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As defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, a "person with a disability" is someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, or concentrating.

It is important to know that an impairment in and of itself does not necessarily constitute a disability. The degree of the impairment must be significant enough to "substantially limit" one or more major life activities. Documentation must address the substantial limitation posed by the particular disability for which an accommodation is being requested.

Per the , a person with a "disability" is someone who:

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,
• Has a history or record of such an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or
• Is perceived by others as having such an impairment (such as a person who has scars from a severe burn).

Conditions that can be considered "disabilities" include (but are not limited to):

• ADD/ ADHD
• Learning Disabilities
• Mental Health Conditions (e.g. Anxiety, depression, PTSD)
• Autism
• Blindness or low vision
• Deafness or hearing loss
• Brain Injury/Traumatic Brain Injury
• Cancer
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Fatigue
• Diabetes
• Mobility Disabilities
• Intellectual Disabilities
• Temporary conditions (e.g. surgery recovery, medical treatment and intervention, accident recovery such as broken bones, etc.)

If you have a condition and are not sure if it meets the criteria for accommodation, please contact Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@umgc.edu

Accessibility refers to the proactive design of environments, services, technology, and resources to ensure everyone—including people with disabilities—can use without additional modifications. It’s about removing barriers before they arise. Examples include wheelchair ramps, captioned videos, and websites designed for screen readers.

Accommodations are individual adjustments made to help someone overcome a specific barrier that still exists. They are personalized solutions tailored to a person's needs, rather than broad design principles. Examples include extended test time for a student with dyslexia or providing sign language interpreters for someone who is deaf.

Think of accessibility as universal design that benefits many people, while accommodations are specific modifications for an individual's unique situation. Ideally, when accessibility is done well, fewer accommodations are needed!

A reasonable accommodation is a modification or support that helps ensure equal access to programs, services, or activities for individuals with disabilities. Accommodations are determined on an individual basis and must not: 

• Fundamentally alter the essential elements of a course or program
• Create an undue financial or administrative burden on the university
• Pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others

We work closely with students to find solutions that support access while maintaining the integrity of academic programs. Some examples of accommodations could include extra time to complete exams/assignments, regular check-ins,  clarification from instructors, etc.

Accessibility Services encourages enrolled students to register with the office right away since accommodations are not retroactive.Ìý More examples of accommodations, which must be approved on a case-by-case basis, can be found on the Forms, Resources, & Tips page.

No. It is the student’s responsibility to request each session or  term during which accommodations are required. Without this request, the office will not notify a student’s instructor. An instructor is not obligated to accommodate students from whom they have not received formal notice.

Accommodations are developed individually based on each student’s disability-related needs and the documentation they provide. The process includes collaboration between the student, course instructor, and Accessibility Services. Accommodations may vary depending on course content or structure.Ìý

Student needs may vary based on course requirements, format, and content. If eligible, students can request additional accommodations at any time during the term. The student's file will be re-evaluated to ensure the request is reasonable.

Additional documentation will be required if the current documentation on file does not support the request. It is the student's responsibility to give instructors reasonable notice of these changes.Ìý

Absolutely! Accessibility Services provides services and accommodations to all UMGC students regardless of where they are around the globe! The process of registering for accommodations will be the same, no matter where you are located.

In addition, our office also has designated staff to serve as liaisons to cover Europe and Asia.

If you have questions regarding how to register, refer to the Get Started section on UMGC’s Accessibility Services website or contact us via email at accessibilityservices@umgc.edu.

The best time to request accommodations is immediately after registering for classes each semester or approximately 3 weeks before the first day of class. Accommodations are NOT retroactive and cannot begin if you are not registered with our office. Contact Accessibility Services for steps to request accommodations if you do not already have an accommodation plan with UMGC. Timely requests allow Accessibility Services to adequately coordinate services and provide instructors with reasonable notice.Ìý

±·´Ç³Ù¾±´Ú²âÌý´¡³¦³¦±ð²õ²õ¾±²ú¾±±ô¾±³Ù²âÌý³§±ð°ù±¹¾±³¦±ð²õ and your designated overseas campus (±«²Ñ³Ò°äÌý´¡²õ¾±²¹Ìý´Ç°ùÌý±«²Ñ³Ò°äÌý·¡³Ü°ù´Ç±è±ð) if you make any changes to your schedule and/or location. Accessibility Services will follow up if any additional information is needed.

Faculty members who receive formal notification of accommodations are required to implement the accommodations as outlined in the student’s approved plan. However, misunderstandings can sometimes occur—especially if there has not been any direct communication between the student and instructor.

If you have concerns about how an accommodation is being implemented, it is important to first contact your instructor directly to discuss the issue. Open communication often helps clarify how the accommodation applies within the context of the course.

If you do not receive a timely response, or if your instructor indicates they will not provide an accommodation that is listed in your plan, please contact Accessibility Services immediately at accessibilityservices@umgc.edu. We are here to support you and ensure your accommodations are properly implemented.

Accessibility Services will contact faculty members by sending accommodation letters once a student who is registered with Acessibility Services has requested them for the term. Students should verify that each instructor has received the letter and discuss the accommodation plan with them. These letters outline the accommodations you are entitled to but do not include specific details about your disability to protect your privacy.

If you feel that your instructors need more context to understand your situation, you can choose to share more details directly with your instructors if you are comfortable.Ìý

If you have more questions or need support, feel free to email accessibilityservices@umgc.edu.

If you’ve lost contact with your diagnosing physician, start by checking whether you have any older medical records or provider’s notes. Accessibility Services can review both new and existing documentation, including recent IEPs or 504 Plans, to help determine eligibility.

If you don’t have access to any of the above, any qualified diagnosing professional can submit a medical verification letter or complete UMGC’s Third-Party Disability Verification Form. The professional must be licensed in a field relevant to your condition—for example, a psychiatrist for mental health conditions or a medical doctor for physical health conditions.

For further guidance or questions, please contact Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@umgc.edu.

Although you may not have an official diagnosis, you may still be eligible for accommodations. To make that determination, Accessibility Services will require a formal letter or Third-Party Verification Form from your treating physician explaining your situation, limitations, and impact on academics.

Review the Get Started page for instructions on submitting documentation.

Pregnancy and childbirth are not typically covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, if a student is experiencing complications due to pregnancy or childbirth, they may qualify for supportive measures through the Title IX office.

We encourage you to contact the Title IX office at titleixcoordinator@umgc.edu regarding any pregnancy or parenting-related requests.

Surgery can often be covered by temporary accommodations. However, this situation can only be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please contact ´¡³¦³¦±ð²õ²õ¾±²ú¾±±ô¾±³Ù²âÌý³§±ð°ù±¹¾±³¦±ð²õ to describe your specific situation.

This situation can only be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please contact ´¡³¦³¦±ð²õ²õ¾±²ú¾±±ô¾±³Ù²âÌý³§±ð°ù±¹¾±³¦±ð²õ to describe your specific situation.

Even if you don’t qualify for formal accommodations, support is still available. UMGC offers free resources that can help! A great place to start is exploring our .

UMGC staff are happy to discuss your situation and help identify appropriate options or resources. For guidance, contact your advisor at studentsfirst@umgc.edu or Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@umgc.edu.

No, accommodations are not available to caregivers under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accessibility Services can only accommodate a student for the conditions that limit them due to the student’s own diagnosis or treatment. However, parenting students are encouraged to contact Title IX at titleixcoordinator@umgc.edu to discuss any potential supports.

Yes, students with approved accommodation plans can receive support in hybrid classes. This includes academic accommodations and physical ones like accessible furniture or preferred seating, if approved by Accessibility Services or considered reasonable for the student’s disability.

Graduating students with disabilities may request accommodations during the event. Students must request accommodations for themselves and/or guests when registering for Commencement. After registration, Commencement Services will provide details on parking, seating, and access.

For questions or to request accommodations, please contact Commencement Services at 240-684-2225, M–F (9 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern Time), or email them at commencement@umgc.edu.

 If you need assistance getting in contact with Commencement Services or would like support starting the conversation, you are welcome to reach out to Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@umgc.edu.Ìý

Yes. If you need accommodations for a Career Services event—whether it is virtual or in person—please contact Career Services directly:

Email: careerservices@umgc.edu

Phone: 240-684-2720

If you need assistance getting in contact with Career Services or would like support starting the conversation, you are welcome to reach out to Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@umgc.edu.

No. It is UMGC’s responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations to eligible students with disabilities at no cost to the student.

No. UMGC does not offer institutional tuition waivers based on disability. However, students are encouraged to contact Financial Aid to explore available options for financial assistance.

In some cases, outside agencies—such as Veteran Readiness and Employment Services—may offer support. For guidance on these benefits, students should reach out to their local veteran case manager or employer.

If you feel the actions of any person or entity at t ºÚÁÏÉçÇø have been discriminatory based on your disability status, e-mail fairpractices@umgc.edu to file a complaint.

If you have any concerns regarding the determination of appropriate accommodations, please request an informal review by the Director of Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@umgc.edu.

Formal appeals of the Director's decision can be made to ADA compliance by e-mailing adacompliance@umgc.edu.

The process for appealing an accommodation decision or filing a grievance on the basis of discrimination is described in the Reasonable Accommodation Policy.