REMINDER: unseen - The Documentary Blind, Undocumented, and Launching into Social Work
Thursday, March 14, 2024 · 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Public Policy : 105/Lecture Hall 9
Join ADS, SDS and Social Work for the UMBC (free) screening of unseen, an award-winning documentary described as:

Most people dream of a better future. Pedro, an aspiring social worker, is no different. But as a blind, undocumented immigrant, Pedro faces political restrictions to obtain his college degree, secure a job in his field, and support his family. As he finally graduates, uncertainty looms over Pedro. What starts as a journey to provide mental health care for his community ultimately transforms into Pedro’s path towards his own healing. 

Through experimental cinematography and sound, UNSEEN reimagines the accessibility of cinema, while exploring the intersections of immigration, disability, and mental health.

When:  Thursday March 14, 2024 at 4:30p
Where: Public Policy 105

Prepare for an experience that will leave you talking long after the credits roll - and may influence matters of inclusion, immigration, health care, public policy, film design, and raise your awareness of how people engage with the world.  

Audience dialogue with Social Work faculty and ADS staff to follow the film.

The Public Policy Lecture Hall is on the first floor, has accessible seating, and a range of features that enhance accessibility for audiences.  The film is captioned, and an audio-described version is available upon request. Mask use is very welcome.  Please email any accommodation requests and event inquiries to slazar@umbc.edu with "Documentary" in the subject line

Co-Sponsored by The School of Social Work and Human Context of Computing

]]> Thursday, March 14, 2024 · 4:30 - 6:30 PM Public Policy : 105/Lecture Hall 9 Join ADS, SDS and Social Work for the UMBC (free) screening of unseen, an award-winning documentary... https://www.unseen-film.com/ https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/139897/guest@my.umbc.edu/bd51748eaa4383904b653707f86b8bdf/api/pixel accessibility audio blind cinema cinematography disability documentary dream experimental film health immigrant mental pedro services social student undocumented unseen visual work Office of Student Disability Services https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/sss https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xsmall.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/original.jpg?1544104103 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xxlarge.png?1544104103 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xlarge.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/large.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/medium.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/small.png?1544104103 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xsmall.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xxsmall.png?1544104103 Office of Student Disability Services 1 0 true Tue, 12 Mar 2024 22:47:21 -0400 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. Today is also International Women's Day with the theme of Inspiring Inclusion, and even with disabilities have always been an essential part of history.  Here are some women who have made history recently:


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
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!
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Accessibility and Disability Services is showing its stripes  in raising awareness for Rare Disease Day on the rare leap day, February 29.

What is Rare Disease Day? 


Rare Disease Day is the globally-coordinated movement on rare diseases, working towards equity in social opportunity, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for people living with a rare disease.


Since its creation in 2008, Rare Disease Day has played a critical part in building an international rare disease community that is multi-disease, global, and diverse– but united in purpose.

Rare Disease Day is observed every year on 28 February (or 29 in leap years)—the rarest day of the year.

Though Rare Disease Day is patient-led, everyone, including individuals, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, clinicians, policy makers, industry representatives and the general public, can participate in raising awareness and taking action today for this vulnerable population who require immediate and urgent attention.

By Sharing your colors via social media, events, illuminating buildings, monuments and homes, by sharing experiences online and with friends, by calling on policy makers and shining the light on people living with a rare disease, collectively we aim to change and improve lives of the 300 million people worldwide.

Historically, ADS has worked with campus sustainability efforts in recognition in a way that mirrors the United Nations Resolution on Persons Living with a Rare Disease and their Families

The overarching goal of the UN campaign is to recognize that People Living With Rare Disease (PLWRD) are an overlooked population requiring immediate and urgent attention, and global and national policies that address their needs and contribute to achieving the UN 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals and their pledge to ‘leave no one behind’. 

The 300 million PLWRD around the world and their families face common challenges in all aspects of their daily lives. As a population with increasing vulnerabilities, they are disproportionally affected by stigma, discrimination and social marginalization, within their social environment and in society at large. The paucity of knowledge and expertise on rare diseases and the lack of awareness of the challenges faced by PLWRD mean that they are psychologically, socially, culturally and economically vulnerable. 

There are a number of synergies between the rare disease community’s needs and goals, and those of the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals , mainly the following ones: 
  • Challenges affect the whole family and cause overall increased isolation and impoverishment (SDG 1); 
  • PLWRD lack access to appropriate diagnosis and lifelong care and social support (SDG 3); 
  • PLWRD face challenges in accessing education at all stages of their life due to inaccessibility of facilities and non-adapted teaching methods (SDG 4); 
  • Women living with a rare disease face more difficulties in accessing care and, when a member of the family lives with a rare disease, the primary unpaid care role is most often assumed by women (SDG 5); 
  • PLWRD and their families face challenges in access, retention and return to employment (SDG 8); 
  • The disproportionate level of vulnerabilities means PLWRD face stigma, discrimination and lack of opportunities for inclusion in society (SDG 10). 


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Accessibility and Disability Services and Student Disability Services joins The Mosaic Center and all UMBC partners with honoring Black History Month.

Rediscover how some members of the Black Civil Rights Movement also played essential roles as activists in the US Disability Rights Movement, and paved the way for disability rights activists to influence social change and legislation. Many people with disabilities were part of both movements and continue to be today.

Dr. Sami Schalk presented at UMBC less than a year ago on 504 and Beyond: Disability Politics and the Black Panther Partyvia the Dresher Center - the and co-sponsorship with ADS and I3B.

Some of the intersection of  Crip Camp shows how intersectional being black and disabled can be - beyond the Black Panthers. Further back in history, learn new things about the famous Black figures who also had disabilities. For instance, Harriet Tubman lived with epilepsy and narcolepsy, a reminder that disability is both directly and indirectly linked to many forms of violence.

In the links described below, you may rediscover or learn for the first time about Black history  being made in this moment, and there is so much to learn from the past.  Research forays have been known to start at Brad Lomax, and end up at the Wild Zappers, a DC-based all black all deaf dance company - what new-to-you ancestral influencers and history-makers will become front-of-mind to you? The research of Dr. Stephanie Keeney Parks takes a racially nuanced approach to Autism via In A Different Key. In 2022 Megan Thee Stallion launched a website to support mental health.  Haben Girma remains an important advocate for disability inclusion.

Test your knowledge by taking this quiz with the National Black Disability Coalition (NBDC): (link)http://www.blackdisability.org/content/black-disabled-trivia

Important figures in Black History:

·       Enter “Black History” plus any disability (i.e. "autism," "dyslexia," etc.) into a search engine and explore more about the intersectionality of disability.

Explore Black History and Disability Rights:

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has a great article about the integral role Black disability rights activists played in securing rights for all US citizens with disabilities.  (link)https://www.ncld.org/news/honoring-black-history-month-unsung-heroes-of-the-disability-rights-movement/ For more on Brad Lomax, a leader in the 1977 protests that led to the implementation of section 504 of the rehabilitation act, see this NYT obituary (link) https:/www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/obituaries/brad-lomax-overlooked.html

Black Disabled and Proud: College Students with Disabilities is a website by the HBCU Disability Consortium. Their page titled “Black Lives Matter and Disability” speaks to the recent and daily making of Black history as it intersects with disability. (link)https://www.blackdisabledandproud.org/black-lives-matter.html The page includes links to thoughtful articles as well as self-care info.

The Disability Visibility Project’s Black Lives Matter page has podcasts (with transcripts) that explore the individual experiences of people who are actively contributing individually and/or organizing to raise awareness about being Black and having a  disability.  (link)https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/tag/black-lives-matter/  Click through on the posts and find things like Jen White Johnson’s Black Disability Lives Matter mural (link)https://jenwhitejohnson.com/Black-Disabled-Lives-Matter-Mural-Project 

The Zinn Education Project offers Teach The Black Freedom Struggle classes with ASL and transcripts via this link - with the reminder that violence in any format may create disability. If you are looking for UMBC-based disability resources - use these links:


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Welcome back, SDS Students!

Are you ready to begin the Spring 2024 Semester? We are excited to see you back on campus 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. If you haven't registered with SDS, go to https://sds.umbc.edu/accommodations/registering-with-sds/ to get started.

Please follow this group where we list events, reminders, changes or updates related to our office. Click the "follow" button, and under the "Notifications" button, please be sure to click "All Updates" to receive all of our posts.

SDS testing is available from 9 AM - 4 PM Monday through Friday.  Extended testing hours will be offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until 6pm. Please consider wearing a face mask (KN95 or equivalent) during testing to protect yourself and others.

We are available Monday through Friday during regular office hours: staff have both in-person and telework/remote days. You can schedule appointments in our Accommodate student portal.
 
You can visit the SDS Front Desk (2nd floor Math/Psych) 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.
]]> Welcome back, SDS Students! Are you ready to begin the Spring 2024 Semester? We are excited to see you back on campus and hope you had a restful and healthy break! The Office of Student... https://sds.umbc.edu/ https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/138440/guest@my.umbc.edu/664ecbd67bab36e49d817f8703b6f7be/api/pixel accessibility accommodations disability Office of Student Disability Services https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/sss https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xsmall.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/original.jpg?1544104103 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xxlarge.png?1544104103 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xlarge.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/large.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/medium.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/small.png?1544104103 https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xsmall.png?1544104103 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/045/7bd1d4fb54807870659b6b4042c75b76/xxsmall.png?1544104103 Office of Student Disability Services https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/440/4da4344c1c190ab695fb4d65e0d7a9c7/xxlarge.jpg?1706367003 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/440/4da4344c1c190ab695fb4d65e0d7a9c7/xlarge.jpg?1706367003 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/440/4da4344c1c190ab695fb4d65e0d7a9c7/large.jpg?1706367003 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/440/4da4344c1c190ab695fb4d65e0d7a9c7/medium.jpg?1706367003 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/440/4da4344c1c190ab695fb4d65e0d7a9c7/small.jpg?1706367003 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/440/4da4344c1c190ab695fb4d65e0d7a9c7/xsmall.jpg?1706367003 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/138/440/4da4344c1c190ab695fb4d65e0d7a9c7/xxsmall.jpg?1706367003 10 0 false Sat, 27 Jan 2024 09:51:29 -0500 Survey Alert for People with Disabilities in Maryland+ Add Your Voice to the State Disabilities Plan/MCoC The Maryland Department of Disabilities is gathering information for the next State Disability Plan. The State Disabilities Plan is a guide that helps all levels of government and all parts of the community coordinate efforts to improve the lives of Marylanders with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. The plan is created in collaboration with state agencies, community members, and other stakeholders. 

 

MDoD NEEDS YOUR HELP!

 

Please take a few minutes to complete the MDoD survey to help them create the next State Disabilities plan. Tell them what is most important to you.

·What is working?

·What is not working?

·What would you like to see in the future?

 

They want the plan to reflect your priorities and goals. Give your honest feedback and suggestions for ways to improve the policies and systems that impact Marylanders with disabilities. Share the survey with your friends, family and community! The more input, the better our plan will be!

 

 

If you need the survey in an alternative format, please contact Yesheva Kelly, yesheva.kelly@maryland.gov or 410-767-3659.

 

The Maryland Disabilities 2020-2023 Plan is linked here as a reference



Second Opportunity: CAREGIVER SURVEY from the Maryland Commission on Caregiving


As the “Voice of the Caregiver” the Maryland Commission on Caregiving wants to know more about the experiences of family caregivers in the state and they want your help!

Family caregivers are people who assist adults aged 18 or older with disabilities, illnesses, diseases, or limitations that make it hard for them to take care of themselves. Caregivers help with things like personal care, household chores, managing money, arranging services from others, or regularly visiting to check on how they are doing.

 

MCoC has developed a 15-minute online and anonymous survey that asks questions about the person being cared for and the caregiver’s knowledge of available programs and priorities for supports and services. If you care for someone, they would appreciate it if you could take the time to complete the survey through the link below. If you aren’t a caregiver but know other caregivers, please consider sharing this information via copy and paste via  email to them so they can obtain as many responses as possible.

 

If you complete the CAREGIVER survey, you will have the chance to enter a raffle where 50 people will be randomly chosen to get a $20 e-gift card.

 

Results from the survey will be shared publicly with special attention to legislators and the Departments of Human Services, Disabilities, Aging, and Health to improve policies and programs for MD caregivers just like you!

 

The Caregiver survey will remain open until December 31, 2023.
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December 1 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 - more than 1 billion people worldwide are in this demographic, the world's largest minority. The day raises awareness of the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of disability that affects people around the world. 

The theme for 2023 is "united in action to rescue and achieve Sustainable Development Goals for, with and by persons with disabilities.  The theme reflects recent consideration of the impacts of COVID-19, climate change, and the invasion Ukraine. More information about the UN Virtual New York Commemoration event, including registration is linked here.  To view the December 1 10a-1p activities remotely, click here at that time.

Working toward an accessible future is everyone's responsibility. As a campus, we engage together to create a future which insists that people are not needlessly excluded due to health conditions that create substantial limitations in how people engage with the world. Report barriers when you encounter them - at UMBC our accessibility concern form is available 24/7 to report 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. We have a strong partnership with UMBC Sustainability as well.

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 A Day For All discusses IDPD

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

Musician Gaelynn Lea shares how Accessibility is the New Punk Rock live on stage at The Moth 

Professor Sara Hendren shares on Our Bodies, Aliveness and The Built World via the On Being podcast.



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National Disability Awareness Month is held in October to raise awareness about issues that arise within the lived experience of people with disabilities, and celebrates the many and varied contributions of Americans with disabilities.

NDAM's roots go back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with various types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to "National Disability Awareness Month" to address inclusion more broadly.

Americans with disabilities make up almost one-fifth of our population, which brings more celebration to this month, underneath the umbrella of the  Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)  celebrating its 32nd anniversary and Section 504 celebrating its 50th Anniversary This month includes:

and given the beauty and complexity of being human, we respectfully nod to disability-related health conditions that are highlighted at other times.  We see you.  You matter.

Accessibility and Disability Services remains committed to building on past progress and creating inclusive change as we work in partnership with the entire UMBC community, including Facilities Management, Human Resources, Instructional Technology, and academic departments. Student Disability Services provides accommodations and resource support for students with disabilities, as education is a path toward progress. While huge strides have been made with accessibility and inclusion (which can happen via accommodation and collaborative campus work), people with disabilities still face discrimination and lack of understanding- the work must continue.  The fight for full inclusion remains (Judy Heumann Ted Talk link). The first step to success is access and accessible practices are everyone's responsibility to foster inclusion and belonging.

Resources & Upcoming Events: 



Retriever Integrated Health also has a range of health services that support campus members of all abilities in the new, accessible Center for Wellbeing  across from Erickson Field (D7 on the map).

Student Organizations:


A sampling of Disability Awareness Month Events:

October 13: DAPi Honor Society Meeting (members only)
October 18: Campus Accessibility Walk (held monthly)
October 23: Disability Employment Awareness Month webinar with MDOD & the Autism Society of maryland's Autism Hiring Program (Zoom) 
October 24: SDS Open House- Hands-on Assistive Technology demos 
October 25: AT at Work: Disability Employment Awareness (MDOD Zoom session)

Disability identity is intersectional with the history of the LGBTQ+ community that shares October as an awareness month.  October is also Relationship Violence Awareness Month, and we are very conscious that people with disabilities are at a much higher risk of Relationship and Sexual Violence and that any violence can cause, complicate and/or exacerbate disability.

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Accessibility Tour: Wayfinding, Skywalks and Resources

Please join us:

Monday, October 2, 2023 · 12 - 1 PM
Sondheim Hall

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 · 12 - 1 PM
Sondheim Hall

Monday, November 6, 2023 · 12 - 1 PM

Wednesday, December 6, 2023 · 12 - 1 PM
Mathematics/Psychology : 222


Navigating UMBC's campus-on-a-hill as a person with a disability brings out overt and sometimes more subtle features of its accessible design.  Join us to learn more during Disability Employment Awareness Month and discuss: 

What are the features? We have many, including a Skywalk and several upgrades that happened while we were remote, and more on the way (work on the Math/Psych elevator update  has already begun!)

What are the bugs?  Learn more about how work with situations, whether it's contacting Work Control for a repair (410-455-2550), reporting an accessibility concern, or working with campus partners, such as Facilities Management  and DoIT to support inclusion.  Accessibility is everyone's responsibility.

We will gather at the Walter Sondheim statue seating area (if the weather is challenging we can gather inside Sondheim Hall)- learn the skywalk and tunnel connections within the Academic Core, review Adaptive Computing within the Library, and visit the reception area of Retriever Integrated Health - which supports both physical and mental health.  The tour is limited to a small group, and please know that  mask use is VERY WELCOME.

Can't make the day or time? More tours are planned.  Have a (small) group? Email us to set up a day and time that works for the occasion.  

Need to request a disability-based accommodation or have questions about the event or a specific location? Email the organizer via slazar@umbc.edu

To register, please go to https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility, click on 'events" and sign up.
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September is Suicide Prevention Month, and UMBC is helping to raise awareness and promote effective strategies in the campus community and beyond.

Don't Ignore Suicide In The Disability Community - Learn About the Live On! Movement (abilities.com link)

Study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine about the Association of Disability with Suicide-Related Outcomes.

What can you do if you if you are worried about yourself or someone else:

Reach out - it's not a time to be silent, connect.

Listen - no one needs to feel like they are alone - we're in this together.

Get help - there is campus, local and national support

UMBC Resources include:

Retriever Integrated Health, which has Counseling Services and more for students

Reach Out Retrievers - Online Support for Mental Health, including Peer-to-Peer resources, Togetherall, WellTrack, and Kognito

Faculty and Staff can reach out to the USM Employee Assistance Program.

For all who are  working with a mental health provider - check in and schedule an urgent appointment with that health professional.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available at any time by calling or texting 988 - different from 911 - to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Megan Thee Stallion whose line in "Anxiety" is "I just want to talk to someone who gets me" created a website of mental health resources beginning with the National Crisis Textline (Text HOME to 741741), Stronghearts Native Helpline, Therapy Resources for Black Women and Men, LGBTQ Psychotherapist of Color Directory and much more. - here's the link for dealing with those bad days.

The Trevor Project provides support for LGBTQ+ community

From all who are struggling, Please Stay.

We're glad you are here, peace to you.

A captioned performance of Please Stay by Jake Runestead is linked here.

On the response side, UMBC's Office of Health Promotion has programs and trainings, including Mental Health First Aid that boost the campus community's ability to respond effectively when someone is in crisis.


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