The Office of Accessibility delivers services designed to assist students in maximizing successful participation in college life and in promoting their well-being--academically, socially, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

In addition to the services we offer, you may also check out disability resources offered through the Loyola Notre Dame Library.​

You Belong Here

Notre Dame of Maryland University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and equal access to its programs and services for people with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Procedures to Register for Disability Support Services

1. Schedule an Appointment

As the student, it is your responsibility to make an appointment with the Director of Accessibility to discuss your request and register. It is recommended to schedule an appointment several weeks before classes begin.

2. Provide Documentation

Services can be accessed when you submit the most current documentation from a licensed or certified professional (e.g. director of special education, audiologist, psychologist, licensed counselor, physician) that describes the specific disability and accommodations needed. A request for accommodations must be for a disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).  

If you do not have sufficient documentation, you may be asked to seek further evaluation/documentation from a certified professional. This information must be sent or provided directly to the Director of Accessibility. All shared information is confidential.

Documentation Guidelines

3. Meet to Discuss Accommodations

After submitting your paperwork, you will be contacted by the Director of Accessibility to schedule a meeting to discuss accommodation requests through an interactive process. 

An accommodation must be considered reasonable. An accommodation is not considered reasonable if:

  • It is a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
  • It is a substantial or fundamental change in an essential element of curriculum or there is a substantial alteration in the manner in which services are provided.

Examples of services offered may include but are not limited to:

  • Alternative testing arrangements as needed (e.g. extended time, use of a computer, distraction-free environment)
  • Scribe for notes
  • Access to recorded books
  • Audio capture of lectures
  • Interpreting services
  • Referral to appropriate services 
  • Assistive technology
  • Accessible housing
  • Advocacy
  • Counseling
  • Meal plan accommodations

4. Receive Accommodation Letters

Once steps one through three are completed and the student is found eligible for disability support services, the student will receive accommodation letters. It is the student's responsibility to share the accommodation letters with instructors.

The Director of the Office of Accessibility will consult with your instructors on an as-needed basis to provide clarity regarding auxiliary supports/services and accommodations. The discussion focuses on the implementation of accommodations in the classroom. The nature of the disability is not disclosed and remains confidential.  

5. Follow-Up

It is your responsibility to make an appointment with the Director of Accessibility each semester to request and develop a current accommodation plan and provide updated accommodation letters to your professors. Reasonable accommodations are not retroactive and will not be provided without an updated letter each semester.

Regarding the submission of accommodation letters to faculty:

  • If a reasonable accommodation calls for a note taker, let your instructor know as early as possible. DSS will provide you with a letter to present to your instructor. The instructor will then make an anonymous announcement regarding the need for a note taker and offer a financial stipend. It is up to you whether to remain anonymous or identify yourself to the note taker.
  • For alternative test taking procedures, it is the student’s responsibility to submit the accommodation letter at least 48 hours prior to an exam so that arrangements can be made in a timely fashion.  Additionally, the student should notify the instructor immediately if there is a scheduling conflict so that the student and the professor can coordinate a mutually agreeable time to schedule the exam. Arrive on time for your exam; otherwise, if you are tardy your accommodations for extended time can't be guaranteed or implemented appropriately. 
  • If you use a laptop, software program, or any other assistive technology to take an exam, remind the instructor one week in advance so that arrangements can be made. 
  • In order to receive alternative textbooks in a timely manner, it is necessary to let DSS know several weeks in advance so that the publisher can be notified. Contact DSS for instructions on how to proceed with obtaining text books in an alternate format.
  • Accommodations are not retroactive; students should submit their letters  to professors at the first opportunity.
Accessible Housing/Accommodations

Students requesting accessible housing or accommodations based on a documented disability or medical condition must apply through the Office of Accessibility. The housing accommodation request form along with appropriate documentation must be submitted to the Director of Accessibility who works in collaboration with the Director of Housing and Residence Life. Students requesting accessible housing/ accommodations should make an appointment with the Director of Accessibility to discuss the process and the necessary documentation and forms. Please understand that single rooms are limited and may not be available.

Students are encouraged to apply for housing accommodations as early as possible.  

Interpreting Services

Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing who require sign language interpreters for University classes, activities, or programs should contact the Director of Accessibility. Such requests should be made well in advance of need or as early as possible so that services can be provided in a timely manner.  

It is the student’s responsibility to notify DSS of one's schedule when requesting interpreting services. Please provide the schedule immediately after registration.  

Upon request, DSS will provide interpreting services for individuals attending functions sponsored by the University; such requests should be made well in advance of need (3 weeks) or as early as possible so that services can be provided in a timely manner.  

Meal Plan Accommodations

NDMU is a residential campus and as such requires that students living in on-campus residences participate in the meal plan offered through dining services. 

Our dining hall offers a wide variety of meal options through its standard meal service. We understand that students may have specific dietary needs or allergies; as such, the dining services online menu has features which allows students to review menu items for safe choices and balanced meal planning as well as to identify ingredients and possible allergens contained within the prepared foods.

If a student requires specific planning, the Food Service Director is also available to meet with the student individually to discuss needs and identify possible hidden allergens. 

Students with a medical condition or disability whose needs can’t be met through the dining selections offered can request a meal plan accommodation. Students requesting such dietary accommodations based on a medical condition or disability should request an appointment with the Director of Accessibility to discuss the process and procedures to request meal plan accommodations. Students must submit appropriate documentation from a licensed physician or dietician. 

  1. The documentation should include a medical diagnosis of the condition or disability.
  2. The diagnosis should be made by an appropriate medical provider, dietician, or specialist in the specific field related to the medical condition or disability. The evaluator’s name, title and professional credentials and affiliations should be included in the documents.
  3. The documentation should include the following information:
    • Duration of the medical condition or disability: Is the condition or disability temporary or permanent? If temporary, an estimate of how long the condition will persist.
    • Stability of the condition or disability: Is the medical condition/disability stable, progressive or fluctuating?
    • Impact of the medical condition or disability
  4. Recommendations for meal plan accommodations will be based on specific symptoms of the medical condition or disability. The documentation must reflect the current status of the medical condition or disability. If the documentation does not reflect the current status, students may be required to submit updated information and/or documentation.

The Director of Accessibility works in conjunction with the Food Service Director and will collaborate directly with the student to provide any dietary or meal plan accommodations.

Service Animals

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals are permitted in University facilities. A service animal is any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform specific tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including but not limited to:

  • guiding individuals with impaired vision
  • alerting individuals with impaired hearing
  • providing minimal rescue or protection work
  • pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items
Temporary Accommodations

Temporary accommodations are available for students experiencing transitory conditions. Students who require temporary accommodations due to an acute physical or medical condition should contact the Office of Accessibility to discuss their needs for accessibility. Students who are pregnant and require accommodations should contact this office as well.  

Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis as related to the functional limitations associated with the student’s temporary condition. Documentation from a medical professional will be required.

Examples of temporary conditions may include but are not limited to:

  • Concussions
  • Pregnancy
  • Impairments following surgery 
  • Hand, wrist, or arm injuries that limits the student’s ability to write

The University has a dedicated lactation room in the UAB.

Grievance Procedures

Reporting Concerns, Informal Resolution, and Formal Grievance Procedures

NDMU has the following procedures in place to assist individuals in the resolution of any concerns or complaints alleging disability discrimination in violation of the American with Disabilities Act 1990 or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:  

Reporting Concerns:

Any concern should first be brought to the attention of the Director of Accessibility. The Director will discuss the issue with the individual and strive to resolve the concern.

Informal Resolution:

NDMU encourages informal resolution of complaints when possible. If an attempt to resolve the issue with The Office of Disability Support is not viewed as successful, the student may contact the 504/ADA Coordinator at gfitzgerald@ndm.edu. A meeting will be arranged to discuss the individual's concerns.

Formal Grievance Procedures: 

An individual may file a formal, written grievance with the 504/ADA Coordinator after an informal attempt to resolve the concern has been made with DSS and the 504/ ADA Coordinator. The written grievance must include the following:

  • the individual’s name, address, email and phone number
  • a full description of the individual's concern
  • a description of the individual's attempts to resolve the issue with DSS and the 504 /ADA Coordinator
  • a description of the desired remedy to the issue

Once the grievance has been received, the 504/ADA Coordinator will provide written notification of receipt and initiate an investigation expeditiously in accordance with the University’s Non-discrimination policy and procedures. Following the investigation, the 504/ADA Coordinator will prepare a written reply to the individual and to the party to which the grievance was filed.

A student may always contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, regarding allegations of disability discrimination in violation of Section 504. See additional information.

Contact Us

Appointments available upon request.
Email: accessibility@ndm.edu