Accommodations for Students

An accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, job, activity or facility that enables a student or employee with a qualifying disability to participate equally. For example, the location of a course may be changed if the assigned room is inaccessible to a student with a mobility challenge. Access to specific accommodations is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Disability Services provides a wide variety of services to students with disabilities. The accommodations most frequently provided include, but are not limited to:

Alternate Formats for Printed Course Materials

A variety of formats are provided including large print, audio recording, electronic computer text, and Braille. Careful consideration is given to the needs of each student and to the quality and quantity of each printed document to determine the most effective modality. Students who require alternate formats must document their reading disability, review their request with their Access Coordinator, and meet with the Document Conversion Coordinator. Acquiring alternate formats requires a significant amount of time. In order to receive alternate formats as early as possible, students are encouraged to submit requests immediately after registering for the upcoming semester. Converting documents can take 4-6 weeks, so it is imperative to inform us as soon as possible of this need, including the name of the text you need made accessible, the ISBN number, the medium you will need to access it and the instructor's name and course number).

Assistive Technology

The Assistive Technology Center (ATC) offers technology services to any member of the University community with an ADA-defined disability. To use ATC services, you must register with Disability Services and hold an active OIT Account.

Audio Descriptions

Audio description is the descriptive narration of key visual elements of live theater, television, movies and other media to enhance the enjoyment by consumers who are Blind of have low vision. AD is the insertion of audio explanations and descriptions of the settings, characters and action taking place in such media when such information about these visual elements is not offered in the regular audio presentation. More information about Audio Description can be found at the Audio Description Project .

Audio description is an accommodation for Blind/Low vision consumers. A student with an accommodation for audio descriptions will need audio descriptions added for all visual media in the course. Audio descriptions take time as media must be sent out to a company, like 3 Play Media and there is an approximate 10 day turn around period for completion. Therefore, audio descriptions should be added well in advance of needed course materials.

Captioning Services

Captioning is an accommodation for the Deaf/HOH. It required on all media presented publicly, such as the UMass website. Public media consists of any access that does not require a login and ID. It is wise to caption all media as a method of universal design. Many people benefit from captions beyond the Deaf/HOH community. When a student requires captioning as an accommodation, all media must be close captioned for in class assignments, homework, etc. The library is an excellent resource for pre-captioned media. Media can also be sent out for captioning from a vendor, such as 3 Play Media. One cannot rely on captioning that is not "close captioned" (such as YouTube captions) as they are often incorrect and there are no standards for compliance.

Captioning is one form of receptive communication access whereby Deaf or Hard-of Hearing consumers read a real-time transcription of all verbalized information being presented. Examples include Voice Captioning, Captioning, C-Print and CART. Access can be obtained by means of an individual laptop or small screen if there are two or more consumers in an event. Most captioning users tend to be late-deafened, cannot benefit from amplification devices, do not know ASL, do not have strong speech-reading skills but have excellent expressive English skills and often speak for themselves. The goal of CART is 100% verbatim (word-for-word) of the spoken message. Captioning is word for phrase-by-phrase, as you see in television captioning. "Message" equivalency is the goal for C-Print but more experienced C-Print captioners are capable of 100% verbatim transcription.

Classroom Access Assistants

are available to address physical barriers for students with mobility, motor skill and visual disabilities. They assist with laboratory exercises, note-taking, library research, multi-media presentations and other related classroom activities. Students needing such assistance must alert their consumer manager to request this accommodation. To insure receipt of this accommodation at the start of the semester, it is best to submit requests immediately following registration for the upcoming semester.

Classroom Relocation

When a course is assigned to a room that is inaccessible and an accessibility need is presented, Disability Services will work with the Registrar’s Office to find a new accessible location for the class. We will inform the instructor when this need arises. Typically the turn around for this sort of accommodation is swift. We will require the assistance of the instructor to inform the students in the class of the new location as Disability Services does not have access to the class directory.

Disability-Related Absences

Please review our FAQs for Disability-Related Absences document (pages 1-5 of PDF)

This academic accommodation allows students to be absent from class without penalty to their in-class participation grade, as needed, when unpredictable disability-related circumstances arise. The accommodation allows the student to miss twice the number of the course allowed absences as is outlined in the syllabus. If there are disability-related circumstances that require more absences beyond this, students should reach out to their assigned Access Coordinator for support in facilitating the interactive process with faculty.

Accommodations cannot be retroactive, so students should make their best effort to communicate their absence to the instructor prior to the start of class. In circumstances where the student was unable to communicate prior to class due to the nature of their disability, the student should connect with their assigned Access Coordinator for support as needed. Students are responsible for making up any missed assignments and for any missed content.

Students should only use this accommodation in disability-related circumstances, such as for flare-ups or for episodic conditions. This accommodation should not be used in any non-disability-related circumstances.

Disability-Related Assignment Extensions

Please review our FAQs for Disability-Related Assignment Extensions document (pages 6-11 of PDF)

This academic accommodation allows students to request assignment extensions, as needed, when unpredictable disability-related circumstances arise. This accommodation also applies to rescheduling exams if the disability-related circumstance arises on the day of a test/exam/quiz. 

This accommodation allows the student to request an extension of 1-3 days. The extended due date is proposed by the student and should be accepted by the instructor, in writing, via email communication, prior to the assignment due-date. Students should CC their assigned Access Coordinator on these emails. The instructor's reply to the request should copy the Access Coordinator and, if the request is denied, should include the concerns and reasons for not providing the flexibility. In that case, the Access Coordinator will mediate the situation between the instructor and student and engage in an interactive process.

If there are disability-related circumstances that requires more flexibility with due dates beyond 1-3 days, students should reach out to their assigned Access Coordinator for support in facilitating the interactive process with faculty.

Document Conversion

is available for eligible students. Students in need of this accommodation work with the Document Conversion Coordinator to obtain books on audio format through various venues. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of current assistive technology on their own computers or in the Assistive Technologies Center located in the W.E.B. DuBois Library. Students must request document conversion services well in advance of when they are needed.

Extended Time on Exams

Students may require additional time on exams for a variety of reasons pertinent to their disability. Students are typically given time and a half or double time to complete their exams and this distinction is based upon their diagnostic documentation provided. In some rare circumstances a student may need "unlimited" time, which is limited to one full day in the proctoring center (8 am - 5 pm).

Exam Proctoring

Exam Proctoring Center Guidelines

For Students: The Exam Proctoring Center (EPC) is a space you can take your exams if you have an exam accommodation that requires time or tools your instructor does not have. For instance, if you have extended time, need a distraction reduced setting, use or a reader or scribe or the need to use a computer with the aid of accessibility tools.

Check in with each professor to verify they received your accommodation notification and discuss how your course-specific needs will be implemented. It’s always in the best interest of students to take their exam with their instructor.
Instructors are able to adjust remote exam time limits to reflect extended time accommodation for you, if you are taking a remote or "at home" exam.
Review your syllabi and schedule all exams you need proctored online on Clockwork with at least 5 working days notice. You can even schedule your final exams. Deadline April 22, 2024. Be sure to book them for the same time as the class or an overlapping time, in order to maintain exam security. If you must take the exam at another time, you will need to provide (email) permission from your instructor to the EPC Coordinator following the exam scheduling request.
Make sure you are checking email, Moodle, Blackboard, Canvas and/or other course communication platforms regularly. You will receive a confirmation email when your exam has been booked which will include the date, time and location for you to take the exam.
Show up at the date/time/location of your exam and do your best! Our office will ensure return and receipt of your exam.

In many cases for remote exams, your instructors should be able to administer the required exam accommodations listed in your notification letters. All LMS' Canvas, Moodle and Blackboard have features that allow instructors to program in your additional time for hosted exams and quizzes, and instructors can work with you to implement any other necessary measures. If an exception is needed and you need an exam proctored remotely via our exam proctoring center (EPC), you and your instructor must contact the EPC at least 5 days in advance of the exam date.

Information for Instructors

It’s always in the best interest of students to take their exam with their instructor.

It is each student’s responsibility to request their accommodation notification is sent to you.
To view accommodations that are relevant to the students in your course(s), log in to Clockwork for Instructors from the Disability Services homepage. You will be asked to login using your Net ID and password.
Faculty are able to adjust remote time limits on your LMS platform to reflect an extended-time accommodation.
- For questions and support with specific technology on your chosen Learning Management Systems (LMS) platform of Canvas, Moodle or Blackboard, contact: instruct@umass.edu.
- For questions and support with adapting your teaching and pedagogy, contact the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL): mailto:ctl@umass.edu.
- Students registered with Disability Services should not be held to a higher security standard than non-DS students.
- Please be aware that PSI (Moodle) and HonorLock (Blackboard) proctoring tools may not be accessible for some DS students using assistive-technology. In that scenario, Zoom proctoring may be necessary instead.
- If you require the assistance of the exam proctoring center please read through the following process:

Exam Proctoring: Proctoring assistance will only be given for disability-related need as follows:

Log-in to Clockwork for Instructors (when prompted, please enter your NetID and password).
Under the Courses tab, select one of your courses (i.e. Physics 191, section 01) and click in to the Tests and Exams link on the right.
In the “Tell us about an upcoming test” section, enter your test date and then the Add this test button
If you are giving proctored exams via Zoom and are requesting proctoring assistance for DS students with exam accommodation, you can submit a request for a DS proctor at least 5 days before your exam
Complete the date, start and end times. Click Next.
Confirm your exam details – you must click the Submit Changes button to confirm your exam request.
You must provide a copy of your exam to the EPC Coordinator (preferably through Clockwork download) by noon the day prior to the scheduled exam and 3 days in advance for finals.
DS proctors approximately 6,000 exams annually with an average of 1,000 exams scheduled for each finals period, hence the need for advance planning to secure exams, space and appropriate staffing.

REVISED 8/8/2022

Facility Modifications

When facilities are inaccessible and reassignment is not a reasonable option, Disability Services will convene a meeting with members of Facility Management, A&F, and other necessary parties to discuss and plan for the modifications needed to a specific facility. All members of the university are responsible for bringing facility modification needs to the attention of Disability Services.

Lab Assistants

When a student with a disability that affects their mobility or use of their arms/hands has a need for assistance in a lab, Disability Services will hire a lab assistant to accompany the student in class. The lab assistant will, at the direction of the student with the disability, lift, pour, measure, retrieve, etc. essential materials in a lab. Lab Assistants are required to take a lab safety seminar for the safety of all parties.

Learning Specialists

are graduate students trained to make available the most up-to-date learning skills, tools and tactics available and to provide individualized instruction for students with information processing disabilities. Learning Specialists use specific teaching modalities that incorporate the needs of students with disabilities and take into consideration the specific strengths and weaknesses of diverse learners.

Note-Taking Services

Note-Taking Services are available to eligible students. Once a student meets with their Access Coordinator (or utilizes the Express Process) to determine which classes may need supplemental notes, the Access Coordinator makes note of the student's note taking need in Clockwork. This alerts the Note Taking Coordinator to provide a GLEAN app license to the student. Students can use the GLEAN app in all the classes they require notes in. GLEAN provides transcription of audio in the class and the student can use tools to note necessary information, make to-do checklists and can re-listen to any aspect of the class. GLEAN will be available prior to the start of the semester, so students can get accustomed to it and have access to their notes from day one of classes. Students can access a tutorial and a FAQ on how to implement GLEAN. All students using Glean are expected to complete a signed Glean Recording Agreement form to DS with their signature and the faculty's signature.

In some cases, GLEAN may not be the best tool for a student in a particular class. If that is the case, please contact DS at notes@umass.edu so we can help resolve this situation. If needed, we will seek a volunteer student note taker to confidentially take notes in class and upload them for eligible students on Clockwork. When that happens, DS will inform the course instructor that notes are needed in that course. Additionally, the Instructor is informed of their students' accommodation needs electronically. Many notes are provided directly by instructors and can be accessed on the course website or Moodle. If notes are not provided by the Instructor, Disability Services works collaboratively with faculty to obtain a student volunteer note takers from classes. Student note takers are contracted to upload their notes to Clockwork within 24 hours of each class session and upload them to Clockwork for easy downloading by eligible students. For their efforts, note takers can earn 45 hours of community service per class each semester. Students in need of notes are notified once a note taker has been selected and notes are available for download.

Prepared Materials Before Class

Students with physical access needs (e.g., blind/low vision or Deaf/HOH), may require access to in-class slides or other in-class materials before class in order to preview them using assistive tools such as a screen reader, or familiarize themselves with the ASL terminology. Often instructors will post class slides or other class materials on Canvas prior to class for all students to access. Students with disabilities that are not related to physical access are encouraged to speak with their instructors and advocate to have course materials shared in advance if they are not being posted already.

Recording Device Use

When in-class notes or prepared notes are not satisfactory or possible/timely, a student may be eligible to record lectures for personal use. Typically, the recording is done electronically either with a digital recorder, smart phone or smart pen. At your request, Disability Services can ask the student to sign a contract acknowledging that you retain the intellectual property rights to any content, and that they will not distribute, post, or duplicate the recording without your permission. The contract typically calls for the student to delete or destroy the recordings at the close of the term. Questions or concerns should be brought to the attention of Disability Services as soon as possible.

Sign Language Interpreters and Oral Transliterators

are available. These communication access services are only effective if the student is experienced in the methodology provided. For example, someone who does not know ASL (American Sign Language) will not benefit from an ASL interpreter as will someone who is a native ASL user not benefiting from the communication style practiced by Oral Transliterators. Either methodology can be successfully utilized by a student with early-onset hearing loss.

A sign language interpreter listens to a spoken language and interprets the message into a visual language - American Sign Language. Sign language interpreters are certified by the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID), a national organization which tests practitioners for qualifications, maintains records of professional development and continuing education and monitors practices in the profession. The ASL Deaf student must be fluently receptive and understand American Sign Language in order to receive the spoken message as interpreted into ASL.

Oral Transliterators take the message and make it visible on the lips and with supporting body movement or gestures, convey the speaker's message. It is essential that the deaf student be able to speech read, understand subtle nuances of facial expression and body movement/placement to fully comprehend the spoken message.

Late deafened students tend not be skilled in either ASL or OT methodologies – preferring instead to use captioning services. However, this is not to say that a late-deafened deaf individual cannot learn to speech read or to learn ASL.

Disability Services

Exam Proctoring Center Guidelines

Information for Instructors

Assistive Technology, Student Success Toolkit & Guidance for Parents

Assistive Technology Center

Student Success Toolkit

Open letter to Parents from a parent (General, not UMass specific)

General Accessibility

Contact Information

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