Trials and Tribulations (Part 11)- Applying for a Private Dorm Bedroom and Private Bathroom

After careful thought and deliberation, I thought others would find this interesting about our battle with Asperger Syndrome. If anyone would like to post about their trials and tribulations, please leave a link so we can read your story. :)

This is written in the third person.


Step One: The first step in the process was to apply for Undergraduate Admissions at UMBC. M and his parents followed the directions and filled out the appropriate forms online, sent in official transcripts, and paid the required fees, etc.


Step Two: M contacted by email the Assistant Director of Transfer Student Recruitment, Admissions, and Partnerships at UMBC (M met him during Open House and was given his business card with his email information) and obtained his Campus ID. M then signed up for a myUMBC account.


Step Three: M checked the status of his application through his myUMBC account and waited for the notification of acceptance to UMBC.


Step Four: M was accepted to UMBC. Through his myUMBC account (the portal that he has been using to check the status of his application) M accepted their offer of admission online and submitted the $100 enrollment deposit and $125 Summer Orientation fee.


Step Five: Apply For Housing- (This can ONLY be done after the student has been accepted to UMBC and has submitted their $100 enrollment deposit.) M and his parents filled out an online housing application using M’s Campus ID number. All students must apply to be eligible for housing. The application also assists in the assignment and roommate matching process. M made sure he completed the application honestly and accurately to insure that he would be matched with compatible roommates. He also specified that he wanted to live at Walker Ave. Apartments with private bedroom and bathroom and that he was a transfer student with over 60 credits (to live at Walker you must have at least 39 credits).


Step Six: Back in November M’s mother contacted the Assistant Director of Residential Life at UMBC about M needing a private dorm bedroom with a private bathroom. They referred the parent to contact the Student Support Services Department (SSS) who assists with documentation assessment. This office manages ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) recommendations for housing accommodation i.e. once they review documentation and accommodation requests they make recommendations to the Resident Life office for housing accommodations. The UBMC Student Support Services (SSS) emailed a Request for Services form for the student to fill out.


Step Seven: M and his parents filled out a UBMC Student Support Services (SSS) Request for Services form and put on the application all of the accommodations he might need.


M made sure he specified the reasons on the form for needing his accommodations for a private dorm bedroom with private bathroom:

To attend UMBC I need a private dorm bedroom and private bathroom due to my disability of Asperger Syndrome. I may also need a restricted course load due to anxiety and stress. I cannot attend UMBC if I live off campus or live in a dorm bedroom with multi roommates and share a bathroom. My social difficulties as well as my sensory issues would make living off campus or with another person in the same bedroom and sharing a bathroom extremely difficult for me. I need a sanctuary where I can have some down time away from others and be able to control my environment, focus on my work and daily activities without distractions, and not be forced to engage in social interaction all the time.


What do you expect to gain from Student Support Services? To receive help in obtaining a private dorm bedroom and bathroom at Walker Ave. Apt. (C bedroom in 3 bedrooms or a studio) and a restricted course load (as needed).


Step Eight: To receive these accommodations M needed medical documentation to support the accommodations. In December he made an appointment with his GP and brought with him his diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome that was done in 2000 from a psychologist (who moved out of state). He explained to his GP what he needed from her to obtain his accommodations from the college. The GP then gave him medical documentation to support the accommodations.


Step Nine: As requested, M attached a copy of the medical documentation to support the accommodations to his completed SSS Request for Services form and sent this to the Student Service office at UMBC. He also sent a copy of his psychological evaluation that was done in 2000 that included his diagnosis.


Step Ten: After the Student Support Services Department review M’s documentation and accommodation requests they make recommendations to the Resident Life office for housing accommodations.


Step Eleven: M will hopefully soon receive official notification via myUMBC as to his housing assignment.