Graduate Students

Masters and Doctoral level students can implement approved accommodations within their coursework. At times, disability specialists will consult with course instructors before determining reasonable accommodations due to the variability within graduate course design.

Accommodations must address the impact of a particular disability and shall not fundamentally alter the academic objectives of an individual course, curriculum, program, or degree.

ADS works individually with graduate students and their direct supervisors to determine appropriate accommodations and modifications within their assistantships. The goal of the assistantship accommodation is to ensure individuals with disabilities can fulfill essential duties and enjoy the same benefits as those without disabilities. 

We are required to keep information about your disability confidential. Information related to your accommodation is kept separately from your personnel/student record. In some cases, the law allows us to share information regarding your disability with individuals who are considered to have a legitimate need to know in order to adequately provide for reasonable accommodation(s), such as your direct supervisor, manager(s), human resources staff, first aid and/or safety personnel. 

If you're applying to UMD and require accommodations for the application or interview process, email us at adsfrontdesk@umd.edu. 

If you're a graduate student requiring accommodations in a lab, fieldwork, or clinical setting, we'll collaborate with the specific lab, clinic, and/or research area to develop and implement an accommodation plan tailored to your needs.

Graduate students taking qualifying or comprehensive exams can request and receive accommodations through ADS. After registration, disability specialists collaborate with the student’s academic program to finalize logistical details before the exam. We encourage you to contact ADS one (1) to two (2) months before the exam.

Graduate students working on theses/dissertations are eligible for accommodations through ADS for all stages of their work (e.g., proposal, data collection, research, writing, defense). 

Once you register with ADS and receive accommodations, ADS works directly with your program and the Graduate School to establish a personalized plan.

The University of Maryland is committed to ensuring students with food allergies, sensitivities, and/or intolerances have not only a safe but enjoyable experience eating in university dining facilities.

Dining Services has created the Purple Zone, where the food is free of the eight most common allergens (dairy, peanuts/tree nuts, eggs, sesame, soy, fish, and shellfish) and gluten. Purple Zones are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner serving many of the same menu items found at other stations allergen-free. Dining Services has trained chefs and servers on staff related to allergen and food safety protocols. Dining Services also employs nutritionists to assist students in managing their food allergies, sensitives, and/or intolerances.

To learn more information about navigating dining within the University, please visit the Allergies and Special Dietary Requirements section of the Dining Services website.

The University of Maryland is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities can park their vehicle and navigate campus safely. ADS partners with The Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) to facilitate accommodations related to the use of our campus Paratransit system. 

DOTS coordinates all logistics related to parking and the shuttle bus system on campus. Shuttle-UM offers Paratransit as it’s curb-to-curb, on-demand shuttle subscription service for individuals with disabilities. 

DOTS coordinates all requests for accessible parking independently from ADS. To learn more about the parking and shuttle system please visit the DOTS website.