Critical Social Justice: Disability Justice + Access Matters has begun! As such, we wanted to share a round up of UMBC’s on-campus disability resources.* Below are several key offices that UMBC students, faculty, staff, and community members can work with to explore accommodations, report ADA compliance issues, and/or seek assistance in combatting discrimination against people with disabilities.

Office of Student Disability Services

https://sds.umbc.edu/

8:30 – 4:30 Monday – Friday

Phone: 410-455-2459

myUMBC: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/sss

Email: disAbility(@)umbc.edu

UMBC’s Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) provides resources to students with disabilities, as well as those with temporarily disabling conditions and injuries, that may require accommodations in order to have equal access and full participation in all of UMBC’s programs, services, and activities. 

More on upcoming events from SDS: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/sss/events

Office of Accessibility and Disability Services 

accessibility.umbc.edu

9 – 5 Monday – Friday

Phone: 410-455-5745

myUMBC: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility

Email: Stephanie Lazarus, Accessibility Manager and ADA Coordinator, slazar(@)umbc.edu  

Report Campus Accessibility Concerns (email/name required): https://accessibility.umbc.edu/report-campus-accessibility-concern/

UMBC’s Office of Accessibility and Disability Services (ADS) coordinatesemployeeaccommodation requests,provides for visitor access needs, and manages other ADA compliance issues (including campus accessibility concerns and digital accessibility) at UMBC.

More on upcoming events from ADS: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/events

Office of Equity and Inclusion

https://oei.umbc.edu/

Phone: 410-455-1717

Email: OEI@umbc.edu

UMBC Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) Confidential Online Reporting/Referral Form (Anonymous):

https://umbc-advocate.symplicity.com/titleix_report/index.php

UMBC’s Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) is responsible for promoting and coordinating the University’s core values of inclusive excellence, equity, diversity. OEI has primary responsibility for managing UMBC’s efforts related to Title IX as well as other civil rights issues, including discrimination, harassment, hate and bias related to protected identity classes like disability. 

OEI Anti-Discrimination Resources
https://oei.umbc.edu/non-discrimination-resources/
Includes accessibility and student academic support resources.

Other Resources:

UMBC Access Routes Map:
https://about.umbc.edu/files/2021/09/2021-UMBC-accessible-routes-map.pdf

A Progressive’s Style Guide (includes best practice style for writing about disability and the disabled community):
https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.sumofus.org/images/SUMOFUS_PROGRESSIVE-STYLEGUIDE.pdf

All gender restroom map:
https://about.umbc.edu/files/2019/02/ALL-GENDER-RESTROOM-MAP-2019.pdf

*This is a working list of resources; if you don’t see an office or particular program named and you believe it should be included, please email us at womenscenter@umbc.edu

. I want to personally invite students to the Political Science Council of Majors' (advised by Dr. Tom Schaller) first semesterly, All-Majors Interest Meeting being hosted on Wednesday, September 29th from 11-12 AM in PUP 354. This will be the Council's in-person meeting after 2 years!! The event will be an opportunity to introduce students to the Council, provide departmental resources, engage students with other POLI students, and brainstorm civic initiatives for the year.

The UMBC Political Science Council of Majors aids the Political Science department to address the needs of undergraduate students, build an inclusive community of scholars, and enhance the cultural life of all undergraduates in the department. The Council works directly with department faculty and professors to create avenues of interest for the student body and strives to aid students to succeed both within the realm of Political Science and the larger UMBC community. Moreover, we are working to strengthen civic engagement, access to resources and opportunities, and addressing any departmental issues that may arise.

Past achievements of the Council:

-Student Voting Registration, Know-your-Reps, and Civic Engagement

-POLI Senior Graduation Ceremonies led by Dr. Carolyn Forestiere

-Panel on Biden's Foreign Policy sponsored by both POLI and Global Studies 

-Diversification of Department curriculums and syllabi led by Dr. Carolyn Forestiere

-Representing the POLI department 

Contact Rehman Liaqat (me) (RLiaqat1@umbc.edu) or Zoe Smith (ZSmith4@umbc.edu) for any questions or concerns.

“How can I join the Women’s Center?”

Well . . .

Do you hang out in our lounge? Do you come to our events? Do you read our blog or chat with our staff? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then congratulations! You are a part of the Women’s Center.

But we understand the feeling of being a part of something special. Showing your loyalty and commitment to a cause is empowering. Finding home and belonging in a space that means something to you, means something to us.

So, now, you can “join” the Women’s Center by being one of our fearless and loyal Scouts! 

The Women’s Center Scouts program began several years ago in the spirit of the Pawnee Goddesses created by our friend Leslie Knope. Maybe you’ve also heard of the Girl Scouts? Radical Monarchs? Or Lumberjanes? Our Scouts program is kind of like that. Nonetheless, there are Women’s Center badges out there waiting to be earned!

Here’s the deal. To become a Women’s Center Scout, participate in our “This or That Scout Challenge!” Each Scout must meet the challenge by completing a set of 4 different challenges outlined by the Women’s Center throughout the fall semester. The challenges include:  

• 1. Follow us on social media @womenscenterumbc on Twitter, Instagram, & on myUMBC!
  • If you’re already a member and following one of our pages, great! You’re one step closer. After following us, comment/reply to one of our posts…

• 2. Spend time in the Women’s Center!
  • Bring a friend to the Women’s Center and give them a tour!
  • OR go to one of our discussion group meetings! (Learn more by visiting our myUMBC page and visiting our discussion-based groups’ page)

• 3. Celebrate our 30th Anniversary! 
  • Attend the 30th Anniversary virtual Homecoming event on Oct. 8 @ 6 pm!
  • OR watch the 20th Anniversary of the Women’s Center video OR view the 25th Anniversary Prezi and tell a staff member one fact you learned!

• 4. Get involved with Critical Social Justice!
  • Attend at least 1 CSJ event! 9/27, 10/27, 11/4, & 11/29
  • OR ask one of our staff members for a reading recommendation on Disability Justice from our lending library!

Any UMBC community member who completes the challenge by December 1st gets a Women’s Center T-shirt and a shout-out on our social media pages!

Wear your Women’s Center t-shirt with pride. Jess and Ojus are showcasing this year’s Women’s Center t-shirt!

All UMBC students, faculty, and staff are welcome to participate! Stop by the Women’s Center beginning Monday, September 27th to claim your Scout’s Card and get to work!

For questions, stop by the Women’s Center or email us at womenscenter@umbc.edu.

 The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is hiring analyst internships for the spring. The application closes on October 1 or when the first 500 applications are received. For students that may be interested, I’ve attached a flyer about general information about the health care team at GAO.  

·         Undergraduate Link (https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/614306300)

·         Graduate Link (https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/614306900)

 

Leslie McNamara

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Analyst, Health Care

McNamaraL@gao.gov

Registration, submission, workshop applications and student registration and travel grant applications are now available.

Conference organizers are monitoring Covid and will follow both CDC guidelines and Maryland and Baltimore City mandates. We expect in-person conference and workshop participants to be vaccinated. 

 If you have questions, please reach out to Joe Wood at jswood@ubalt.edu or raceethnicityplace@gmail.com.