Accessibility Services

Information for Students and Prospective Students Seeking Accommodation for a Disability

Accessibility Services assists students in securing accommodations consistent with their disabilities. In accord with all federal and state regulations, Maine Maritime Academy is committed to providing students with the support and access needed to achieve to their full academic potential. Common accommodations for qualified students include, but are not limited to, extra time on tests, use of the Academy’s testing center, copies of student notes, assistive technology, and alternative-format textbooks. Our office coordinates dietary accommodations for students with Maine Maritime Academy’s Sodexo Dining Services. We also coordinate academic support services for all students, such as peer-tutoring and writing help.

Requesting Accommodations

A brochure, Requesting and Using Accommodations for Disability in College, outlines the Academy’s request procedure and answers some frequently asked questions.

Students may request accommodations for disabilities at any time. They must then meet with the Accessibility Services Coordinator, complete an Accommodation Request Form, and document the disabilities. Items such as a recent 504 plan, individualized education program (IEP), summary of performance, neuropsychological report, or letter from a medical professional usually provide adequate documentation. The coordinator issues an accommodation letter after approving the request and meeting with the student about the proposed accommodations. Accommodation letters must be renewed each semester to remain valid.

Students with special dietary needs should complete a Dietary Accommodation Request Form and read the general information on the front of the form. The Academy’s Sodexo Dining Services can  assist with many dietary needs, such as gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and nut-free diets, and a formal dietary accommodation plan may not be necessary.

A student enrolled in an online course or program may be entitled to accommodations for a disability. Please refer to the Academy’s Accommodation Policy for eligibility. The policy applies to all Maine Maritime Academy students, both on campus and online. The Accessibility Services Coordinator will waive an in-person meeting for students taking online courses or programs and for whom travel would be difficult. In these cases, the student will need to meet electronically (telephone or video conference) in addition to submitting all required documentation.

Using Accommodations in College

All students in an Academy program or course must meet the same academic standards. Accommodations make reasonable adjustments to the instructional process, but they cannot alter the essential content of a college course or program. Additionally, some major programs require physical competencies.

A student notifies an instructor of their approved accommodations by providing the instructor with a copy of the accommodation letter. Although an instructor must provide the requested accommodation once asked (or inform the Accessibility Services Coordinator why the accommodation is not reasonable), accommodations do not apply retroactively. Visit this link for more information on using accommodations successfully.