Once you are registered with ADS and approved for accommodations, you do not need to re-apply. You will continue to work with your assigned ADS specialist throughout your time at Towson.
Current ADS Students
Accessing Your Letter of Accommodation
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At the beginning of each term, log in to Accommodate to submit a semester request for your letter of accommodation ("memo").
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You may begin submitting your semester requests for:
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Summer: May 1st
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Fall: August 1st
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Winter: December 1st
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Spring: January 1st
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Once your specialist reviews your request, you will receive a copy of your letter of accommodation via email (you can also view it in Accommodate).
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Once you have received your letter of accommodation, it is your responsibility to share it with your professor by scheduling an appointment with them or meeting during office hours. We strongly encourage students to take this time to discuss how your accommodations will be implemented in each of your classes.
What You Need to Know...
Rights and Responsibilities
ADS students, staff and faculty are responsible for engaging in an interactive process as needed to determine and facilitate reasonable accommodations. Below are the responsibilities of each group:
Students:
- Initiate requests for your letter of accommodation in a timely manner, preferably early in the semester
- Provide professors with the ADS letter of accommodation and discuss how accommodations will be implemented in each course
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Inform your ADS specialist of any changes in your accommodation needs and provide updated documentation if requested
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Inform ADS of barriers to accessibility or problems regarding accommodations
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Maintain regular contact with your ADS specialist. Your ADS specialist is available to assist both you and your professors in implementing accommodations as they relate to specific course or program requirements. They can also discuss your academic progress, and refer you to other resources if/when needed.
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Meet essential qualifications and standards for programs and courses
ADS Staff:
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Provide students with letter of accommodation upon request
- Communicate with professors as needed to facilitate accommodations
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Meet with students as needed for ongoing support
- Ensure equal access to courses, programs and services
- Protect students' privacy and confidentiality
Faculty:
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Establish essential course requirements, and evaluate all students, including students with disabilites, on this basis
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Support and implement accommodations as identified in the ADS letter of accommodation
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Provide students the opportunity to meet privately to discuss how their accommodations will be used for their class
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Consult with ADS if accommodation requests conflict with course requirements
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Respect students' right to privacy and confidentiality
Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society
Delta Alpha Pi (DAP) Honor Society recognizes college students with disabilities for their academic achievement and promotes a positive message regarding students with disabilities. The TU chapter of DAP, Alpha Epsilon, was founded in 2009 and is one of more than 120 chapters at colleges and universities nationwide.
DAP is open to students with documented disabilities who demonstrate an interest in disability issues and meet specific GPA requirements. DAP facilitates development of leadership and advocacy skills, and provides opportunities for members to serve as mentors and role models. It also provides educational programming related to disability issues to the campus community.
Interested in learning more about DAP? Contact Josh Donaldson at jdonaldson AT_TOWSON.
ADS Peer Mentoring Program
The Accessibility and Disability Services Peer Mentoring Program is designed to pair incoming students with disabilities with upper class students who have demonstrated leadership capability and been academically successful at TU.
Mentors are trained to provide guidance and support to mentees as they become familiar with campus life and resources. By creating connections between new and more experienced students, the program helps personalize the university experience and create opportunities for rewarding personal relationships.
For more information, contact the ADS Peer Mentoring Program Coordinator, Jennifer Walsh, at jwalsh AT_TOWSON.
Federal Workforce Recruitment Program
Accessibility and Disability Services participates in the federal Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) which is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal employers with college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are seeking summer and permanent jobs.
Each fall, ADS arranges for WRP recruiters to conduct personal interviews with eligible students who are interested in participating. After candidates are selected by the WRP, their interview information is compiled in a searchable database for federal agencies to use in recruitment and hiring. Students must be eligible for a Schedule A letter that certifies their disability for federal employment, and ADS can assist students with obtaining this documentation.
For more information, please contact the TU WRP coordinator, Stephen Willems, at swillems AT_TOWSON.
Grievance/Complaint Resolution Procedures
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and TU policies and procedures prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.
Students who believe they have been discriminated against because of their disability, or who have a complaint regarding disability accommodations or services, should notify their ADS specialist as soon as possible. Should the complaint not be resolved at this level, the Director of ADS, Robyn McCray, should be notified at 410-704-2638 or rmccray AT_TOWSON. The Director will meet with the student concerned as soon as possible in an attempt to resolve the complaint, but no later than 10 working days after receipt of the complaint.
If the complaint is not resolved by Accessibility and Disability Services, or if the complaint includes the Director of ADS, the student may contact the ADA Coordinator and Civil Rights Investigator, in the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity at 410-704-0203 or ada AT_TOWSON.