personal information pertaining to their disability diagnosis and challenges and disability documentation stored securely;
- Educational materials and University information available in accessible and alternate formats;
- Request changes to, or terminate, accommodations at any time during enrollment by contacting SDS;
- Access an appeal/ grievance process.
Students with disabilities have the responsibility to:
- Meet qualifications and maintain essential standards for courses, programs, services, and activities;
- Self-identify as an individual with a disability when accommodations are needed and seek information and assistance from campus support offices;
- Demonstrate and/or document (from an appropriate professional) how the disability limits their participation or creates a barrier in courses, programs, services, and/or activities;
- Follow established University procedures for obtaining information, services, and reasonable accommodations related to disability support;
- Meet with SDS staff for an interactive discussion to determine accommodations needed for educational or residential housing access;
- Notify SDS of changes in disability status (e.g., worsening condition, new diagnoses) or course enrollment;
- Request accommodation letters be sent to faculty each semester through the Accommodate online portal;
- Read and respond to all correspondence from SDS and faculty in a timely manner;
- Notify SDS of accommodation challenges that impact access, or if an accommodation is not provided, is denied, or there is differential treatment or unauthorized disclosure related to disability status;
- Abide by university and school’s code of conduct;
- Provide feedback to SDS regarding their experience and services provided through participating in an annual student survey.
The Student Disability Services (SDS) Office has the right to:
- Confirm disability status and request and receive current, relevant documentation that supports requests for reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services;
- Have designated SDS staff engage in an interactive process with students to determine reasonable accommodations;
- Coordinate and provide effective alternative accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services to ensure access;
- Deny a request for accommodations, academic adjustments, or auxiliary aids if documentation and interactive process do not demonstrate that the request is reasonable, appropriate, and warranted for access, or if the student fails to provide appropriate documentation of disability status and functional limitations.
The Student Disability Services (SDS) Office has the responsibility to:
- Ensure that courses, programs, services, and activities and facilities are equally accessible and inclusive to all students;
- Respond to requests for accommodations, support, or consultation in a timely manner;
- Provide or arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodations,academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids based on disability access needs;
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality of records and communication.
UMBC Faculty have the right to:
- Establish essential course requirements (in conjunction with their department/school);
- Evaluate the academic work of students with disabilities according to the same criteria of evaluation utilized for all other students in the class;
- Request that students utilize the designated Student Disability Services process for requesting and using accommodations;
- Consult with SDS to determine reasonable accommodations and/or implementation of approved accommodations given the requirements of the course;
- Consult with SDS and/or the student if concerns arise with the accommodation process.
UMBC Faculty have the responsibilities to:
- Foster an accessible learning environment for all learners;
- Establish essential course requirements, and evaluate all students, including students with disabilities, on this basis;
- Support and implement accommodations as identified in the SDS letter of accommodation;
- Provide the opportunity to meet privately at the student’s request to discuss how accommodations will work in their course;
- Contact SDS in a timely manner to discuss any questions or concerns regarding accommodations for students with disabilities;
- Respect students’ right to privacy and confidentiality.