The following article was written by Marcie Savoie, M.Ed., CPACC, of the UMass Assistive Technology Center.
At the Assistive Technology Center (ATC), we partner with UMass Amherst students, faculty, and staff to find tools that make learning and working more accessible. One of our most valuable resources is the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a free, nationally recognized service that provides practical ideas for accommodations in both educational and workplace settings.
Recently, the ATC began working with UMass Allies in Illness and Disability Access and the Student Union Craft Center to offer Sew Disabled—a sewing and crafting group for disabled students, faculty, staff, and allies. As part of this program, we planned a beginning sewing workshop and wanted to ensure the class would be inclusive for participants with a variety of disabilities. By turning to JAN, we quickly identified accessible sewing aids such as tactile measuring tape, pre-threaded needles, scissors with a magnifier, and a Blue Elite needle threader. These tools provide practical support for making creative activities more inclusive, showing how assistive technology can be applied in both academic and workplace contexts.
JAN’s extensive database makes it possible to find technologies and strategies tailored to individual needs—whether that means screen readers and note-taking tools for students, or voice recognition software, alternative input devices, and organizational supports for employees. Our goal is to ensure that technology empowers all members of the UMass community to succeed—whether in the classroom, the lab, the office, or beyond.
If you are interested in learning more about assistive technology or exploring accommodations that could support your work or studies, please contact the Assistive Technology Center at @email.