Americans with Disability Act Compliance
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore assures the commitment to provide access and equal opportunity to students with disabilities admitted to the University. As part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Congress enacted Section 504. Section 504 provides that, “No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States…shall, solely by reason of…handicap be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal Financial Assistance.”
On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted. The ADA ((Section 504) reinforces the concept of reasonable accommodations in education. Thus, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is charged with the responsibility of reasonable access and opportunity to students with disabilities be provided to assist with their academic potential, as well as social and extracurricular activities.
Applicants with Disabilities
State and federal law require the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. The University will make reasonable accommodations as appropriate for qualified individuals as can be made such as to not compromise academic, clinical requirements, and standards that are essential to instruction in the PA Program and the award of a degree from the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. An applicant is not disqualified from consideration due to a disability. Applicants are not required to disclose the nature of disabilities to the Admissions Committee. Applicants with questions about the Program’s Technical Standards for admission, academic advancement and graduation in relation to their disabilities are encouraged to discuss the issue of accommodation with the Admissions Committee prior to the interview process such that they can be accommodated at the interview process. If appropriate, and upon the request of an applicant or student, academic adjustments and/or reasonable accommodations may be provided. For applicants, the Admissions Committee will work with the appropriate faculty to determine whether requested accommodations are feasible and reasonable.
Some applicants who require technological assistance or other reasonable accommodations can attain some of the aptitudes, abilities and skills described in the Technical Standards. However, applicants using technology supports or other accommodations must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. The use of trained intermediaries to carry out functions described in the Technical Standards will not generally be permitted by the PA Program. Intermediaries, no matter how well trained, are applying their own powers of selection and observation, which could affect the student’s judgment and performance. Therefore, the PA Program will not generally permit third parties to be used to assist a student in the clinical training or in accomplishing curriculum requirements identified in the Technical Standards. Other requested accommodations will be given due consideration, and reasonable accommodations will be made where consistent with curriculum objectives and legal requirements applicable to the School and University.
Requests for Accommodations
An applicant who has not been offered admission to the PA Program may disclose a disability and request accommodation during the admission process. DISCLOSURE BEFORE BEING OFFERED ADMISSION 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 the Admissions Committee and the Office of Student Affairs to disclose the disability and discuss accommodation requests. Disclosure of the disability and request for accommodation will be kept confidential and shared with those persons responsible for evaluating the disability and whether a reasonable accommodation may be made for the disability. After admission, students (including those who have not yet confirmed their slot in the class, those who have confirmed their acceptance and matriculating students) should disclose disabilities and request accommodation by writing, calling or visiting the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE). Refer to the OIE website, Steps for Student Accommodations | Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (umes.edu), for more details. The University will follow the legal requirements of the law for accommodations.
Goals and Deadlines for Accommodations
Any student who has not yet matriculated must make requests for accommodation of disabilities within one week after accepting admission to the program. Any matriculating student, who becomes aware of a disability requiring accommodation or a need for accommodation of a previously known disability, must request the accommodation as soon as the need for accommodation has been identified. Information about a student’s disability and request for accommodation will be held in confidence and disclosed to those persons responsible for evaluating the disability and determining whether requested accommodations can be made. A student can expect a response from the Vice President of Academic Affairs within 21 days of submitting all required documentation as required. The time may be extended if the School requests additional information, which cannot reasonably be gathered within the period.
