Disability Resources and Services
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What's going on in DRS for the month of January.
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Hello,
It's January. Which means it's cold and snowy. Be careful on the streets and sidewalks, and crossing the roads. Good luck with classes and remember to request your accommodations.
Other than that, stay warm. Study hard, and check out the few things below.
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Accommodation Reminders
Log in to the Student Portal to request accommodations, exams, and appointments with your disability specialist.
Alternative Testing Requests: All exam requests must be submitted at a minimum of three [3] business days before the exam. (Seven business days for finals.) Business days exclude weekends and University observed holidays. Please note the Alternative Testing process is for in-person on paper exams. See: Alternative Testing Request Instructions for Students.
If you have any questions, please contact DRS!
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Do you have a question for DRS? Is there an assignment or task you’ve been putting off? Make a commitment to yourself and bring it to a Study Together session to get started.
Join us for these upcoming sessions:
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Monday, January 13, from 10:00 am to Noon in the William Pitt Union, Dining Room C (First Floor)
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Tuesday, January 21, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in William Pitt Union, Dining Room C (First Floor)
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Wednesday, January 29, from 10:00 am to Noon in William Pitt Union, Dining Room C (First Floor)
What can you expect from Study Together?
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Drop-in study space exclusively for DRS students
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2-hour blocks of dedicated study time
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Short tips for getting started and staying productive, motivated, and organized
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Space for connecting with new and familiar peers
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Opportunity to find accountability partners and peers with which to study
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Check in with a disability specialist with questions and/or to make sure you're on the right track
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Light refreshments provided
*To inquire about access or request accommodations for this event, please contact DRS as soon as possible at drsrecep@pitt.edu or 412-648-7890.
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Important Dates in January
January is Co-dependency and Glaucoma Awareness Month.
Jan. 4: World Braille Day
Jan. 20: MLK Birthday (University Closed)
Jan. 24 Moebius Syndrome Day
Jan 30: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Day
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College to Career Virtual Workshop Series
Our Next College to Career virtual workshop will be taking place on Thursday, January 16th and the topic will be Disability Disclosure.
We will be discussing information related to when to disclose, how to disclose, language to use, who to disclose to, and much more!
As a reminder, the series is being offered to undergraduate students who are registered with DRS and is designed to prepare students with disabilities for entering the workforce by providing education related to resume writing, job selection, self-advocacy, disability disclosure, accommodations, and interview etiquette.
All workshops will take place from 3 to 4:00 pm via Zoom. The dates and topics are as follows:
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January 16th – Disability Disclosure
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February 13th – Accommodations Overview
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March 20th – Workplace Barriers
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April 10th – Self-Advocacy
Be on the look out for more information, including instructions on how to attend the event!
We look forward to seeing you there!
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The Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy is proud to announce the availability of the Dick Thornburgh Forum Disability Service Award for 2025. This $5,000 award is available each year to a University of Pittsburgh student from any campus whose service has made a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.
Candidates for this award may be nominated by a University of Pittsburgh faculty member or staff member or they may apply themselves. The applicant may or may not have a disability. The winner is selected by a review committee of University of Pittsburgh administrators.
The deadline to apply is: January 31, 2025
Learn more about this award and past recipients.
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Peer Mentor Catch-up
Art Journaling Activity
Wednesday, January 29 - 5 to 6:30 pm
Kurtzman Room (WPU)
Journaling is something that allows us to have a safe space to express our thoughts and feelings, as well as our hopes and dreams. Journaling can also help us manage stress and practice mindfulness.
With the new year, we thought it would be nice to decorate your own journal. We will provide journals, as well as different journaling prompts, which you are welcome to utilize throughout the semester if you’d like to do so! These prompts can be responded to through writing, artwork, and whichever other expressions feel right to you. That way, you can engage in mindful moments with your journal in the upcoming months.
Join the Peer Mentoring Group!
Any first year students who is not currently in the program but would like to get involved, can reach out to DRSrecep@pitt.edu.
All the way back in November the Peer Mentoring group made some Gratitude Boards. Shared below are some to take you into the new year.
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Delta Alpha Pi Update
DAPi members - Join the Group Me.
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Student Disability Coalition
Student Disability Coalition will be hosting a Mario Kart Night in Nordy’s Place (lower level of William Pitt Union) on Saturday, January 25 at 6:00 pm.
SDC office hours will be starting soon! Follow us on Instagram @disabilitycoalition or email us at disabledatpitt@gmail.com for updates.
Autistic Students Union will be hosting social events every other Wednesday at 7:00 pm! Our first event will be this coming Wednesday in WPU 538. Follow us on Instagram @autisticatpitt for more updates.
PRISM @Pitt will be hosting a Game Night! Thursday, January 16 at 6:00 pm in WPU 548.
PRISM will also host a wellness event on January 28 in O’Hara Student Center 114. Follow us on Instagram @prismatpitt for updates.
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Campus Construction Impacts on Mobility
The Office of Planning, Design, and Construction is introducing three ways to keep you updated on campus changes due to preservation and construction projects. The goal is to help students, staff, and the Oakland community stay informed and navigate campus safely.
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NotifyU Text and Email Alerts - Receive text and email alerts from NotifyU about construction and facility updates, such as road closures, detours, and elevator outages. To subscribe, visit my.pitt.edu, search for NotifyU, select "Opt-In Lists," and check "Construction and Facilities." Alternatively, text “Sub [Your Pitt Username] CAF” to 1-970-610-6092.
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Map.pitt.edu - View construction updates on map.pitt.edu. Use the map to view active closures for Pitt projects by selecting "Construction" in the map key.
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Newsletter - PDC is launching a newsletter with updates on project progress, upcoming road or garage closures, and other news about campus construction. It will help you stay informed and plan for detours or delays. Subscribe now to ensure you receive the first edition!
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We are excited to introduce the Wellness Concierge Program (WCP), a new, free service designed to support Pitt students’ success through personalized, peer-led wellness guidance. Through one-on-one meetings with Peer Wellness Coaches, students can explore wellness practices, set personal goals, and connect with valuable campus resources to enhance their well-being and overall college experience. This program offers a unique opportunity for students to receive personalized support in a peer-to-peer setting to help explore action plans, wellness strategies, and connecting to campus resources.
Scheduling is open! To schedule for a meeting with a peer coach, please visit: Wellness Concierge Program
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Inclusion and Belonging Place (IBP) Event Space
The Inclusion and Belonging Place (IBP) is developed and operated as a partnership between the University Library System (ULS) and the Office for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (OEDI). It is located on the first floor of Hillman Library, to the left of Saxby's Cafe.
View the ULS Event Policies and reserve the space on the ULS website or learn about other spaces available in the library.
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That's all for now! We'll see you next month.
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What do you want to see in DRS' monthly newsletter? Want to share an experience or give some Pitt survival tips? Let us know by emailing DRSrecep@pitt.edu with "Newsletter" in the Subject line.
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