Disability Support
If you need accommodation because of a disability, you should contact the director, Student Affairs, UMUC Europe, in Heidelberg each semester before registering.
The first time you register for services, you will be required to provide current (within three years) paperwork documenting your disability to support your request for accommodation 
. Documentation may include:
- Medical or psychological reports and diagnoses
- Aptitude and achievement results and evaluations
- Other documentation considered appropriate by UMUC
To allow for adequate planning, requests for accommodation should be made four to six weeks before the first day of classes.
UMUC recognizes students on the merits of their abilities rather than their disabilities.
Mission
At UMUC, our primary goal is commitment to our students' success and to an educational partnership. In alignment with the university's core goals, the mission of Disability Services (DS) is to coordinate support services that provide equal academic opportunities to individuals with disabilities. Through our initiatives, students can participate in all aspects of UMUC's programs and services, while adhering to the university's academic standards.
In compliance with the requirements set forth by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the DS office seeks to provide the best accommodations and services possible to qualified students. We are dedicated to working collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to achieve a welcoming and equitable learning environment that not only fosters students' academic pursuits, but also is responsive to meeting their needs.
Documentation Requirements
In order to receive disability services, the student is required to provide the Student Affairs office with current (within the past three years) documentation that verifies their disability. Documentation needed to assess each student’s eligibility for disability services varies widely; the chart below describes the documentation requirements for each disability.
If your disability is not listed below, please contact the Student Affairs office for assistance.
| DISABILITY | REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION |
| Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADD/ADHD) |
Completed information/verification form by a licensed physician, psychiatrist or psychologist indicating diagnosis, assessment of how diagnosis may limit the student in the classroom and recommended accommodations. |
| Emotional/Mental Illness | A psychological evaluation performed usually within the past three years, which also should be submitted with the verification form. Usually a psychologist, psychiatrist, a nurse or doctor trained in mental health, or a similarly trained professional can diagnose. Include supplemental material, such as psychiatric evaluation. |
| Learning Disability* | Educational testing completed as an adult OR within three years. Usually a psychologist or a speech and language specialist conducts these evaluations. Testing results are required. |
| Permanent Sensory or Physical Disability | Completed verification form that includes diagnosis, assessment of how the diagnosis may limit the student in the classroom, and recommended accommodations. If the information provided by a health-care professional is not specific or incomplete, the student will need to provide more detailed verification. General temporary illnesses and conditions (e.g., cold, flu, normal pregnancy, etc.) are not considered for accommodations. Please provide any supplemental materials such as hospital stays and other medical notes that might assist in verifying disability. |
| Vision Conditions | Optometrist, ophthalmologist, or physician specializing in conditions of the eyes must complete a verification form including diagnosis, assessment of how the diagnosis may limit the student in the classroom, and recommended accommodations. Include any supplemental materials such as visual test verifying the condition. |
| Hearing Conditions | Completed information/verification form that includes diagnosis, assessment of how the diagnosis may limit student in classroom, and recommended accommodations. Verification must be provided by an audiologist, speech and language pathologist, or physician specifically trained to work with hearing conditions. A copy of an audiogram should be included with the information/verification form. |
*Common Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
A language-based disability in which a person has trouble understanding written words. It may also be referred to as a reading disability or reading disorder.
Dyscalculia
A mathematical disability in which a person has a difficult time solving arithmetic problems and grasping math concepts.
Dysgraphia
A writing disability in which a person finds it hard to form letters or write within a defined space.
Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders
Sensory disabilities in which a person has difficulty understanding language despite normal hearing and vision.
Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
A neurological disorder which originates in the right hemisphere of the brain, causing problems with visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluative and holistic processing functions.
Eligibility for Disability Services
Who is eligible to register for services?
All UMUC students seeking to receive accommodations and/or services from the Disability Services (DS) office are first required to submit current (within the past three years) documentation that supports their requests. Once documentation is received and reviewed by the DS office—and registration requirements are complete—based on the student’s needs, reasonable and appropriate accommodations are determined and then discussed with the student. Academic accommodations and services are provided on an individual basis and based on documented need. Students who qualify for the DS program are not eligible for all services provided. Services must be disability-related, contingent upon the documented nature of the disability and those functional limitations accompanying the disability.
Documentation should be consistent with those guidelines stated in Documentation Requirements. Documentation may include:
- Medical or psychological reports and diagnoses
- Aptitude and achievement results and evaluations
- Other supporting documentation considered appropriate by UMUC
Registering with Disability Services
How do I register for services?
1. You must be actively enrolled as a UMUC student to register for disability services. Prospective students are welcome to contact the department for information prior to enrollment at UMUC. Instructions regarding admission to UMUC are available on the UMUC Web site at Admissions and Transfers. UMUC accepts admissions applications throughout the year.
2. You must self-identify as a person with a disability by submitting a DS Registration Form.
3. Download the appropriate documentation form to have your provider (licensed professional) verify and explain the nature of the disability.
4. Have your provider fax your completed documentation to +49 (0)6221-302017 or mail the documentation to:
University of Marylans University College
Attn: Student Affairs
Unit 29216
APO AE 09004
5. DS will conduct a preliminary review of your registration form, documentation, submitted records and materials to determine if appropriate and complete. The Student Affairs office will inform you if clarification and/or additional documentation, records and/or materials are needed.
6. The DS staff reviews all documentation, records and materials to determine eligibility. If you are eligible, our staff will discuss reasonable accommodations with you to reach a mutual agreement before sending a notification of accommodations to your instructors.
7. For course accommodations and services after the initial semester, you will need to complete an Accommodation Request Form .
Academic Accommodations and Services
Reasonable accommodations are provided to ensure students with disabilities are given an equal opportunity to pursue their academic interests. Receiving an accommodation or service is contingent upon the documented nature of your disabilities. Disability Services (DS) works with the student to identify appropriate accommodations for each semester. Upon enrollment, students are to complete an Accommodations Request Form. To allow for adequate planning, requests for accommodations should be made at least four weeks prior to the start of classes.
Please note, UMUC is not obligated to provide accommodations that would fundamentally alter essential components of a course.
Available accommodations include, but are not limited to, the following:
Testing Accommodations
- Extended exam time
- Private space
- Proctors and/or scribes
- Computer access for exams
- Enlarged print
Reading Accommodations
- Audio or video taping of text materials
- Enlarged print
Additional Services
- Note-taking
- Adaptive technology
- Priority seating
- Additional time to complete assignments/projects
All accommodations and services are free for students meeting the qualifications necessary to register with DS.