Changes are underway in the Office of Disability Resources!
Over the next year, the Office of Disability Resources (ODR) will begin the implementation of an electronic database management system. We hope to move towards a more efficient process through this system, with sustainability in mind! Throughout this change, the care with maintaining confidential, disability-related information is of utmost importance and will continue to be monitored carefully. We also plan on updating our policies and procedures with the intention of providing further clarity on our process and supports. Updates to our website are forthcoming so be on the look out for more information over the next year, and feel free to contact our office anytime with questions.
We would like to offer some useful guidance to our continuing UMW students.
Communication is Key!
When considering accommodations through the Office of Disability Resources, it is important to keep in mind that a careful review of disability documentation is a critical part of this process. Some accommodations (e.g., housing accommodations, alternative text, foreign language substitution, etc.) take coordination of several departments or with 3rd party vendors and/or may take several weeks (and sometimes months) to put into place. We strongly recommend beginning the process early when requesting any accommodation. We are here to support students with disability-related needs, but we do need time to make sure that the process goes smoothly. If you’re not sure about something, let us know if there are any questions – we are always here to help!
Now is the time when your student is likely considering study abroad opportunities, career preparation, and accommodations for high stakes tests (e.g., GRE, GMAT, Praxis, etc.). Here are some helpful things to know while making plans for next steps:
High Stakes Tests
- In order to receive accommodations for exams taken for graduate educational and employment opportunities, students often need to provide current disability documentation.
- Our office staff is more than happy to help when we can! Please know that you may be able to request verification from Disability Resources providers (such as our office staff), if this is an option for your test.
- This verification can often take some time to complete – avoid waiting until the last minute to make this request to avoid delays in your submission.
- It’s important for your student to review the information of how to request accommodations well before the test, as each test may have differing requirements and may take weeks to months to put into place.
Study Abroad Opportunities
- Our office works closely with the Center for International Education (CIE) to support students with disabilities who take the opportunity to study abroad.
- It is important to remember that the same laws in place for individuals with disabilities in the United States are different (or do not exist at all) in other countries.
- This means, a student is not necessarily entitled to the same accommodations and supports that they may be accustomed to within the United States.
- Our office will make every effort to work with CIE to identify what supports are available and communicate with the appropriate individuals, as well as work with the student to understand their available supports.
- Communication is key – the more time we have to work with our campus and international partners, the more time we have to better prepare your student for their trip abroad.
- We recommend planning as early as possible – aim for a year in advance.
Career Preparation
There are many things to keep in mind with regards to career preparation. A few tips include:
- Consider how your disability affects you and choose a career path that is aligned well with your strengths and interests.
- Begin working with the Office of Disability Resources and the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) on your goals. It’s never too early to start!
- Use all the resources available here that you can, including participation in job fairs that are run through the CCPD.
- CCPD has put together a Resource Guide for students with disabilities.
- Development of strong skills in the area of self-advocacy is a must. This is something that your student must develop in order to be successful, and the development of self-determination and self-advocacy is strongly emphasized by the Office of Disability Resources in its work and mission for the university.
- Determining whether to disclose or not to disclose, when the right time would be for you to disclose, and deciding how to disclose (what information to share and to whom) are all important to consider and the answer is not the same for everyone.
- Learn as much as you can about other available federal- and state-run programs to assist individuals with disabilities with employment, including the following:
Questions? Contact the Office of Disability Resources at 540-654-1266.
Jessica Machado, Director, Office of Disability Resources