ADA Policy

It is the policy of the University of Maryland School of Law not to discriminate on the basis of disability in any of its educational services, programs or activities. A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual, a record of having such impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment. The law school will make reasonable modifications in policies, practices or procedures when modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability unless making the modification would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program or activity, or would result in undue financial and administrative burdens. Although the law school's legal obligations to provide modifications are limited to long-term disabilities, it is the practice of the law school to also attempt to accommodate those with temporary disabilities.

Any student who has a disability affecting the learning process, in the taking of examinations or any other program, or in service or in an activity of the law school shall bring this matter to the attention of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. As to minor forms of modifications within the power of individual faculty members, library staff or other law school personnel, the student is encouraged, although not required, to first contact the law school faculty member or staff member to informally seek modification. Should no mutually satisfactory modification be reached, the student should bring the matter to the attention of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.

A student with a disability must provide the law school with professional documentation of the disability in accordance with the law school's Policy on Documentation of Physical, Mental or Learning Disabilities. Documentation that is more than three (3) years old will not be considered. In the event that the law school concludes, upon investigation, that the student is a qualified student with a disability, the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, together with such other appropriate law school faculty or staff as the Assistant Dean may designate, shall promptly confer with the student and attempt to negotiate a mutually satisfactory modification to accommodate the person's disability. In the event that more than one form of modification is possible, the law school reserves the right to select the form least burdensome to the law school.

It is the policy of the law school to keep confidential all information pertaining to a student's or applicant's disability and to disclose such information only to the extent necessary for affected faculty members and staff.

If the school concludes that a student is not a qualified individual with a disability, or if a qualified individual with a disability believes that the law school has failed to offer her or him reasonable modification for her or his disabilities, not requiring fundamental alteration of the law school's program or services, and available without imposing undue burden on the law school, the student shall be entitled to appeal the decision of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs by filing a formal complaint with the Dean of the Law School. The method for filing a complaint is set forth in the School of Law's Procedure for Making a Claim of Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Age, National Origin, or Disability which is reprinted in the Student Handbook.

A complete copy of the policy is available here

ADA Policy

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