Programs and Events

View the March 2025 DS Newsletter.

Past Issues

• January 2025 DS Newsletter
• December 2024 DS Newsletter
• October 2024 DS Newsletter
• September 2024 DS Newsletter
• MidSummer 2024 DS Newsletter
• May 2024 DS Newsletter
• April 2024 DS Newsletter
• March 2024 DS Newsletter
• January 2024 DS Newsletter
• November 2023 DS Newsletter
• October 2023 DS Newsletter
• September 2023 DS Newsletter
• August 2023 DS Newsletter
• July 2023 DS Newsletter

Disability Dish

Listen to us on:

• Disability Dish on Spotify
• Disability Dish on Amazon Music
• Disability Dish on Apple Podcast

About the Disability Dish

Jodi Rachins (Director), Lauren Tornatore (Senior Assistant Director) and Janelle Diaz (past Assistant Director) have one major initiative for Disability Services (DS) — to use their collective skills to reach the community beyond accommodations by openly and actively discussing ways in which we can support our fellow disability community members whether it is within the university, our outside networks and in our everyday lives. It is important and impactful to make a major effort to reduce stigma and shame around disability. The plan is to work towards flipping the script to highlight the uncountable strengths that can show through various disabilities. Among the various initiatives we plan to put out over the next few years, we are rolling out monthly podcasts to provide representation and discussion around various interesting topics on disability.

Episode Guide

• Episode 18: Getting to know the Disability Office Staff-part 2. Evelyn O'Connor-DS Counselor and Fahad Alden-Peer Mentor talk about the work they do and how to  self care over the break.
• Episode 17: A vibrant conversation with David Driscoll-Director of the Testing Center, Julia Bruce-Senior Biomedical Engineering Student and Kalib Laughran-Senior Business Administration Student.
• Episode 16: Join one of our UMass Lowell students, Catherine Faherty, a participant of the US National Women's Sled Hockey Team, Cailin Currie a two time Paralympian Swimmer and Jeff Gerson, Ph.D., professor of sports and politics discuss topics about athletes, sports and disability.
• Episode 15: Join Marc Fountain '17, Peter MacDonald - MS Program and Levinia St. Jean, Ph.D. Program on an insight of Veteran's Disability Experiences and their conversation on how their time in the military have supported them on their nontraditional higher education experience.
• Episode 14: A conversation on disability identity, community and diagnosis at different life stages with Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies - Kelly Lawson, Associate Dean of Student Affairs - Ann Ciaraldi and Assistant Director of Student Success & Communications - Kelley Lawson, and Biomedical Engineering Senior - Courtney Morin.
• Episode 13: Hannah Monbleau, Assistant Director of Student Life and Well-Being and Freshman Sayf Al-Aziz - Chemical Engineering are our guest speakers and discuss the issues of being vulnerable and putting oneself out there in a new environment.
• Episode 12: A chat with Diana Walker-Moyer, recently retired Director of UMass Lowell (UML) Health Services, Steven Lam (Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at UML), Amanda Holthaus (Nurse and UML graduate student in the Zuckerberg School of Public Health), and Matt Daneau (UML senior in Plastic Engineering) discuss whether society is in a distraction epidemic, being diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the impact at various ages, gender, staying focused, and society's expectations.
• Episode 11: It is Social Justice Week and our team participates hosts a live audience with past guests Marshall Greenleaf, Erin Keene-Crouse and Ainsley Skinner, exploring themes from the past year.
• Episode 10: Vanessa Weisbrod, Director of Boston Children's Hospital Celiac Disease Program, Ainsley Skinner - Biology Major, Kyra Barry - Nursing Student and Nicholas Trunfio - Business Major, discuss how the holidays can have further impacts on a person who identifies as having a disability.
• Episode 9: Keith Mitchell (Associate Professor English), Maria McDuffie Clark (Assistant Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs), Anshel Isles (Liberal Arts Major) and Binnette Kihiu (Business Major) talk about disability intersectionality and its importance.
• Episode 8: Beth Loell (Assistant Director of Career Services) and Beth Brassel (Librarian at the Pollard Memorial Library) talk about navigating the workforce as a person who identifies with a disability.
• Episode 7: A conversation on the topic of Positive Contributions of Disabilities Integrated in the community with Professor Katherine Fox (Psychology Department) and Brian Richard (Biology Student).
• Episode 6: Our Disability Service Team discusses different topics in the field of Disability Services.
• Episode 5: Bridget Marshall (Professor and Associate Chair in the English Department), Noah Madsen (Student majoring in English) and Patrick Burns (Business Administration Student) chat on the subject of identifying as a person with a disability.
• Episode 4: Marshall Greenleaf (Director of Student & Family Support Services), Erin Keene-Crouse (Senior Director of Orientation & Enrollment Events) and Sunita Singh-Poma discuss the topic of life transitions; how it impacts our day-to-day life and can have further impact on people who identify as having a disability.
• Episode 3: Ashleigh Hillier (Psychology Professor & Co-Director of the Center for Autism, Research & Education), Michael Kennedy (Assistant Director of Student Activities & Leadership) and Gihan Semine (Graduate Student in Business Administration) talk about social connections and how the disability community is impacted.
• Episode 2: Holly Lalos (Director of the Rist Difference Maker Institute) and Vanessa Thomas (President of eNable) discuss the topic of "what makes a change agent in disability culture".
• Episode 1: Inaugural episode - Meet our first two guests, Amy Liss (Director of Multicultural Affairs) and Lauren Giammasi (Biology Student) talk about how disability is portrayed in the media and our societal understanding around invisible/hidden disabilities.

Disability Services' Semester Refresher Sessions

Disability Services' Semester Refresher Virtual Drop-In Sessions

Disability Services helps students who are registered with our office to navigate the accommodation process and assist them with guidance during a 30 minute virtual Semester Refresher drop-in session at the start of every semester. Below are some of the topics we discuss:

• Processing semester requests at the start of the semester
• Accommodation letters to and communication with Instructors
• Staying connected with Disability Services
• Testing Center scheduling

Note: You may be in zoom sessions with other UMass Lowell (UML) students registered with Disability Services

Students needing accommodations for any of these sessions, please contact Disability Services via email: disability@uml.edu at least a week before the session date.

Faculty and Staff

To Learn more and to register for upcoming training sessions, please visit the Employee Learning, Engagement & Development Diversity and Inclusion webpage.

• Access Ally Training Part I - General Topics
  Review ways to create an inclusive environment using universal design to improve outcomes for all. Attending Parts I and II of this training is required for the Diversity Certificate.
  
  
• Access Ally Training Part II - Technology
  Learn to use technology to create accessible documents/material to incorporate accessibility for all. Attending Parts I and II of this training is required for the Diversity Certificate.

Family and Friends

• Developing Self-Advocacy and Passing the Baton from Parent/Guardian to the Student - YouTube video 
• How to Universal Design Supports Learning & Equity - video (Summer 2022)

Faculty and Staff

• Access Allies

UMass Lowell (UML) International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Watch the Social Media - UML Disability Services - International Day of Persons with Disabilities video on YouTube (Dec. 2022).

Disability Advisory Committee (DAC)

DAC provides a collective space where students, faculty and staff push the needle on UMass Lowell disability matters by removing barriers, providing equal access, promoting culture/diversity/awareness and reducing stigma. Our group focuses on access/procedures/policies while serving as allies to help peers/colleagues to be more aware, open-minded, and flexible with inclusion at our school. DAC supports in collaborative efforts to provide education, destigmatize/demystify and celebrate disability as an aspect of diversity. By utilizing a variety of representatives (both with lived experience and interest in bettering our school), we are able to make positive changes. If you are interested in joining, please contact Disability Services by email at jodi_rachins@uml.edu.

Delta Alpha Pi (DAPi)

DAPi Honor Society presents an opportunity to reduce disability stigma by recognizing students with disabilities for their academic accomplishments. In addition, this honor society facilitates development skills in leadership, advocacy and education for participating students meeting the criteria. (Undergraduates: 24 credits and 3.10 GPA| Graduate: 12 credits and 3.30 GPA)

• Career Services
• Office of Multicultural Affairs
• Horizons+
• Family Programs
• Residence Life - Alterative Housing for Health Reasons
• Dining Services - Meal Plan Modification - email: quirk-melissa@aramark.com
• Animals on Campus
• Clubs of Interest:
  • Disable The Label (DTL)
  • Best Buddies
  • Love of the Game
  • Active Minds

Our events are aimed to raise awareness, reduce stigma and provide space for students, faculty and staff to celebrate disability. In collaboration with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Ashleigh Hillier, Campus Recreation Center Staff, Student Life and Wellbeing Office and the Disability Advisory Committee.