Frequently Asked Questions
Should I disclose my disability when applying for admission?
The decision to
self-disclose a disability during the admission process is a student’s personal
choice. All students admitted to UMaine are considered for acceptance based on
criteria of GPA, SAT/ACT scores, ranking in class etc. UMaine does not have a
separate admissions process or criteria for students with disabilities. If you
have been denied admission and feel that your documentation of disability could
shed light on your academic record then I encourage you to consider
self-disclosure. If prior to applying, you know that you do not meet the
standard admissions criteria, and you feel that your disability documentation
provides important academic information, then consider sending the documentation
with your application. Submitting disability documentation does not in any way
guarantee admission or a change in the admissions criteria but may provide a
clearer lens through which to view your materials.
Can we visit Disability Support Services while on a campus tour?
If you are planning to visit our campus as you select a University, feel free to
contact the DSS office for an appointment if you would like to discuss specific
accommodations in more detail. Our calendar fills rapidly so please don't plan
on just "stopping by". An appointment is appreciated.
What must be included in "documentation of disability"?
For students who have readily apparent disabilities, such as mobility-impaired
students who utilize a wheelchair, no documentation is required. Students whose
disabilities are not readily apparent need to provide complete diagnostic
reports and testing from qualified licensed professionals. Guidelines for
documentation of Learning Disabilities and ADHD are available on pages 10 – 12
in this handbook and on the UMaine web site. Students with emotional and
physical disabilities should use the Documentation of Need form located on pages
13 & 14, or request a copy of the form from Disability Support Services for
further clarification.
Do you have a learning center or program like the "resource room" at UMaine?
No, the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities in the East Annex Building
is simply where academic needs and accommodations are coordinated. There is no
separate learning center for students with disabilities, rather the Director
makes arrangements for classroom accommodations such as extended time on tests
or textbooks on tape. The Director also refers students to other programs on
campus that offer academic assistance to all students.
Do you have special tutoring for students with disabilities?
Our tutoring program is open to all University students providing small group
(3-5 students) tutorials for many of our 100 and 200 level courses. Individual
tutors for students with disabilities are not provided although the student may
certainly recruit and hire his or her own tutor. These tutorials are study
skills based and are not a recitation or reteaching of the classroom material.
Currently, students are only assigned a tutor for one class each semester. The
Tutor Program is located in 104 Dunn Hall, 581-2351.
Can I get a waiver or substitution of courses that are required by the
University?
Many students are concerned about waiver and substitution policies for students
with disabilities. A request for a foreign language or math substitution is made
to the student's Dean. In the case of students with learning disabilities, their
diagnosis and testing must clearly document the need for substitutions. In many
instances the Director of Disability Support Services will write a letter of
recommendation supporting the student's request. Each college makes individual
case-by-case decisions regarding these requests.
Are Personal Care Attendants available?
The University does not recruit or hire personal care attendants for any
student. Space will be made available for live-in attendants if necessary, but
all arrangements are the student's responsibility.
Can I get special help with writing or math?
The University provides math and writing labs to all students. They are staffed
by upper-class students majoring in math and English. The math lab is open on a
drop-in basis whereas the writing lab is available both for drop-ins and by
appointment. These services are held in different locations on campus and thus a
student with a disability must be highly motivated and independent enough to
follow through with using these resources. For students with hand or arm
impairments, the voice activated computer software Dragon Naturally Speaking is
available.
Is there someone who will closely monitor the student’s progress?
Unlike high school, the University setting requires students to act as
independent adults. If a student comes to the Disability Support Services Office
at Onward when things are going poorly, every effort will be made to get that
student back on line within the parameters of our services. However, daily
monitoring is not available, thus students with a high level of independence and
advocacy skills fare better at UMaine.
What are some of the accommodations you have provided students with disabilities?
- LD Students
- Volunteer notetakers.
- Extended time on exams.
- Alternative, quiet testing location.
- Oral exam.
- Computer testing.
- Voice activated computer.
- Textbooks on CD.
- Visually Impaired
- Readers/Scribes.
- Textbooks on CD.
- Brailed texts
- Enlarged texts.
- Lab partners.
- Priority registration.
- Mobility Impaired
- Relocate classes for accessibility.
- Accessible furniture.
- Scribes.
- Volunteer notetakers.
- Computer or oral testing.
- Access Van campus transport.
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Sign Language Interpreters
- C-Print Transcription
- Volunteer Notetakers
- Extended time on tests
- Preferential seating
- Assistive Listening Devices
121 East Annex, Orono, ME 04469-5725
(207) 581-2319, Fax: (207) 581-4252, TTY: (207) 581-2325
A member of the University of Maine System