DEC 2025

The Disability Services Team is sending all of our best vibes for a smooth semester completion and some rest and recovery over the break. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Do you need some routine or accountability to prep for finals? Drop in physically or virtually any of the following study group session.

This is an all-purpose study block, so feel free to bring any projects, laptops for essay writing, or study exam material you want to work on.

Friday 12/12 from 12-3pm:

McGauvran 310 or Virtual

Monday 12/15 from 10am-2pm:

McGauvran 309 or Virtual

Please email fahad_alden@uml.edu with any questions. 

If you would like a Peer Coach to reach out to you or you have any questions - please fill out the Peer Coach form 

Check out this new blog post from our very own Peer Coach, Kalib!  5 Tips for Working with a Disability

We've heard this is sometimes tricky for students. There are sections you can SKIP.

Then you will see all available appointments and can book either virtual or in person as best suits your needs.

My name is Bryce Kent-Susswein, I am conducting this survey for a study under the supervision of my professor Ardeth Thawnghmung. The objective of this survey is to assess (1) types of services that are available at UMass Lowell for students with disability, (2) the extent to which students of disability are able use them, (3) and challenges and opportunities facing students with disability at UMass Lowell. Your participation is voluntary, and all your identifiable personal information will be kept confidential. If you have any questions/concerns about this survey, you can reach out to me at Bryce_Kentsusswein@student.uml.edu

We’re gathering input on how students experience accessibility across campus and in their courses. The goal is to understand what’s working well and where students see room for improvement. Please consider taking 5–10 minutes to complete this anonymous survey: UML ACCESSIBILITY SURVEY.

Results will be reported only in broad, aggregate form, and general recommendations may be shared with relevant campus offices to help strengthen student support. Your perspective can help shape meaningful, student-driven improvements at UMass Lowell.

Half of all returning US veterans have a disability. To assist and inspire student veterans with moving from college into the workforce, the Yang-Tan Institute has created Combat2Careers , a free website with two “toolkits”: Veterans Campus to Careers helps veterans consider career decisions and needs, while Counselors Campus to Careers informs higher-ed counselors about assisting veterans with disabilities. The site was funded by a grant from Kessler Foundation.

There is also the UMass Lowell Strive Pantry for members of the UMass Lowell campus community.

On Nov. 14, the disability justice activist, writer, and self-proclaimed cyborg Alice Wong died in San Francisco. She was 51 years old.

Down to her last words: “I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”

time.com

Organizations like the Consumer Tech Association (CTA), which facilitates a cohort of accessibility-based consumer tech companies and provides foundation grants to programs that serve seniors and people with disabilities, have been outspoken about the unintended consequences of the government's economic plan. 

Tim Balz is a former SpaceX engineer and founder of smart seating company Kalogon. Balz has been working in the wheelchair space for 15 years and is credited as building the world's "first smart wheelchair." Balz says, "This is a market that requires a lot of empathy to be able to innovate. Tariffs may accelerate more profit-driven thinking."

mashable.com

Visible is a wearable-plus-app system designed for people living with energy-limiting illnesses (like Long Covid, ME/CFS, POTS, fibromyalgia, etc.). Instead of encouraging more activity like a typical fitness tracker, Visible helps users budget their energy, offers real-time pacing notifications to avoid overexertion, and tracks heart rate, symptoms, and other data to help users better understand how different activities affect their energy.

makevisible.com

Check out this super fun, high-energy ad from Apple just in time for December 3rd, International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 

Dare you not to bop along!

youtube.com

Radio City Rockette Sydney Mesher isn’t just living her dream this holiday season, she’s also breaking barriers as a disability advocate. Mesher, who was born without a left hand, is the first — and so far only — Rockette with a visible disability since joining the nearly 100-year-old dance troupe in 2019.

aol.com

“It’s not a sexy topic, which I’m aware of!” she says. “I wanted to write something that people can read where they’re not going to feel judged and can laugh a little. But also where I can talk about how movies have shaped a generation of disabled viewers — how these stereotypes leap off the screen and can hit the person watching them, and I use myself as the example. I talk about how these movies have affected me and how I see myself.”

chicagotribune.com

We love staying connected with you!

Submissions/ideas/feedback are always welcome:

disability@uml.edu