Disability Resources and Services
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What's going on in DRS for the month of December.
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The end of the semester is finally -- almost, but not quite -- here! We wish you luck with finals and hope you'll stop by our De-Stress with DRS events and take advantage of some of the tips below. (Don't forget any final being taken in the Testing Center must be requested at least 7 business days before!)
Picking up from last month, on the DRS Gratitude Board (see the photo below) we currently have student and staff provided suggestions on self-care around finals. If you get a moment, feel free to stop by and check them out, and if you'd like: add your own.
After finals, of course comes the winter break. A time to rest and recuperate before we all have to do this whole thing over again. (Unless you're graduating, in which case: Congrats!) We hope you have a good break, stay safe, and always feel free to reach out to our office with questions or needs.
See you in 2024!
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December 6th and December 7th from 12:00 to 4:00pm
William Pitt Union, Dining room A (take elevator up to floor 1).
Grab some popcorn, nachos and cheese, and take a break from studying for finals.
Talk with other students, do some coloring, and make a bracelet!
Ruby the Therapy dog will be there on December 6th.
Hope to see you there and best of luck on your final exams!
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Accommodation Reminders
Alternative Testing Requests For Finals: All exam requests must be submitted at a minimum of Seven [7] business days before the exam. (This means, if you're reading this on Friday, December 1, TODAY at 5:00 PM is the deadline to submit a request for a final on Tuesday, December 12!) 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. And if you have any questions, please contact DRS!
Log in to the Student Portal to request accommodations, exams, and appointments with your disability specialist. Remember you must request your accommodations every semester.
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Your Hub for Accommodation Info!
Remember, this resource is here to help you navigate everything related to accommodations.
Think of it like your go-to guidebook for handling student stuff. We're talking about things like sending your Disability Notification Letters each semester and getting your Alternative Testing requests squared away. We'll keep you in the loop with key updates throughout the year, and if there's a deadline coming up or some cool event brewing in DRS land: we'll make sure you're the first to know.
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Important Dates in December
December 1 through 7: Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week
December 1: World AIDS Day
December 3: International Day of the Disabled Person
December 8: Last day of classes for Fall 2023
December 11 through 15: Finals!
December 22 through January 1: Winter Recess (Campus Closed)
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What DRS did in November!
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DRS would like to thank everyone who attended our November College to Career virtual workshop!
As a reminder, we will NOT be offering a workshop in December. The next 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 Microsoft Teams.
The dates and topics are as follows:
January 18th – Disability Disclosure
February 15th – Accommodations Overview
March 21st – Workplace Barriers
April 18th – Self-Advocacy
Be on the look out for more information, including instructions on how to attend the event.
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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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Opportunities / Research
CONNECTIONSRX: Join Our Study on Community Participation!
We are looking for your help in finding mental health consumers to participate in our paid research study. Our intervention, ConnectionsRx, focuses on increasing community participation of young adults with serious mental illnesses.
We are looking for individuals who:
1. Are between the ages of 18 and 30
2. Have an SMI diagnosis (bipolar, major depression, or a schizophrenia spectrum disorder)
3. Have the ability to speak and understand English
4. Willing to participate in a social-media peer support and a distance-based community participation intervention
5. Have cell phone access
6. 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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Do you identify as autistic or otherwise neurodivergent? Looking to start or continue a meaningful career working with US Government clients on financial technology solutions?
We are proud to be partnered with BNY Mellon to recruit for an entry-level opportunity in the Financial Services industry as part of their Neurodiversity Hiring Initiative.
BNY Mellon’s ambition is to build the best global team – one that is representative and inclusive of the diverse talent, clients and communities we work with and serve – and to empower our team to do their best work. We support wellbeing and a balanced life, and offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies and employee forums.
Role Title: Associate, Technology & Strategy Product Manager
Locations: Pittsburgh, PA; New York, NY; Washington, DC (Hybrid)
The application deadline is Sunday, December 3rd at 11pm ET.
To learn more and apply, please visit: https://specialisterne.applytojob.com/apply
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Early Career Disability Studies Fellowship Opportunity
The Emerge Fellowship application portal for our Summer 2024 workshop is now open - do you know someone who should apply? The Emerge initiative awards a cohort of 10 selected emerging Disability Studies scholar-activists with $10,000 stipends and offers a five week, hybrid participation summer workshop focused on building connections, promoting innovative work in the field, and cultivating the next generation of leaders. If you or someone you know may be interested in submitting an application for the 2024 cohort, we’re excited to dive into another year of the program!
View a snapshot of the 2023 cohort
Learn more and gain access to the application portal
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The National Leadership Program is specifically designed to train individuals who are passionate about disability issues and have a desire to build careers in public policy, entertainment, advocacy, communications, diversity, equity, and inclusion, fundraising, philanthropy, nonprofit operations, or faith-based inclusion. By joining this program, participants can gain valuable practical experience, develop crucial skills, build invaluable connections, and make a tangible difference in the lives of disabled people. All Fellows receive $17/hr., plus training, mentoring, and support to achieve their leadership and career goals.
We are actively searching for passionate individuals who are results-driven, creative, and focused on achieving breakthrough results. The fellowship is open to:
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Current students
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Recent graduates
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Early career professionals
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Those at any stage of their careers who are looking for new opportunities
Applicants can choose from eight Fellowship tracks:
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Public Policy and Civic Engagement
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Entertainment and News Media
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Marketing and Communications
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Philanthropy/Development
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Leadership and Workforce Development
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Operations/Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
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Faith Inclusion and Belonging
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Fox Family Foundation Fellowship
Our National Leadership Program has proven to be a powerful stepping-stone for many individuals, who often move on to educational and further career opportunities that set them up for success. The program is accessible and offers in-house coaching, targeted skills development, networking opportunities, and assistive technology training. We invite people with and without disabilities to apply, but we expect all applicants to be fully committed to fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for people with disabilities.
The Fellowship application deadline is December 8.
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Apply Now: APA's Disability Mentoring Program
Individuals with disabilities remain underrepresented in graduate psychology programs and professional careers. We're on a mission to change that, and we invite you to join us.
APA is now accepting applications for mentees and mentors for our Disability Mentoring Program!
Why should you join the DMP?
For Mentors:
If you are a doctoral level psychologist with a disability and/or identify as neurodivergent or you closely engage in research, practice, or education related to disability, mentoring with the DMP will help you:
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Remove the stigma of disability in psychology.
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Create a legacy and support for next generation.
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Expand your professional network.
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Earn a free APA 2024 convention registration pass.
For Mentees:
If you are a current graduate student, intern, postdoctoral fellow, or early career psychologist with a disability and/or identify as neurodivergent, or if you are a psychologist who has acquired a disability, the DMP will help you:
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Receive guidance from seasoned professionals in the field.
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Acquire a deeper understanding of the discipline.
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Enjoy access to expansive networks and crucial resources.
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Boost your confidence and reshape your professional journey.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to grow your career and build a more inclusive future for psychology.
Apply Today!
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Prepping for Finals
by DRS Staff
Finals week can be the most stressful time of the year. Ensure you're prepared for your exams with these helpful study tips from DRS!
1. Develop a Game Plan:
Create a realistic study schedule with clear goals for each session. Plan where and when you'll study and specify the tasks for each session. Avoid cramming, as studies show it leads to higher stress and lower scores. Think in terms of a five-day plan for each course. Schedule sleep, meals, and downtime to maintain efficiency.
2. Ask questions and start planning early:
Begin studying for finals early, allocating realistic time for each class daily. Consider brain breaks to enhance focus.
3. Think Like a Professor:
Grasp the big picture of courses and professors' objectives. Identify the main principles, themes, and concepts. Connect concepts into a coherent understanding. Predict exam questions from various course materials and practice answering them. Connect with your professors or your teaching assistants if you have questions regarding course material.
4. Time management:
Allocate more time to study for challenging classes. Start with the toughest content, giving room to seek help if needed.
5. Create Study Aids:
Summarize readings, create charts of principles, and develop study guides. Create problem packets to identify patterns in problem-solving techniques. Work through problems, looking for similarities and common techniques.
6. Study your notes:
Outline your class notes for review. Create reference guides and flashcards to aid in your pre-exam review.
7. Study for the style of exam:
Tailor your study approach based on the exam style. For multiple-choice exams, focus on definitions and concepts. For essay exams, demonstrate understanding with examples.
8. Teach Others:
Explain course content to study partners or groups. Clarify understanding by teaching someone not in the course, ensuring conceptual comprehension.
9. Brain food is real:
Eat healthily and stay hydrated to keep your brain functioning optimally.
Good luck with your finals! If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.
References:
Hoyt, E. 20 Study strategies for finals week. Retrieved from https://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/the-20-study-tips-for-finals
How to Study for Finals. Retrieved from https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/how-to-study-for-finals
“Preparing for Finals.” McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning, 2023, McGraw. https://mcgraw.princeton.edu/undergraduates/resources/resource-library/preparing-for-finals
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That's all for now! Have a great Winter Break.
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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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