It’t no secret that UMBC is the worst in terms of accessibility. What follows are my experiences as a disabled student at UMBC throughout the course of my developing disability.
I originally became disabled with chronic neuropathic pain in the fall semester of 2015. I had a cast on my right leg for most of the semester and had to use a knee scooter in order to get around. One of the classes I had that semester was in a lecture hall in the Public Policy building. 
The first day of class after getting my cast, I discovered that the handicap ramp was being used to store extra chairs for the lecture hall. There’s no way anyone that would actually need that ramp would be able to use it. After class, I informed my professor and he said he would contact the necessary people to get it cleared for me. It took the university 40 days to clear this ramp.
The following semester I had to drop a class that was located on the second floor of ITE because the elevator was not working for 2 weeks. In the current semester, fall 2016, I again had to drop a class because it was impossible for me to make it up to PAHB.
And now I may even be forced to transfer out next semester if Student Disability Services continue to deny me accommodations. I recently met with their disabilities specialist to see what kind of accommodations I could get since I have trouble physically making it to my classes. I asked if I could Skype into my classes when I was not able to make it to campus and I was told that they “don’t do that.” I asked if I could get a note taker, both for the days I couldn’t make it to class and for when I just couldn’t focus in class, and I was informed that they could only try and get me a note taker. Apparently, notes are only meant to supplement your own notes and not to replace going to lecture. If I was able to make it to campus regularly, then maybe they could have asked the professor for their notes but in my case they could not. I was also told that it would be up to each of my professors on how much they will accommodate me, including if they will make an exception to their attendance policy. So, Student Disability Services told me, a disabled student in need of services, that the most they could do for me was try and get me notes but if no one took the job that there was nothing they could do for me.
How fucked is that?? Tell me what you really think about me UMBC.
If I don’t get these accommodations, I will be forced to transfer to a different university when I only have 8 classes left before graduating.
Unruly Bodies 
I can definitely agree that UMBC is not accessible for all. Last year, I did an “Ability Walk” throughout campus using only paths that are accessible to all. I was not allowed to walk on grass, use stairs, jump curbs, use any doors without the “handicap” automated opening, etc. The goal was to get from commons to the Performing Arts building that is on the opposite side of campus. That walk took me around 25 minutes, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. If I were to have walked, I would have made it to the Performing Arts building in around 5-8 minutes, 10 if I walked slowly. I cannot even imagine if it was icy out how difficult it would be for anyone who with a disability.
It makes me even more upset that you had such negative experiences with trying to get into your classes. It’s ridiculous that you had to drop a class simply because UMBC’s resources were not working. It’s not fair to you or anyone else on campus. I hope that UMBC fixes their resources & adds many more so all the buildings are accessible to everyone.
I actually read this while having lunch with my friend that works at UMBC Student Disability Services . He was upset and started talking about how your experience was not right. While I am sitting there thinking “dude, your job is literally to help this person and you are talking like you have no control over this”.
I know this is going to funk up your mood but as a note taker, I know that note takers are just students in your class that are willing to write notes for you. If no one in your class wants to write notes for you, the Student Disability Services office can’t force them. That is probably why they could not guarantee you one.
The fact that you had to drop out of your class should have been enough for UMBC to notice that they are not supposing their students, I am sorry that the people are Student Disability Services did not work with you more but trust me, someone in that office is going to keep getting an ear full about this.
I am so so sorry that you’re going through this. It’s completely unacceptable, and honestly disability services could totally accommodate you if they felt like trying. Skyping into a class should definitely be an acceptable alternative. As for the notetaking, I’ve learned through basically a trial by fire how to take notes precisely because my professors have a history of not bothering to give me a note taker (And SDS decided not to grant me one when I got here so it’s a darn good thing I did). I wish you the best of luck and hope that if you do have to transfer you find yourself in a much more accepting environment.