SSW POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
[Essential Requirements for Admission and Academic Advancement]
School of Social Work Authorization Document and Accommodation Request Form
(Adobe PDF Document--Get the free reader, if needed, at this link) Principles The School of Social Work believes that it should educate a diverse group of social work students recognizing that in such diversity lies excellence. Included in this group are qualified students who have impairments, functional limitations, and/or disabilities. The School wishes to facilitate the education of such students and make reasonable accommodations for their disabilities in order to promote learning and performance. The School's responsibility is to graduate competent social workers and to seek candidates who will best be able to serve society's needs. Therefore, applicants with disabilities should be held to the same admission standards as their non-disabled peers. Accommodations provided to applicants with disabilities during their education will not be considered negatively as the applicants are evaluated. The University of Maryland School of Social Work acknowledges Section 504 of the 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act (Rehabilitation Act) and PL 101-336, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The School requires that certain minimum technical standards be present in the prospective candidate for a Social Work degree. This document is the School's written policy which identifies essential requirements for admission, advancement and graduation and guides students with disabilities in making requests for accommodations. It is reviewed periodically in light of changes in technology and is shared with everyone involved in the admission process. All applicants and students are encouraged to disclose disabilities in order for the School to respond with support services, as needed. Students should be reassured of the School's policy of prohibiting discrimination against them because of disability, and assured that they are not required to disclose any disability. On the other hand, absent disclosure, no accommodation can be provided. Students may self-identify at the time of application, admission, acceptance, or orientation, or at any later time, to the University of Maryland's campus-wide Office of Student Services (6-7117/7714 (voice/TTY)), and the School's Office of Student Affairs. (In addition, at the beginning of each semester, students may disclose disabilities to a faculty member or Assistant Dean for Field Instruction so appropriate services/accommodations can be provided through the Office of Student Affairs.) Disclosure after academic jeopardy has occurred does not entitle one to repeat academic work with accommodation. The School highly values its advocacy and support of matriculated students. Issues related to a disability are handled out of the UMB Office of Student Services and the SSW Offices of the Deans. Assistance with diagnosis of disabilities is facilitated by the UMB Office of Student Services and monitored by the SSW Offices of the Deans. Essential Requirements 1. Matriculation into the School requires a certain essential level of cognitive, emotional and communication skill. Students must be able to acquire client-related information, communicate effectively, and maneuver physically in an adequate manner so that service can be provided to client populations. Students must be also able to problem-solve, through analysis, synthesis, and reasoning. Problem solving must occur in a timely fashion. Students must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all responsibilities related to service to clients. This includes being able to function under stressful situations and to adapt to changing environments. Students must be able to perform their duties with compassion, integrity, and concern for others. 2. Social work students with disabilities should be held to the same essential requirements as their non-disabled peers. Accommodations must be reasonably made to assist in learning, performing and satisfying the essential requirements. 3. Students with disabilities applying to the School will be expected to have achieved the same essential requirements as their non-disabled peers, with accommodations if needed.
Requests for Accommodations 1. An applicant to the School of Social Work may disclose a disability and request accommodation during the admission process. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED. However, an applicant may want to determine the School's response to a specific accommodation request early in the admissions process. An applicant who chooses voluntarily to disclose a disability should write, call or visit the University's Office of Student Services in conjunction with the School's Office of Student Affairs to disclose the disability and discuss accommodation requests. This process must be done every semester in order for a student to be provided services. 2. After admission, students can disclose disabilities and request accommodation by writing, calling or visiting the University's Office of Student Services and the School's Office of Student Affairs. 3. The University's Director of the Office of Student Services, and the SSW Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, will interview the applicant or student and gather all relevant information. The applicant or student will be required to submit in writing from his/her physician the requested accommodation and pertinent supporting documentation. The documentation will include a history of accommodations granted previously in other educational programs, if applicable, and references who can discuss with the Director of UMB Student Services and the Assistant Dean the experience of the applicant or student in other educational settings. 4. The University's Office of Student Services Director requires medical (or other) verification of disabilities and proof of information presented concerning accommodations. The School may require independent medical examinations or other testing to verify claimed disabilities or utility of accommodations. 5. After gathering all relevant and necessary information, the Director of Student Services, in conjunction with the Assistant Dean, will review the information gathered, consider the accommodation request and advise the SSW Offices of the Deans concerning the request. The UMB Director of Student Services and the Assistant Dean may request additional information and may seek technical and medical consultations from resources in the School, at the University level, or from off-campus resources. 6. Reasonable accommodation should be made to facilitate student progress where such accommodation does not significantly interfere with the essential functions of the School of Social Work or adversely and significantly affect the rights of other students or populations being served. 7. Accommodations requested by an individual with a disability will be measured against the standard: Would the proposed change fundamentally alter the nature of the course, educational program, or other activity related to the School, including field placements? If the answer is "yes," then the University/School is not required to make the accommodation. 8. A request for extra time for completion of an exam or writing assignment will be granted when a disability requiring such extra time is diagnosed. The amount of extra time granted will be related to the recommendations consistent with the diagnosis. 9. The costs of reasonable accommodation as defined under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act will be borne by the University's Office of Student Services/School of Social Work. 10. Any student who becomes aware of a disability requiring accommodation, or of a need for accommodation of a previously known disability, must request the accommodation as soon as the need for accommodation has been identified. A student can expect a written response from the University Director of Student Services/Assistant Dean and/or Associate Dean for Administration within 21 days of submitting all required documentation, as described above. The time may be extended if the School requests additional information, which cannot reasonably be gathered within the period. 11. The Director of Student Services/the Assistant Dean and/or the Associate Dean will make a decision concerning a request for accommodation. Grievances in relation to accommodation services can be brought before the Student Grievance Committee if they cannot be successfully mediated by the Assistant Dean.
Please review the following page pertaining to "General Guidelines for Documenting A Disability". [Prepared by the University of Maryland Baltimore Office of Student Services] top .
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