Basics of Disability Access
for Faculty and Staff at UMD

You have probably noticed that more students with disablities are asking for academic accommodations in your classes because each year, more students with disabilities are attending UMD.  Most of these requests are legitimate and reasonable, but others may leave you wondering how to respond. This guide is designed to help with those decisions.

• Students with disabilities are entitled to disability accommodation by law. However, reasonable accommodation does not fundamentally alter a course or reduce the academic standards of a course or program.

• Please do not provide disability accommodation to students not registered with Disability Services & Resources (DS&R). This sets a precedent for services that may not be warranted and opens both faculty and the University to possible lawsuits. Instead, refer these students to DS&R. We want to work with you.

• Students registered with DS&R are required to provide documentation of their disability. Based on that documentation and discussion with the student, DS&R staff authorize accommodations designed to mitigate the impact of that student's disability. DS&R is hpapy to involve you in the accommodation process. You are the expert on what is essential in your classes.

• Please read the forms students ask you to sign. If you prefere students to bring these forms to you during your office hours (rather than before or after class) to give you time to discuss the requested accommodations, tell them. If you have questions about the accommodation, ask the student or call the DS&R counselor who signed the request form.

• Please drop off your exams to DS&R before the scheduled exam time. This is especially important when the student needs to begin early to use the extended time. (The accommodated beginning time is on the request form.)

• Students need note taking services for several kinds of disability limitations. Your help in identifying note takers is invaluable. Please continue to make the announcements and encourage volunteers.

• If you have a sign language interpreter assigned to your class, please include them on the class alias so they may be informed and prepared for each class.

DS&R supports faculty as well as students. We are your partners in education. Please call us with your questions and concerns.