Accessibility and Health Promotion

You Belong Here!

The Office of Accessibility and Health Promotion delivers services designed to assist students in maximizing successful participation in college life and in promoting their well-being--academically, socially, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Services and resources include:

• Accessibility and Disability Support Services: We are committed to supporting equal opportunity access for those with disabilities.  
• Health & Wellness Promotion: We offer education, activities and Student Health 101 resources that encourage making healthy choices and building positive habits.
• Health Services: NDMU offers a University-sponsored student injury and illness plan. 

Notre Dame of Maryland University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and equal access to its programs and services for people with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Procedures to Register for Disability Support Services

1. Appointment

Make an appointment with the Director of Accessibility and Health Promotion to discuss your request to register with Disability Support Services.  It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the appointment.  It is recommended to schedule with the Office of Disability Support Services several weeks before classes begin.

Request an appointment here: http://www.ndm.edu/content/accessibility-and-health-promotion-appointment-request

Call directly at 410-532-5401

2. Documentation

Submit documentation of your disability from a certified professional or medical provider.  

Services can be accessed when a student provides the Director of Accessibility and Health Promotion with documentation from a certified professional (e.g. director of special education, audiologist, psychologist, licensed counselor, physician) that describes the specific disability. The student will be asked to provide the most current documentation of the student’s disability.  Students requesting accommodations must have a disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).  If the student does not have sufficient documentation, the student may be requested to seek further evaluation/documentation from a certified professional.  This information must be sent or provided directly to the Director of Accessibility and Health Promotion. All shared information is confidential.

For specifics and further details on documentation guidelines please visit: http://www.ndm.edu/student-life/accessibility/documentation-guidelines

3.  Meet 

Meet to discuss accommodations; after the submission of paperwork, the student will be contacted by the Director of Accessibility and Health Promotion to schedule a meeting to discuss accommodations through an interactive process. An appropriate accommodation plan will be developed to share with professors. 

An accommodation must be considered reasonable.  An accommodation is not considered reasonable if:

• It is a direct threat to the health or safety of other.
• It is a substantial or fundamental change in an essential element of curriculum or there is a substantial alteration in the manner in which services are provided.

 Examples of services offered may include but are not limited to:

• Alternative testing arrangements as needed (e.g. extended time, use of a computer, distraction-free environment)
• Scribe for notes
• Access to recorded books
• Audio capture of lectures
• Interpreting services
• Referral to appropriate services 
• Assistive technology
• Accessible housing
• Advocacy
• Counseling
• Meal plan accommodations

4. Receipt of Accommodation Letters

The student obtains accommodation letters and submits the letters to professors.  It is the student’s responsibility to share the accommodation letter with appropriate faculty members.  The Director of Accessibility and Health Promotion, Office of Disability Support Services, will consult with instructors on an as needed basis to provide clarity regarding auxiliary supports/services and accommodations.  The discussion of student auxiliary supports/services and accommodations with faculty focuses on the appropriate implementation of said accommodations in the classroom; the nature of a student's disability is not disclosed and remains confidential.  

5. Responsibilities

It is the student's responsibility to make an appointment with the Director of Accessibility and Health Promotion each semester to request and develop a current accommodation plan.  Reasonable accommodations will not be provided without an updated letter each semester and reasonable accommodations are not retroactive.

For specifics and further details on auxiliary supports/services and accommodations please visit: http://www.ndm.edu/student-life/accessibility-and-health-promotion

 Following the submission of accommodation letters to faculty:

• If a student’s reasonable accommodation is for a note taker, it is recommended the student let the instructor know as early as possible.  DSS will provide a letter to the student which will need to be presented to the instructor.  The instructor will make an anonymous announcement regarding the need for the note taker and offer a financial stipend.  It is up to the student as to whether the student would like to remain anonymous or identify herself or himself to the note taker.
• For alternative test taking procedures, it is the student’s responsibility to submit the accommodation letter at least 48 hours prior to an exam so that arrangements can be made in a timely fashion.  Additionally, the student should notify the instructor immediately if there is a scheduling conflict so that the student and the professor can coordinate a mutually agreeable time to schedule the exam. Arrive on time for your exam; otherwise, if you are tardy your accommodations for extended time can't be guaranteed or implemented appropriately..
• If a student uses a laptop, software programs, or any other assistive technology to take an exam, notify the instructor a week in advance so that arrangements can be made. 
• In order to receive alternative textbooks in a timely manner it will be necessary to let DSS know several weeks in advance so that the publisher can be notified.  Contact DSS for instructions on how to proceed with obtaining text books in alternate format.
• If a student is having challenges with accommodations and would like steps to take for resolving issues contact the Director of Accessibility and Health Promotion and read about steps for grievances here.