Accessibility and Disability Services (ADS) is a department within the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity that provides leadership to Towson University's efforts to facilitate an accessible and inclusive learning environment for students with disabilities. The ADS office serves as a central resource for the campus community on disability-related policies, procedures, services and accommodations in higher education.
The ADS office has approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities registered with the office and approved for accommodations. This is 16% of TU's student population. ADS staff engage in an interactive process with students and reviews each request for accommodations on an individualized, case-by-case basis. They also collaborate with faculty to help implement specific classroom accommodations and to address general disability-related concerns. Our office facilitates reasonable accommodations and services, and includes a Testing Services Center that offers testing accommodations for eligible students.
Towson Accommodate portal is an online system used to set up and manage accommodations for students with disabilities at Towson University. Students will use the Accommodate Portal to request their accommodation letters (ADS memos). Faculty will also have access to the system. Visit Towson Accommodate and sign in by using your Towson NetID.
If you are requesting accommodations for the first time, please complete our ADS application.
Accessibility and Disability Services (ADS) is a unit within the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity and part of the TU commitment to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus that is welcoming to all. ADS collaborates with students, faculty and staff to ensure equal opportunity and create an accessible educational experience for students with disabilities.
The ADS office is staffed with dedicated professionals whose focus is working with students on an individual basis by providing disability-related assistance, support, consultation and advocacy. Our office facilitates reasonable accommodations and services, and includes a Testing Services Center that offers testing accommodations for eligible students.
ADS serves more than 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students with various disabilities and some temporary impairments who are registered with our office. These include but are not limited to students with learning disabilities, ADHD, mental health disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, brain injuries, physical and mobility disabilities, medical conditions, blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing and speech/language disabilities.
To get started, students should complete an ADS application and submit documentation of their disability. An ADS specialist will contact you for an intake appointment. Students should initiate the process of registering with ADS as early as possible after enrolling at the university to ensure timely provision of services. Please contact ADS at any point if you have questions or need assistance with this process.
If you are a veteran entering or returning to college, you may not realize that you could be eligible for accommodations through ADS. ADS and the Military and Veterans Center collaborate to provide veterans with information about ADS and how we can assist you. It's possible that your ability to learn may have changed, even if you did not experience learning difficulties prior to your military service. Or, you may now have a physical or medical condition that impacts your ability to have equal access to the educational environment.
Registering with ADS is voluntary and strictly confidential. You can initiate the process by submitting an ADS application. You may also contact Stephen Willems at 410-704-5589 or swillems AT_TOWSON for questions about registering.
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Summit provides a space for staff, faculty and student leaders to be in community and conversation on key DEI topics, institutional priorities, and concrete strategies, tools and resources for everyone to play a part in maintaining progress toward our shared goals.
Findings pave the way for pedagogy improvement, offer a deeper understanding of LGBTQIA+ experiences.
Director of Accessibility and Disability Services Robyn McCray talks the importance of inclusion.