Welcome back, SDS Students!

Are you ready to begin the Spring 2022 Semester? We are delighted to be back on campus with you and hope you had a restful and healthy break! The Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) would like to share some reminders and offer some tips on places to get information and keep connected.

1. Please follow our MyUMBC group where we list events, reminders, changes or updates related to our office.
   Click on the link at https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/sss. 
   Click the "follow" button, and under the "Notifications" button, please be sure to click "All Updates" to receive all of our posts.
2. Submit your Semester Request for your accommodation letters to be sent to your faculty members. How? https://sds.umbc.edu/accommodate-semester-request/
   
   To use your approved accommodations, you need to have submitted a Semester Request for Spring 2022 in the Accommodate online student portal link found on our SDS website. Please review your selected accommodations and courses before clicking on Submit. 
   
   **NOTE: Your faculty will not get your letters (nor will you be able to schedule in-person tests in Accommodate) without a Semester Request.** 
   
   If you have added/changed a course since you first submitted your Semester Request, please submit a new Semester Request.
   
   
3. Accommodated testing:
    
   SDS testing is from 9 AM - 4 PM Monday through Friday. Due to COVID-19, we will continue to have limited seating available due to capacity/spacing restrictions required for health and safety.  Extended testing hours will be offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until 6:30pm starting in a few weeks. Please remember, face masks (KN95 or equivalent) must be worn during testing, and you must be compliant with all COVID-19 protocols.
   
   a. If you are taking online or hybrid courses, you will likely be taking tests online. You will NOT schedule these tests in SDS. Instructors can provide extended time (for those with timed tests) in the platform they are using. Make sure to remind your instructor(s) that you have testing accommodations prior to each online test.
   
   b. For in-person tests for courses on the Main Campus, you will need to schedule your tests with SDS at least 2 business days in advance of the test using the Accommodate portal. You will not be able to schedule in-person tests unless you have submitted a Semester Request and you are approved for testing accommodations.  We encourage you to schedule all of your in-person tests/quizzes in Accommodate at the beginning of the semester.
   
   c. For in-person tests for courses on the Shady Grove Campus (USG), you will need to follow the procedures established by the Macklin Center for Academic Success (MCAS) DSS office  https://shadygrove.umd.edu/student-services/center-for-academic-success/dss. (*For Spring 2022, they are delaying in-person opening for 2 weeks).
   
   
4. Notetaking: 
   
   If you are approved for notetaking assistance as an accommodation, we encourage you to try assistive technology for notetaking. We have licenses available for web-based notetaking software called Glean. Glean now includes transcription of the audio that you have recorded using Glean.  If you are experiencing a disability-related barrier that prevents you from taking your own notes, please send an email to SDSnotetaking@umbc.edu to receive access or to discuss solutions. 
   
   Note Taking Options: https://sds.umbc.edu/note-taking-assistance/ and https://sds.umbc.edu/assistive-technology/notetaking-support/
   
   
5. SDS staff availability & office hours:
   
   We are available Monday through Friday during regular office hours: staff have both in-person and telework/remote days. Appointments Front Desk for quick questions during the hours listed on our website at https://sds.umbc.edu/, OR call our front desk at 410-455-2459, OR email us at disAbility@umbc.edu. 
   
   You can also schedule appointments for most staff online using Accommodate!
   
   Please contact us as soon as possible if you experience disability-related challenges in your courses. We are here to assist you in navigating what may be unfamiliar procedures in order to ensure that your accommodations are implemented when needed. Staff are available to review your accommodations and assist in finding solutions if new challenges arise.

Helpful Links:

Academic Success Center (Main Campus) - tutoring, academic support: https://academicsuccess.umbc.edu/asc-business-continuity/

Retriever Integrated Health (RIH) for Counseling & Health Services: https://studentaffairs.umbc.edu/departments/retriever-integrated-health-rih/

Visit https://covid19.umbc.edu/ for the most up to date information from UMBC regarding health and safety operations on campus.

To report a campus accessibility concern, go to https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/

*SPRING 2022 has new safety protocols at UMBC: requirements include PCR testing to return, vaccine booster shot if eligible, and wearing KN95 masks (UMBC provided). 

We strongly suggest all students check their UMBC email and UMBC social media accounts regularly to not miss anything we want to share with you. Our team looks forward to working with you, and we wish everyone a wonderful semester. 

Stay healthy, Retrievers!

Student Disability Services staff

Email: disAbility@umbc.edu

Website: https://sds.umbc.edu/

Phone: 410-455-2459

The International Student Career Conference is a series of sessions that will focus on the unique needs of international students to make sure they are fully prepared to meet their career goals in the United States. This conference will consist of four unique and valuable online sessions in February 2022. Please see the details of conference sessions below. 

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER CONFERENCE SESSIONS:

• Session #1- Immigration Information: Online- Friday, February 18th, 10am-11am. Learn about immigration options for after graduation, such as H-1b and Permanent Residency, from an accomplished immigration attorney.

• Session #2- Alumni Perspectives:  Online- Friday, February 18th, 1-2 pm. Learn  from international student alumni on how to be successful in your job and internship search. 

• Session #3- Employer Perspectives: Online- Tuesday, February 22nd, 12pm-1pm. Hear perspectives of experienced hiring managers who have hired international candidates in the past. 

• Session #4- Negotiating Job Offers: Online- Thursday, February 24th, 11am-12pm. Dr. Di Maria will provide insight on how to effectively evaluate and negotiate job offers once you have completed the interview process. 

MAY 18 6 PM

i3b’s 9th Annual Lavender Graduation
A time to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ graduates