This communication is sent to you as fulfillment of the University’s obligation under Article XIX: Employee Training Section A of the University|GEO collective bargaining agreement: 

The university will send one email per semester to GSI and GSSAs with a detailed explanation of the process for obtaining accommodations for Employees and students. The university will begin this process in the Fall 2023 semester. Additionally, this process will be included on the University webpage as agreed upon in Article IX Section A.2.

Per Article XXII: Policies and Procedures for Employees with Disabilities of the UM|GEO Collective Bargaining Agreement, Employee requests for accommodations will proceed according to the following steps:

Step One

• The Employee seeking a disability accommodation may obtain an accommodations request form and medical documentation form through the administrative designee for the employing school or college, the designated central office, or the website of the designated central office. The Employee may submit the completed forms to the administrative designee or the designated central office physically or electronically.
• If the Employee submits the forms to the administrative designee, the administrative designee will submit the forms to the designated central office on a timely basis, recognizing Employees have limited term appointments. Accommodation requests may be made at any point during (or preceding) the term of employment.
• The parties recognize that an Employee may make informal requests directly to the Employee’s immediate faculty supervisor and/or appointing unit faculty and/or staff with responsibility for the Employee’s GSI/GSSA appointment (“appointing unit contacts”). Further, the parties acknowledge that in doing so Employees are not required to contact the administrative designee or the designated central office about their request(s). Further, it is possible that appointing unit contacts responding to an informal request could agree to and implement said request without consulting the administrative designee and/or designated central office. In this event, the provisions of Step One (1) i. need not be followed (i.e., neither the administrative designee nor the designated central office need be involved). In the event an Employee makes a request to appointing unit contacts that is denied, the Employee may formally pursue a request for a disability accommodation through Step One (1) i. outlined above.
   

Step Two

• Following receipt of an Employee's completed accommodation request forms, the designated central office will initiate an interactive process with the Employee and the employing school or college’s administrative designee. At the conclusion of that process, the designated central office will provide the Employee written notice as soon as possible (e.g., via email) whether the accommodation will be implemented, keeping in mind that the Employee is on a limited term appointment. The designated central office will also notify the employing school or college’s administrative designee, who will notify the appropriate contacts in the appointing unit.
• If the accommodation request is granted, the designated central office will facilitate, in consultation with the employing school or college’s administrative designee, the steps required to implement the accommodation.
• If the accommodation request is denied, the designated central office will notify the Employee, and provide the Employee with the reason for the denial as soon as possible.
• If an accommodation request is denied due to the nature of the accommodation requested, the designated central office and the employing school or college administrative designee will make a reasonable effort, in cooperation with the Employee, to continue the interactive process in order to determine whether an equally effective reasonable accommodation is available.
   

The Employee may use a communication from the designated central office notifying the Employee that their accommodation request has been granted as supporting documentation for future accommodation requests. The fact that a previous accommodation request has been granted does not mean all future requests will be granted. The facts and circumstances of subsequent requests will be assessed at the time of the subsequent request.

How to Get Connected with SSD:

For students requesting accommodations in their student capacity, the Services for Students with Disabilities office (SSD) handles accommodation requests. Below is the process for students to request accommodations. This and additional information can be found here.

Step One: Complete the Student Initial Information Form 

• Access the Student Initial Information Form through our Accommodate platform.
  • IMPORTANT: Please note that you should not delay meeting with us due to documentation concerns. Our first priority is meeting with you. Your coordinator will discuss appropriate documentation during your Welcome Meeting.
  • Please review our Helpful Documentation Guidelines. Documentation can be securely uploaded by the student in Accommodate. When this is not possible, it can also be submitted via fax at 734-936-3947, emailed directly to your Coordinator, or to [email protected]. 

Step Two: Schedule a Welcome Meeting

• After submitting your Initial Information Form you will receive an email from SSD with a link to schedule your Welcome Meeting with your assigned coordinator. 
• If you are an incoming first-year student, we recommend waiting until during or after orientation to meet with a SSD coordinator. 
  • Meetings can be held virtually or in-person. 
  • IMPORTANT: Please note emails from SSD will only be sent to your Umich email. Monitor your account for important updates and information.

Step Three: Welcome Meeting

• During this meeting your coordinator will talk with you about disability-related barriers you may be experiencing, any history of accommodations, will explore reasonable accommodations, and discuss next steps.

  • Coordinator may request additional documentation if needed.

If an accommodation is denied, SSD also has an appeals process. More information on that process can be found here. 

Any Employee or student who is interested in requesting an accommodation should reach out to the appropriate office on campus to discuss their individual situation. This email serves to fulfill a requirement in the collective bargaining agreement to provide information to current GSIs and GSSAs and should not be interpreted as legal or individual advice. 

If you have additional questions on student accommodations please visit SSD’s website or contact them by phone 734-763-3000 or by email [email protected]. 

For questions on Employee accommodations for GSIs and GSSAs you can reach out to your school or college’s administrative designee, listed here, or fill out an accommodation request form with the designated central office here.