Celebrating Women with Disabilities Making History Embracing Inclusion for Women's History Month
Accessibility and Disability Services and Student Disability Services celebrates Women's History Month, calling to mind all women who have contributed to pivotal moments and events in history and contemporary society. Women with disabilities have always been an essential part of history.  These two articles showcase some of these women trailblazers, with links for more in-depth information:

Disabled Women from History You Should Know About
  • Sarah Bernhardt
  • Adelaide Knight
  • Raganhild Kata
  • Rosa May Billinghurst
  • Annette Kellerman
  • Dorothea Lange
Disabled Women of Color from History You Should Know About

Some contemporary women with disabilities who are creating more change include:
Take a moment, connect with the linked material, and learn more about these trail-blazers.  


Disability-related resources at UMBC include:

Happy Women's History Month!

A photo of a woman in a power wheelchair stopped in front of a pedestal accompanies this post. Credit Carlos Navas via unsplash.com.

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Happy New Year!

Accessibility and Disability Services, including Student Disability Services (SDS) will operate remotely this week (January 3rd through 7th) during regular business hours (8:30am through 4:30pm) and, in general, staff will not be available on campus to proctor in-person tests.  Employee accommodation requests and inquiries can be made online the ADS website (link). SDS questions and testing matters for this week should be emailed to disability@umbc.edu.  

As you know, UMBC has asked that students, staff, and faculty delay their return to campus, if at all possible, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.  Anyone who wishes to return to campus must have a recent negative COVID test on file as well as meeting additional requirements.  See https://covid19.umbc.edu/

For students - the overwhelming majority of winter session courses are being taught online, and those courses with tests will be administered online as well.  Registered SDS students who would like to utilize approved testing accommodations for a Winter 2022 course,  must submit a Semester Request so that SDS can send your Letter of Accommodations to the instructor.  Instructions for submitting a Semester Request can be found at https://sds.umbc.edu/accommodate-semester-request/

For those who are new to requesting accommodations due to their health condition each process is available remotely 24/7 - however it is best to apply as soon as practical - details are here:

ADS and SDS will update operations and availability for next week as more information becomes available.

Stay safe and stay healthy!

ADS and SDS Staff

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December 3rd is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, honoring the United Nation's commitment for promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world.

More than 1 billion people in the world have a disability. At fifteen percent (15%) of the world’s population, persons with disabilities account for the world’s largest minority. Furthermore, one out of every seven people is affected by disability. 

Read more from the WHO about Why is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Important?

The theme for IDPD this year is "Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world."   The Secretary-General's message on International Day of Persons with Disabilities is linked here.

Working toward an accessible future is everyone's responsibility. We engage together to create a future which insists that people are not excluded due to their health conditions that create substantial limitations in how they engage with the world. Report barriers when you encounter them - at UMBC our accessibility concern form is available 24/7 to work with any issues that arise: https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/.

UMBC's Accessibility & Disability Services partners with the entire campus community -departments, groups, and individuals - to overcome barriers. Student Disability Services  is a resource for all students with disabilities.

If there is an accessibility concern on campus - report it via this linked form.  With Facilities Management maintenance or repair reporting - the best, first step is to report it to Work Control via 410-455-2550 or Workorder@umbc.edu.  For residential hall repair conditions, non-emergencies can be reported to http://fxit.umbc.edu, and emergencies can be called in to the FXIT line: 410-455-3948.

Looking for more content?  ADA Live Episode 88 discusses IDPD

Need a theme song?  Artist James Ian's song "Spaces" and inclusive, collaborative process with his Spinal Muscular Atrophy community were recently featured on CANVAS (link).  Spaces song link.

Photo of two parallel rows of flags of over 100 nations on a grass path leading to a brown United Nations building  illustrates this post. Credit: Mat Reding via Unsplash.com




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Campus disability support departments want to get the word out about how students may be affected by long COVID.  The Long COVID Task Force work, including the role of UMBC's very own Service Coordinator within Student Disability Services, has created tips and resources to help them navigate college with lingering effects from COVID.

Learn more about the work for Supporting Students with Long COVID with today's lead article from Inside Higher Ed, linked here.  

The article covers how students working with health care providers may work with departments like Student Disability Services (link).  For those new to the process, learn more about Getting Started with SDS here (link).







A photo of man getting tested for COVID with a nasal swab by a masked and gloved woman wearing white with a red hijab accompanies this post.  Credit: Jakayla Toney via unsplash.com.
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Miguel, alongside his mom, talks about his excitement about heading off to college and living independently for the first time - in conversation with his mom during this Death, Sex and Money podcast (linked) episode.  -Transcript available at the link.

UMBC encourages students (graduate and undergraduate) with any health condition that may qualify as a disability to partner with Student Disability Services to explore the accommodation process. Incoming and returning students may register for accommodations online 24/7 (link).  The SDS registration form is linked here.

Those returning to campus can look at campus accessibility updates on UMBC's most recent 2021 Accessible Route Map.  Facilities Management has been busy while faculty, staff and students were remote - beyond upgrades such as installing hospital-grade air filtration systems.  Additional assisted doors have been installed in several academic buildings, accessible door handles have been added, and five (5) elevators are being replaced: two in Fine Arts, two in Sondheim, and one in Biology's Schwartz Hall, so the campus is welcoming new upgrades as well.


The post is accompanied by a photo of a musician with brown forearms holding mallets that are poised to play a marimba.

P.S. Campus maps get updated from time-to-time, and the most recent accessible route map is posted to the Campus Maps page within Visit UMBC, to better inform people, especially those who are coming to campus for the first time.

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June is also Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Month - take a moment to learn more about it here from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).  

June 27th is National PTSD Day - it fell on a Sunday this year. PTSD is a complex disorder caused by experiencing or witnessing trauma.  Trauma occurs with events such as a life-threatening accident, military combat, a natural disaster, sexual assault and more - there are many ways PTSD symptoms can arise, and there is help for those navigating this health condition.

The US Senate and the National Center for PTSD declared June as PTSD Awareness Month in 2010 - you can help their campaign by educating yourself and others about the health condition, and sharing information about resources with those that might need them. Teal ribbons are used to symbolize PTSD Awareness.

UMBC Resources include:

Off-campus resources are listed via Youth.gov including SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) , National Institute on Mental Health as well as military and veteran initiatives.


A Photo of three black-on-white signs reading DON'T GIVE UP, YOU ARE NOT ALONE, and YOU MATTER affiixed to a fence in front of trees accompanies this post.  Credit Dan Meyers via Unsplash.


]]> June is also Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Month - take a moment to learn more about it here from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).   June 27th is National PTSD Day - it... https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/index.asp https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/102069/guest@my.umbc.edu/984b7bde5b1113e83bf16f35aa705ec7/api/pixel accommodation assault awareness disability health june mental ptsd resources sexual student trauma veteran Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/original.jpg?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xlarge.png?1565792941 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/large.png?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/medium.png?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/small.png?1565792941 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xsmall.png?1565792941 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/480/1109171419a1b66ae0d9168429adfb61/xxsmall.png?1565792941 Office of Accessibility & Disability Services https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/102/069/fd05852e1f0c147dcf212e91372aee1d/xxlarge.jpg?1624913614 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/102/069/fd05852e1f0c147dcf212e91372aee1d/xlarge.jpg?1624913614 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/102/069/fd05852e1f0c147dcf212e91372aee1d/large.jpg?1624913614 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/102/069/fd05852e1f0c147dcf212e91372aee1d/medium.jpg?1624913614 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/102/069/fd05852e1f0c147dcf212e91372aee1d/small.jpg?1624913614 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/102/069/fd05852e1f0c147dcf212e91372aee1d/xsmall.jpg?1624913614 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/102/069/fd05852e1f0c147dcf212e91372aee1d/xxsmall.jpg?1624913614 3 0 false Tue, 29 Jun 2021 11:01:03 -0400 Mental Health Awareness Month: You Are Not Alone Self-Care, Dignity, Inclusion, and Resources
Each year, millions of people navigate the lived experience of mental illness.  UMBC's Office of Accessibility and Disability Services joins the movement  with its many departmental partnerships, to promote mental health awareness, fight stigma, and provide support. One in five people will have a mental health diagnosis in their lifetime.  We are in this together.

You are not alone - is more than a tagline:  more information about Mental Health Awareness Month from NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) is linked here.

Community Conversations are locally-hosted series of webinars that support mental health as we shift toward a more-vaccinated future.

NAMI's Strength over Silence series features stories of courage, culture and community to share lived experiences, resilience and recovery from African American, Latinx and other under-represented communities in anticipation of National Minority Mental Health Month in July.

In addition to the above resources and information, UMBC Fitness and Wellness has many activities that boost mental health - check out their myUMBC page here.  Other local resources are outlined below.


Students (undergraduate and graduate) groups and resources include:

UMBC Counseling Center (Link) which includes
University Health Services (link)
Wellness Initiative (link)
UMBC NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Student Group

Faculty and staff mental health supports available through Human Resources include:
If a campus member's health situation changes (such as a recent injury or diagnosis, they can apply for, or update academic accommodation requests via Student Disability Services (link) and work-related accommodations via Accessibility & Disability Services (link).  ADS works in partnership with HR for faculty, staff and student worker job-related situations.

Community

While some 24 hour resources are provided, it's important to know that  anyone can have a moment of crisis, and are people available to listen and help via the following resources:


Have a safe and healthy month!

Photo person wearing a black shirt with MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS in white capital letters displayed credit Matthew Ball via  Unsplash
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With vaccines now widely available to new and UMBC community members,  and Fall 2021 planning and recent announcements  - these positive changes inspire questions and concerns.

Many of the links here provide information  to guide the transition, including Academic FAQs for Undergraduates and  Classroom Safety in addition to UMBC's Retriever Ready Response information for graduate and undergraduate students and employees.  For processing the how-do-we-come-back:

Community Conversations has a FREE mental health webinar series featuring local mental health experts on the following :
  • The COVID-19 Pandemic & Women: A Look at Women's Mental Health and How We Come Back May 12 noon-1p Register Here
  • Self-Renewal: How to Move Forward in Your Post-Pandemic Life on May 26 Register Here
  • Parenting During the Pandemic on June 16, noon-1p Register Here.

In addition to these webinars, other resources are available to the UMBC community for questions, concerns and care:

UMBC Students (Undergraduate and Graduate):  
  • UMBC Counseling Center offers free and confidential services to all registered UMBC students - undergraduate and graduate - as well as workshops, presentations, consultations and self-help resources.  Telehealth appointments and virtual workshops are available.  Call 410-455-2472 during business hours and use the After Hours Support Line 410-455-3230 after 5p and on weekends.
  • Togetherall  provides online support via the Counseling Center
  • Student Disability Services for students with disabilities seeking accommodation
UMBC Employees
Let's be "Care-Full" as a community navigating these changes.  To our black students, faculty, staff and alumni, we stand with you. Our work at UMBC continues. Additional support and action resources (via the Office of Equity and Inclusion) are linked here. 

A photo of the question "Are U Doing OK?" in white spray paint graffiti on a tan wall accompanies the post. Image credit: Jerome at Unsplash.com
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As part of its latest astronaut selection, the European Space Agency is seeking to recruit one or more 'Parastronauts' to examine and demonstrate the feasibility of selecting astronauts who would otherwise be fully qualified for spaceflight but would be excluded from prior selection criteria by disability.

Read more with the BBC's European Space Agency Astronaut Recruitment Drive for Greater Diversity

Thinking about applying? Details are here:

European Space Agency Parastronaut Feasibility Project (link).   

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforett notes "we did not evolve to go to space so when it comes to space travel, we are all disabled. What brings us from disabled to go to space to being able to go to space is just technology."   ESA astronaut Tim Peake is also ready for a more inclusive team.

Scientific American makes a strong case for disabled astronauts.

From the BBC article, addressing many myths and misperceptions: "To be absolutely clear, we're not looking to hire a space tourist that happens to also have a disability," said Dr. David Parker, the director of ESA's robotics and human spaceflight programme. "To be very explicit, this individual would do a meaningful space mission. So, they would need to do the science; they would need to participate in all the normal operations of the International Space Station.." Eddie Ndopu agrees and would like to be the first wheelchair user in space 

Closer to home - here's a link for NASA's program.

ALSO:  Deaf History Month begins tomorrow, read how NASA's human space flight program was substantially supported by 11 deaf men.

More firsts with NASA and Women's History:  Mae Jemison and Sally Ride

Student Disability Services - which serves all students with disabilities, including graduate students -is located next to Astronaut and Physicist Ronald McNair Scholars Program. when we return to campus.
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December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, honoring the United Nation's commitment for promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world.

More than 1 billion people in the world have a disability. At fifteen percent (15%) of the world’s population, persons with disabilities account for the world’s largest minority. Furthermore, one out of every seven people is affected by disability. 

Video Message from Ms. María Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December 2020

Read more from the WHO about Why is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Important?

Working toward an accessible future is everyone's responsibility. We engage together to create a future which insists that people are not excluded due to their health conditions that create substantial limitations in how they engage with the world. Report barriers when you encounter them - at UMBC our accessibility concern form is available 24/7 to work with any issues that arise: https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/.

UMBC's Accessibility & Disability Services partners with the entire campus community -departments, groups, and individuals - to overcome barriers. Student Disability Services  is a resource for all students with disabilities.


Looking for more content?  ADA Live Episode 88

Photo of two parallel rows of flags of over 100 nations on a grass path leading to a brown United Nations building  illustrates this post. Credit: Mat Reding via Unsplash.com

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