Monthly Newsletter from Disability Services (DS)

October 2026

And just like that, the leaves are turning, and it's apple and pumpkin spice season. It's understandable that your workload is increasing. Please reach out to disability@uml.edu with any concerns or feedback!

The DS Team (Jodi, Brandon, Lauren, Evelyn and Aida)

What's new with peer coaches this month?

If you would like a Peer Coach to reach out to you or you have any questions, please fill out the Peer Coach Form and one will get in touch with you as soon as they are able.

Work on your own tasks in a shared space. Having other people nearby can make it easier to start and stay focused.

Bring homework, studying, emails or anything you have been putting off.
Drop in for all or part of a session. No sign-up needed.

Questions? Email: Fahad_alden@uml.edu

Dates and Locations

Thursday, October 15 - 5–7 p.m. O'Leary 200A

Wednesday, October 21 5–7 p.m. O'Leary 300A

Thursday, October 29 - 5-7 p.m. O'Leary 300A

The Drop-in Tutoring calendar is live and robust!

Pro tip: Just your classes? If you are currently enrolled, please sign in to tailor the schedule to your course load.

If you are interested in getting started with UML counseling, you can schedule a triage appointment with that office. Their contact page is embedded here.

Here's more specific information on their groups: Explore Fall Counseling Groups

The Strive Pantry provides food items, personal care products, school supplies and case management support to address challenges that students are having in meeting their basic needs. If you are a student experiencing challenges accessing food resources, please email: uml_strive@uml.edu.

The Strive Pantry is located at the Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Center! Guests to the pantry will stop by the information desk on the first floor, where you will be greeted by staff and escorted to the pantry. Students can also visit additional campus pantries.

Tuesdays: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursdays: Pickup Only

Fall 2026 General Body Meeting

Thursday, October 8, 2026

6:30 to 10 p.m.

Meehan Student Center 244

Come join us to play your favorite games with friends old and new! We have games such as Magic the Gathering, Catan, Smash Bros, and many more!

Wednesday October 7, 2026
10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

O'Leary Lobby Table 2

Stop by to learn more about registering to vote, where to vote and the ballot questions! Questions? Involvement@uml.edu 

Announced by Google DeepMind on August 12, the Sign Language-to-Text (SL2T) model powers new sign-to-text functions in Gboard and Live Transcribe on the Pixel 11.

The technology allows users to sign toward their phone’s camera, with their signing translated into text. Google says the system uses body, hand and facial landmark data rather than sending the user’s raw camera footage to its servers for translation.

Google says the model was trained using more than 100,000 hours of data spanning more than 50 sign languages. 

deepmind.google/blog

Apple is bringing a practical accessibility upgrade to tvOS 27 with new Larger Text support that lets viewers increase onscreen text size across the Apple TV interface, making menus, titles and navigation easier to read for people with low vision while also helping users who sit farther away from the TV screen.

macobserver.com

In a step forward for the cutting-edge field of brain-computer interfaces, a patient with a paralyzing neurological disorder used a brain implant to converse in real time.

The development, by the company Paradromics, marks the latest advance for these experimental devices, known as B.C.I.s — systems that involve implanting electrodes in the brain that read neurological signals and decode those signals through artificial intelligence.

The 68-year-old Michigan woman, who has lost most of her speaking ability, was able to use the device to have spontaneous conversations via a computer-generated voice, including on the phone with her grandchildren. 

nytimes.com

Diagnosed with ADHD in midlife, actor Benjamin Hollingsworth, star of “Virgin River,” shares challenges, insights and purpose with his son, who also has the condition.

The "Virgin River" actor’s own learning challenges fueled his personal mission to help educators recognize and support all students with learning differences. He reports that related challenges ranging from executive functioning to auditory processing began as early as kindergarten. The Canadian actor only realized he had ADHD after his oldest son, Hemingway, was diagnosed.

additudemag.com

“Being Heumann” opens on a New York sidewalk that doesn’t allow Judy Heumann to climb it. There’s no curb cut or ramp. Just a woman and her wheelchair. Director Siân Heder holds on it, and then Judy gives the middle finger. And it immediately hooks the viewer in for the ride.

The film is Heder’s first since “CODA,” the Sundance sensation which went on to win the Best Picture Oscar, a first for Apple Original Films and any streaming company. It chronicles the true story of how Heumann and her motley crew of activists fought for equal rights by waging a 28-day sit-in protest that helped pave the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

”Being Heumann” debuts in theaters on Nov. 6 before streaming on Apple TV.

variety.com

We love staying connected with you!

Submissions/ideas/feedback are always welcome:

disability@uml.edu