Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

What do I do now? Disability issues are complex: you and your student may have a great understanding of their disability and the limitations it brings about in an academic setting, or you may be new to this. Bodies and minds change. Many students are diagnosed with a disability for the first time in college. Some students come to college with a disability already diagnosed and some students may get hurt in a sport or other activity and face challenges related to an injury. Disability Services can help students succeed and thrive at UMM. E-mail us or give us a call at x6178.

How does my student register for services with the Disability Services office?

To register for services the student must complete an Application for Services form, provide documentation of disability, and fill out a Services Requested form. The application form and documentation information becomes a permanent part of the student's file. The student must fill out a Services Requested form that lists their class schedule each semester in order to continue to receive services.

How will I know if my son/daughter is in academic trouble?

For the most part, it is the responsibility of the student to inform their parents if and when they are in academic trouble.

UMM has a system in place called Academic Alert. The Disability Services (DS) Coordinator is part of the Academic Alert committee and receives information on students who have received an Alert. If an Alert is posted for a student who is registered with Disability Services, the Coordinator becomes involved and works with the student on a plan to ensure the student's academic success. If the student has signed an information release for their parents then they may be contacted at the student's request.

How can I access my student's grades?

Personal information, including grades, cannot be accessed by parents unless the student allows it. The U.S. Department of Education's Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of education records and establishes the right of a student to review their records. In order for the University to share student records and information, including enrollment and grades, your student must give you access to their information. Students can give parents and other individuals “view only” access to their records.

Can you keep an eye on my student and help if he/she runs into trouble?

As part of the Academic Alert committee, the DS Coordinator becomes aware of the academic problems of students with disabilities if an Academic Alert is generated. In these cases, the DS Coordinator contacts the student and requests a meeting. The meeting is designed to determine the nature of the difficulties and put the student in touch with any campus resources that may be helpful to get them back on track. Depending on the kind of difficulty the student is having, an ongoing weekly meeting may be scheduled to help keep the student on track and the DS Coordinator appraised of academic progress. However, not all instructors use the Academic Alert system. In cases where the instructor does not use the alert system, it may be impossible for the DS Coordinator to know if a student is having difficulty and it becomes the responsibility of the student to reach out and get the help they need.

In cases where students experience depression or other serious illness, there are other safeguards in place. If the student lives on campus, their Community Advisor (CA) may become involved by either referring the student to appropriate campus resources and encouraging the student to get the help they need, or reporting concerns to the Director of Residential Life who can intervene as necessary.

My son/daughter has a disability but has not used accommodations in school recently. Do they need to register with Disability Services?

It is recommended that all students with disabilities register with the DS office. Even though the student may not have needed accommodations in high school, the demands of college may necessitate the need to request the use of accommodations. Having documentation on file in the DS office can help the DS Coordinator quickly establish specific areas of difficulty and accommodations can be put in place to help the student overcome these difficulties.

My son/daughter has a disability, but symptoms are under control with the use of medication. Should they still register with DS?

It is recommended that all students with disabilities register with the DS office. College is extremely stressful and high levels of stress can sometimes alter the effectiveness of medications. Symptoms that have formerly been under control with the use of medications may become troublesome again. Having documentation on file in the DS office can help the DS Coordinator quickly establish specific areas of difficulty and accommodations can be put in place to help the student overcome these difficulties.

What does UMM mean by documentation of disability and how do I obtain documentation?

Students who intend to request accommodations related to a disability issue must provide documentation of that disability. In general, documentation guidelines require an evaluation from an appropriate evaluator, that documentation is current and includes a diagnosis statement. This information may be obtained by contacting the evaluator who diagnosed the disability and requesting documentation information using an Information Release form signed by the student.