This summer, UMBC is teaming up with the Maryland Department of Disabilities to upgrade nine teaching labs in the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building—marking a major step in fostering inclusive STEM education. The goal: ensure all students, including wheelchair users and those with various disabilities, can fully participate in core chemistry and biochemistry courses.

What's Changing in the Labs?

• Wheelchair-accessible sinks, fume hoods, lab benches, and cabinets

• Lowered equipment stations for independent use

• A research lab redesigned for accessible hands-on experience

Lecture Hall Upgrades Include:

• Wheelchair-accessible seating in multiple locations with fold-down tablets

• TV monitors for better visibility for low-vision students

• Standing desks and seating variations for diverse body types, pregnant students, and orthopedic needs

• Assisted listening tech and designated interpreter areas for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing

Additional accessibility projects include:

• Restroom renovations in the Biological Sciences Building

• Elevator upgrades across multiple academic buildings

“The Office of Accessibility & Disability Services greatly values our longstanding partnership with Facilities Management to assist us in the mission of inclusive access and elimination of barriers for all UMBC community members,” says Tawny McManus, Assistant Vice President for Accessibility.

Learn how these changes are reshaping inclusion in STEM at UMBC: Read more here.

Are you ReADY?

Facilities Management and Residential Life are excited to announce the launch of our new customer request portal ReADY for faculty, staff, and students to report maintenance issues and to request services, effective Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

ReADY is a user-friendly application which runs on all smart phones, tablets, and computers.

ReADY allows all campus users to request services, using an easy-to-follow system of tiles and dropdown selections. Based upon your affiliation as a faculty/staff, commuter student, or residential student, you will see a customized set of tiles to report issues and request services for buildings, grounds, roadways, and other infrastructure.

Access ReADY via this link using your UMBC email and password:

https://umbc.assetworks.cloud/ready

Customers will receive email notifications and be able to monitor status of requests by clicking on Process or Notifications in ReADY. 

For current AiM Users, ReADY replaces the AiM work order request process. The AiM interface for requests will be disabled at 5 pm on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

A ReADY user guide and additional information is available on Facilities Management’s website:

https://fm.umbc.edu/work-request/

Accessibility and Disability Services works in strong partnership with Facilities Management and will be updating their Work Control information - though the on-the-go process for calling in a condition remains 410-455-2550 from any phone.  Campus faculty and staff are encouraged to bookmark the site to assist with prompt repair resolution.  

As always with Accessibility & Disability Services - please report accessibility concerns at any time via our online form linked here.

A photo of a toolbelt with a hammer and wrench accompanies this post.

Facilities Management and the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services are hosting a review of recent, current and potential construction projects that enhance accessibility, improve the physical environment of UMBC, and benefit the entire community while supporting accessibility for people with disabilities. 

Come see the progress made during remote work, new projects on the horizon, and share ideas to inform the proposal process for UMBC's continued participation with the AccessMD Program.  We do provide updates beyond the scope of the program as well.

Post event addition: If you missed the event, a recording is available via this link.

Please RSVP via the event website below for any interim communications and save the Webex link. 

Questions about, and ideas for accessibility-enhancing projects may be submitted  prior to the event here. The campus accessible route map is linked here for remote reference. 

Captioning will be provided.  ASL interpretation is available upon request. Contact the host, slazar@umbc.edu  for ASL connection details, event questions, access needs or any accommodation request

Ideas for additional projects may arise at any time, and we would like to hear about them. Contact Celso Guitian in Campus Planning via cguitian@umbc.edu and Stephanie Lazarus, ADA/Section 504 Coordinator via slazar@umbc.edu / 410-455-5745.  Bring UMBC accessibility concerns to our attention via this linked reporting form. Tawny McManus, Assistant Vice Provost for Accessibility & Disability Services will also be on the panel for the event.

A photo of a UMBC accessible route way-finding sign with two directional arrows above a white-on-dark brown wheelchair/step-free accessibility icon illustrates the post.

Facilities Management has the following Summer 2019 construction update:

Over the summer numerous construction projects will be taking place on campus, which may impact pedestrian pathways, building access points, roadways and some parking areas. As always, follow directional signage at the construction sites to navigate around these minor disruptions safely and effectively. For additional information please see the current construction activity map for information pertaining to the construction on campus and the summer 2019 accessible routes map for the location of temporary accessible routes where applicable.

Maintaining accessibility is part of the design and construction process. We work in partnership with Accessibility and Disability Services which supports faculty, staff, students and visitors with disabilities. If you have a concern about accessibility, or want to inquire about a disability-based accommodation, please do so through their website, https://accessibility.umbc.edu/

*Cross-posted to broaden exposure