Get Connected with Our Office
We are thrilled you are interested in attending UMD and learning more about Disability Resources! Do you have questions about how to work with our office, the accommodation process or the types of accommodations we provide? Our office is ready to connect with you and to answer your questions!
We suggest scheduling your welcome meeting the summer before you start college, but you can do so at anytime that you would like. The goal at this meeting is to get to know one another, find out about your lived experience with disability, and to discuss accommodations that would provide you equitable access to your coursework or other campus experiences. You, the student, will be the center of this conversation, and we'll need your insights and participation in the interactive process to achieve our goal of identifying accommodations that are right for your access needs and your courses. By the end of the meeting, we usually have our plan in place and we'll be ready to communicate your accommodations to your instructors right as classes start!
At the end of this meeting, we will schedule a second meeting for the week before classes start to make any changes, check in with you as your start the transition to college, send your accommodation letters, and discuss non-accommodation resources or other referrals that might support you in your first weeks or months on campus.
Please submit your disability documentation to us (you can email digital versions directly to your Disability Specialist's email) prior to your welcome meeting if at all possible. If you don’t have this for the meeting, we can still meet!
Note: While a 504 or IEP plan can be a useful discussion point for this conversation, those plans expire upon graduation, so please know that accommodations in higher education may be different in order to comply with applicable law. We will be discussing accommodations to provide access, whereas some accommodations from secondary schools were intended to guarantee success. Rest assured, there are a plethora of accommodations that create equitable access in higher education, and our conversation (and all your work with Disability Resources) will be individualized to your access needs!
Are you planning a campus tour, visiting on your own, or interested in chatting on the phone or over Zoom? If so, we have you covered. If you would like to meet with someone from our office please fill out the Prospective Student Visit Form at least 2 weeks before your campus visit or desired meeting date. We will connect you with our Disability Support Coordinator for a 45-60 minute meeting to answer your questions and to discuss our accommodations process with you.
Common Accommodations Available
Listed below are the most commonly requested accommodations.
Specific barriers to academic inclusion are discussed with students,
and other accommodations may be provided on a case-by-case basis.
- Exam/quiz accommodations: extended time or quiet environment
- Reading accommodations: audio books, e-text, text to speech software
- Note taking accommodations
- Classroom accommodations
- Interpreting
- Accessible Technology
- Housing & Dining accommodations
Admission Requirements
All students must meet UMD’s admission standards. If you have special circumstances, including the impact of disability on your education that you would like us to consider, please submit a letter with your application explaining what you would like us to know. Your application will be reviewed by both our office and Admissions staff.
What are the differences between high school and college?
High school College
| The case manager and or parent act as the student’s advocate. | The student is their own advocate. |
| (IDEA) Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act | (ADA) Americans with Disabilities Act / 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 |
| Accommodations and modifications are communicated to the teachers by the case manager. | Students must request accommodations and provide professional documentation. |
| Services are delivered to the student. | Students must request accommodations at the college’s disability services office. |
| The school informs the parents of the student’s progress. | The school cannot communicate with the parents without the student’s permission. |
| There are regular meetings to discuss the student’s progress. | Students are responsible to monitor their own progress and seek assistance as needed. |
| Services may include individually designed instruction, curriculum modifications, and accommodations based upon the IEP. | Only reasonable accommodations are available based on professional documentation. |
| Teachers approach you if they believe you need assistance. | Professors are usually open and helpful but most expect you to initiate contact if you need assistance. |
| IEP/504 Plans are implemented and followed. | IEP/504 plans expire when you go to college. |