Disability Resources and Services
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What's going on in DRS for the month of January.
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We'll keep it short this month as we all settle back into the routine of the cold and classes being back in session, and hope the warm weather will come again soon. Please check out the reminders below about requesting your accommodations, review the upcoming events and opportunities, and we'll see you in February.
One last thing is the DRS office would like to congratulate our DRS Specialist Chad Jurica who was elected to serve on the Indiana University Alumni Association Board of Directors. Congrats, Chad!!
See you next month.
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Accommodation Reminders
Please remember to log in to the Student Portal to request accommodations, exams, and appointments with your disability specialist.
Disability Notification Letters: Sent out each semester, you need to select the class and the accommodations you require.
Alt. Testing Requests: Exam requests must be submitted at a minimum of three (3) business days before the exam (Seven [7] business days for finals). This excludes 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.
Course Withdrawal: Spring term add/drop period ends on January 19. Changes to class schedule may take a number of days to show in the Student Portal, so please speak to your instructors about a plan for accommodations.
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A new term calls for new accommodation requests, and the DRS Canvas page is here to help you get the ball rolling! The Canvas page is a tailored resource catering specifically to students requiring accommodations. Crafted based on feedback from the Student Satisfaction Survey in Spring 2022, this platform offers comprehensive guidance for each semester's accommodation process.
What’s in it for you? Clear information, precise procedures, and defined expectations—all available on this page. Need to submit alternative testing requests? The DRS Canvas page breaks down the steps for a smooth experience. Plus, it provides ready-made email templates to ease conversations with instructors about your accommodation needs.
This resource empowers you to navigate accommodation procedures effectively. Dive into the DRS Canvas page to ensure a better grasp of accommodation processes and streamline communication with instructors for a successful academic journey.
If questions still remain about the process, be sure to connect directly with your Disability Specialist for more clarification!
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Important Dates in January
January is Co-dependency Awareness and Glaucoma Awareness Month.
January 4: World Braille Day
January 24: Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day
January 30: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Awareness Day
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Our Next College to Career virtual workshop will be taking place on Thursday, January 18th 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 3:00pm to 4:00pm via Teams. The dates and topics are as follows:
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January 18th – Disability Disclosure
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February 15th – Accommodations Overview
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March 21st – Workplace Barriers
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April 18th – Self-Advocacy
Be on the look out for more information, including instructions on how to attend the event!
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Peer Mentor Catch-up
Visit the Center for Creativity
Tuesday, January 16, 3:00 to 4:30 pm.
Lower level of the University Bookstore on Fifth Avenue
Come use your imagination and the Center for Creativity's supplies to create something new for the New Year.
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Construction Impacts on Mobility
Check out this resource from Pitt Mobility for how construction projects around campus may affect mobility. It is intended to communicate traffic alerts, street closures, shuttles and regional bus planning tools.
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Pitt Global Experiences Scholarship Opportunity
Are you studying abroad next summer? Great news! There is a scholarship available through DRS.
DRS is proud to offer the Kevin Cecil Study Abroad Scholarship, which provides students financial assistance for a summer study abroad experience. This scholarship aims to empower persons with disabilities to go abroad and offset the cost by awarding two $1,000 scholarships each year.
Please consider applying for this opportunity. All materials are due by January 22, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact DRS at 412-648-7890.
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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 2024. 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 15, 2024
Learn more about this award and past recipients.
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Opportunities / Research
Making Theatre A Hands-on Experience
Prime Stage Theatre and Children's Museum of Pittsburgh partner to boost inclusivity for theatre audiences and museum visitors.
During the weekends of Jan. 20-21 and Jan. 27-28, families attending the Prime Stage Theatre performances of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott can come to MuseumLab, located next to the New Hazlett Theater, and see the display curated by Prime Stage’s production team for a behind-the-scenes look at how theatre sets and costumes are designed and made.
The MuseumLab display includes sensory-friendly amenities such as tactile objects and material samples along with an open-captioned film featuring the Prime Stage team.
WHAT: Prime Stage Theatre presents Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott written by Sue Greenberg, directed by Linda Haston
WHERE: Six shows January 19-28, 2024 at New Hazlett Center for the Performing Arts, 6 Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
TICKETS: Student: $14, Artist $19, Adult $24
Purchase tickets
Questions? Call the box office at (412) 320-4610 ext. 10
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ConnectionsRx, focuses on increasing community participation of young adults with serious mental illnesses.
We are looking for individuals who:
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Are between the ages of 18 and 30
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Have an SMI diagnosis (bipolar, major depression, or a schizophrenia spectrum disorder)
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Have the ability to speak and understand English
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Willing to participate in a social-media peer support and a distance-based community participation intervention
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Have cell phone access
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Have the ability to provide informed consent
If consumers are eligible to participate, they will be asked to complete 3 research interviews, which will take approximately 60 minutes each. In appreciation of their time, they will receive a $30 gift card for each interview completed.
Participants may also be enrolled in a 6-month online program to support them with ideas and make plans to participate in more recreation in the community. The program has 1-1 phone call or video meetings with a recreational therapist every other week, and a peer support Discord group.
If interested, text: (267) 225-0218 or email: connectionsRX@temple.edu
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That's all for now! Welcome back and 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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