Student Accessibility Services
Welcome to the Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at the University of Maine at Machias, where we prioritize equitable access and student success. Located in 229A Torrey Hall and open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., our office is dedicated to supporting University of Maine students with disabilities. We are committed to ensuring that all students have equitable access to education through personalized accommodations and comprehensive services.
At SAS, we understand that every student’s journey is unique. Whether you’re managing a learning disability, medical condition, ADHD, physical impairment, sensory challenge, emotional/psychological diagnosis, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, or a temporary disability, our team is here to assist you. We collaborate closely with each student to identify and implement accommodations that create an inclusive learning environment and promote academic success.
Our accommodations are designed to meet a variety of needs, including extended test times, assistive technology, note-taking support, specialized test environments, scribes, housing adjustments, and customized seating arrangements. These accommodations ensure that you can fully participate in and benefit from your academic experience.
If you have had an IEP or a 504 plan during high school please look at HS vs. College. This informational sheet will help you better understand the differences between accommodations in the high school setting compared to the college setting.
Contact US
Zach Benner
Accessibility Coordinator
207.255.1228
Academic Accommodations
Disability is a valued diversity at the University of Maine at Machias SAS collaborates with students and the campus community to discuss reasonable accommodations which creates a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse learning environment. With this view in mind students are encouraged to complete the following steps to request reasonable accommodations which includes completing an information form and sending documentation to our office. We recognize that there are some instances in which documentation may vary in a variety of ways. If you are concerned that you cannot provide documentation to our office prior to your initial meeting please reach out to our office staff to discuss your concerns.
Step 1:
As of 1 August 2023 all accommodation requests will be done through the Accommodate System.
For new students who are requesting academic accommodations please fill out Student Accommodation Request Form utilizing the Accommodate System. When completing this form you can upload any supporting documentation to help the S.A.S. Office better understands your request and supports your individual needs here at the University of Maine at Machias. If you are unable to provide documentation when completing the Student Accommodation Request Form please submit the form and have your provider complete the Documentation Form. The form can be uploaded through Accommodate Account utilizing your UMaine System single sign on feature or you can email directly to the S.A.S. Office at ummdisability@maine.edu. Once the form is completed and submitted the S.A.S. Office will reach out to you to set up an appointment and/or request documentation.
For returning students who have previously been approved for academic accommodations please log into Accommodate utilizing your UMaine System single log-in feature. Your username and password are the same that you would use to log into your @maine.edu gmail or MaineStreet.
Step 2:
The S.A.S. Office will reach out to you directly about requesting additional documentation to support your request for accommodations or set up an appointment to speak with you (in person or zoom) about your request.
You are able to set up appointments with the S.A.S. Office by utilizing your Accommodate account Appointment tab on the left hand side or you can email S.A.S. Office directly at ummdisability@maine.edu.
Step 3:
Students meet with the Student Accessibility Services Professional Staff to discuss the accommodation process and determine appropriate accommodations. Generally, accommodations are put in place from the time requested forward and are not retroactive.
Once accommodations are determined students need only complete the Accommodation Request Form each semester and need not meet with SAS Professional Staff unless accommodation changes are being requested.
Step 4:
S.A.S. Office will prepare a letter of determination of accommodation(s). The letter will be sent to the student’s Accommodate Account under the Accommodation tab on the left hand side. This is where the student is able to view their accommodation letters and sign for them as well.
Step 5:
The S.A.S. Office will send out to specific faculty that you are requesting accommodations for and will receive a letter of accommodations through their Accommodate Account. Students are recommended to reach out to their professors/faculty to discuss accommodations in a private setting.
Housing Accommodations
The University of Maine Office of Residential Life offers a variety of housing options to students who wish to live on campus. As with all communal living, all housing options at UMaine involve students sharing living space, bathrooms and other common areas with their peers. The Office of Residential Life strives to create a vibrant community and provide housing that fosters and supports students’ academic, social and personal goals and well-being.
Students requesting housing accommodations because of a diagnosed disability are required to contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Please refer to the process listed below.
If you have not applied for housing please fill out the Housing Application.
Important Dates
In order to have time to process and review applications and hold spaces out of regular room selection the following deadlines for submitting materials have been established.
Step 1:
As of 1 August 2023 all accommodation requests will be done through the Accommodate System.
For new students who are requesting housing accommodations please fill out Student Accommodation Request Form utilizing the Accommodate System. When completing this form you can upload any supporting documentation to help the S.A.S. Office better understands your request and supports your individual needs here at the University of Maine at Machias. If you are unable to provide documentation when completing the Student Accommodation Request Form please submit the form and have your provider complete the Housing Documentation-Clinician-Form The form can be upload through Accommodate Account utilizing your UMaine System single sign on feature or you can email directly to the S.A.S. Office at ummdisability@maine.edu. Once the form is completed and submitted the S.A.S. Office will reach out to you to set up an appointment and/or request documentation.
For returning students who have previously been approved for housing accommodations please log into Accommodate utilizing your UMaine System single log-in feature. Your username and password are the same that you would use to log into your @maine.edu gmail or MaineStreet.
All housing accommodation letters will be written for the Fall and Spring and you will request a housing request once. If you’d like to stay in the dorms during the Winter and Summer Breaks you must complete a “semester requests” if you’d like to have your housing accommodations applied during those times.
Step 2:
The S.A.S. Office will reach out to you directly about requesting additional documentation to support your request for accommodations or set up an appointment to speak with you (in person or zoom) about your request.
You are able to set up appointments with the S.A.S. Office by utilizing your Accommodate account Appointment tab on the left hand side or you can email S.A.S. Office directly at ummdisability@maine.edu.
Step 3:
Students meet with the Student Accessibility Services Professional Staff to discuss the accommodation process and determine appropriate accommodations. Generally, accommodations are put in place from the time requested forward and are not retroactive.
Once accommodations are determined students need only complete the Accommodation Request Form each semester and need not meet with SAS Professional Staff unless accommodation changes are being requested.
Step 4:
The S.A.S. Office will prepare a letter of determination of accommodation(s). The letter will be sent to the student’s Accommodate Account under the Accommodation tab on the left hand side. This is where the student is able to view their accommodation letters and sign for them as well.
Step 5:
The S.A.S. Office will send out to specific faculty that you are requesting accommodations for and will receive a letter of accommodations through their Accommodate Account. Students are recommended to reach out to their professors/faculty to discuss accommodations in a private setting.
Examples of Housing Accommodations:
While every effort is made to honor a student’s location preference, assignments are made based on the approved accommodation(s); specific residential areas are not guaranteed. Because of numerous sites on campus that provide reduced distraction study space, single room accommodations are generally not provided solely for academic-related needs. SAS strongly encourages students whose enrollment at the university depends on the availability of on-campus housing to apply far in advance of the published deadlines. SAS will consider requests for housing accommodations promptly. However, if the request for accommodation is made fewer than 60 days before the student intends to move into housing, SAS cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the student’s requested accommodations during the first semester or term of occupancy.
ESA Accommodations
The University of Maine Office of Residential Life offers a variety of housing options to students who wish to live on campus. As with all communal living, all housing options at UMaine involve students sharing living space, bathrooms and other common areas with their peers. The Office of Residential Life strives to create a vibrant community and provide housing that fosters and supports students’ academic, social and personal goals and well-being.
Students requesting ESA accommodations because of a diagnosed disability are required to contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Please refer to the process listed below.
If you have not applied for housing please fill out the Housing Application.
Important Dates
In order to have time to process and review applications and hold spaces out of regular room selection the following deadlines for submitting materials have been established.
Step 1:
As of 1 August 2023 all accommodation requests will be done through the Accommodate System.
Student reviews Emotional Support Animal Policy and Procedures document.
Step 2:
For new students who are requesting housing accommodations please fill out Student Accommodation Request Form utilizing the Accommodate System. When completing this form you can upload any supporting documentation to help the S.A.S. Office better understands your request and supports your individual needs here at the University of Maine at Machias. If you are unable to provide documentation when completing the Student Accommodation Request Form please submit the form and have your provider complete the ESA Documentation Form. The form can be upload through Accommodate Account utilizing your UMaine System single sign on feature or you can email directly to the S.A.S. Office at ummdisability@maine.edu. Once the form is completed and submitted the S.A.S. Office will reach out to you to set up an appointment and/or request documentation.
For returning students who have previously been approved for housing accommodations please log into Accommodate utilizing your UMaine System single log-in feature. Your username and password are the same that you would use to log into your @maine.edu gmail or MaineStreet.
All ESA accommodation letters will be written for the Fall and Spring and you will request a ESA request once per academic year. If you’d like to stay in the dorms during the Winter and Summer Breaks you must complete a “semester requests” if you’d like to have your ESA accommodations applied during those times.
Step 3:
The S.A.S. Office will reach out to you directly about requesting additional documentation to support your request for accommodations or set up an appointment to speak with you (in person or zoom) about your request.
You are able to set up appointments with the S.A.S. Office by utilizing your Accommodate account Appointment tab on the left hand side or you can email S.A.S. Office directly at ummdisability@maine.edu.
Step 4:
Student Accessibility Services staff review requests in consultation with the Offices of Residence Life, University Health and Counseling Center, and, if needed, the individual’s mental health provider. Please note that there is no deadline to submit a request for accommodation for an emotional support animal. The length of determination may vary depending on the complexity of the request. Students are encouraged to initiate the process at least four weeks in advance of the date they are requesting to bring an animal to campus.
Step 5:
If the ESA s approved, student must:
Step 6:
If the ESA is approved, Student Accessibility Services will notify Housing Services and Residence Life who may in turn notify the residents of the floor where the student resides. Such information will be limited and not include specific disability related information. The student will be provided a letter of accommodation that will specifically state that the animal is approved and where the animal is permitted on campus. The student should retain the letter to provide as proof of approval of the accommodation.
Step 7:
Requests for ESAs may be reviewed annually. Students must notify SAS each year if bringing the ESA and provide an updated agreement form with current emergency contact information. Vaccination and vet records must also be current and submitted annually.
Documentation Guidelines
Disability is a valued diversity at the University of Maine. SAS collaborates with students and the campus community to provide reasonable accommodations which creates a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse learning environment. One of the first steps in the process of requesting accommodations is to provide documentation from a licensed professional or health provider who is both trained and qualified to evaluate the disability and familiar with the student’s history.
The documentation should be recent enough to reflect the student’s current status. Copies of IEPs and Section 504 plans are informative, but if a diagnosis is not stated and test results are not reported these documents may not be sufficient documentation to support accommodation. Documentation may not be provided by a student’s relative, friend, or family friend. Please do not send copies of the student’s medical records.
We recognize that there are some instances in which documentation may vary in a variety of ways, if you are concerned that you cannot provide documentation to our office prior to your initial meeting please reach out to our office staff to discuss your concerns.
Equal Opportunity Complaint Procedures
The University of Maine at Machias is committed to maintaining a respectful, fair campus environment, free from discrimination, including discriminatory harassment. The goal of the university is to prevent discrimination from occurring and to provide an effective means of raising and promptly resolving complaints.
Toward that end, the university offers internal complaint procedures to resolve concerns of discrimination or harassment on account of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status or gender expression, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. These issues may be raised by faculty, staff, students, or members of the community.
Appeal Process
Students who feel that they been unfairly denied a reasonable accommodation should contact us at:
Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX Services
Phone: 207.581.1226
Fax: 207.581.1214
5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412,
University of Maine,
Orono, ME 04469-5754