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Disability Accommodation

The University of Maryland is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive educational, working, and living environment for people of all abilities. The University of Maryland is committed to the principle that no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination. The University of Maryland provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals. Reasonable accommodations shall be made in a timely manner and on an individualized and flexible basis. Discrimination against individuals on the grounds of disability is prohibited. The University also strictly prohibits retaliation against persons arising in connection with the assertion of rights under this Policy. See: IV-1.00(D) University of Maryland Disability & Accessibility Policy and Procedures.

Accommodation Request Procedure

Faculty members who are seeking reasonable accommodations in the workplace should submit an Accommodation Request Form from University Human Resources. The Office of Faculty Affairs in consultation with the ADA Specialist is responsible for processing faculty accommodation requests and determining reasonable accommodations. Faculty Affairs is responsible for documenting granted accommodations in an Accommodation Plan. A record of the Accommodation Plan shall be retained in the faculty member's departmental file and in Faculty Affairs. All supporting disability documentation shall be kept confidential and maintained by Faculty Affairs separately from the faculty member's other personnel records.

Should an approved reasonable accommodation for a faculty member include a support animal, please review the University of Maryland Support Animal Guidelines and Agreement for Faculty and Staff. 

Procedures

  1. Accommodation Request. To receive an accommodation, a faculty member must obtain and complete an Accommodation Request Form from University Human Resources (UHR). The faculty member must document on the form the specific accommodation request and return it to Faculty Affairs. Additional supporting disability documentation may be requested when necessary. Completed forms should be emailed to umdleave@umd.edu or sent by mail to:

    University Human Resources, Office of Staff Relations 
    Leave Management Team, 
    3110 Chesapeake Building 
    4300 Terrapin Trail 
    College Park, MD 20742
     
  2. Eligibility Determination. University Human Resources will review the completed Faculty Accommodation Request form and supporting documentation, and meet with the faculty member to determine if the faculty member is a qualified individual with a disability and therefore eligible for accommodations. UHR will consult with the ADA Specialist, as appropriate, in making this determination. Either UHR or the ADA Specialist may contact the Health Care Provider indicated on the Accommodation Request Form for regarding the faculty member's request.
  3. Accommodation Determination. UHR will convey its eligibility determination to the Office of Faculty Affairs. The Office of Faculty Affairs, in consultation with the ADA Specialist and relevant Dean or Department Chair, will review the faculty member's accommodation request in relation to the essential job functions of the position, and facilitate an interactive dialogue with the faculty member and Department Chair/Dean to determine and implement a reasonable accommodation.
  4. Implementation. Once eligibility and the reasonable accommodation are approved, Faculty Affairs will develop an Accommodation Plan which will be shared with the faculty member and Dean/Department Chair. In order to consider and address accommodation requests, Faculty Affairs may consult with other campus administrative units, e.g. Office of the Registrar, Facilities Management, Division of Information Technology, as appropriate, on an as needed basis, taking precautions to ensure the faculty member's privacy with respect to any medical conditions and treatment. It is the responsibility of the next level administrator (Dean, Department Chair, etc.) to work in coordination with the faculty member to ensure appropriate implementation of reasonable accommodations. The University will use good faith efforts to implement reasonable accommodations within thirty (30) business days of receipt of the required documentation for the requested accommodations.

Individuals who believe they have been denied equal access in the form of appropriate disability accommodations, including modifications, auxiliary aids, and/or effective communications, may file an ADA complaint with the ADA/504 Coordinator.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of disability and/or retaliated against may file a complaint with The Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct (OCRSM). 

Before filing an ADA complaint with the University, individuals are asked to make a good faith effort to resolve the concern through the accommodation process, facilitated by OFA via UHR.  Every reasonable effort should be made to resolve issues at these levels prior to filing a formal complaint.