Academic Accommodations, Services, & Mission

Our mission is to cultivate a university experience for a student that promotes success in their life pursuits. The Office of Student Accessibility Services serves as a faculty resource in offering students equity and excellence in education, maximizing each student's educational potential while helping him or her develop and maintain independence. The office’s philosophy is one that encourages self-awareness, self-determination, self-advocacy, and independence.

The office works with faculty, staff, and students on campus to ensure that appropriate academic adjustments are made that allow all students equity inside the classroom. Students who have documented disabilities on our campus are afforded a variety of services to accommodate their individual disabilities. 

UMass Dartmouth is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for all students. Students who have disabilities on our campus are offered a variety of services to accommodate his/her disability so that students will have complete access to University academic programs. This is in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations and other relevant state and federal legislation policies, with respect to making reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aides available for eligible qualified students with disabilities.

Services available through the Office of Student Accessibility Services include:

  • exam accommodations which include extended time (quizzes and exams), a reduced distraction testing space, use of a word processor for short answer or essay exams, and use of screen reader software, as needed
  • use of audio recording in the classroom
  • front row/preferred seating
  • sign language interpreters - You must make your request at least (6) weeks prior to the start of classes.  This will allow us time to schedule the appropriate provider.  The longer the delay in requesting services, the greater the possibility that the provider will be unavailable.
  • advocacy and mediation

Please note: The Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) does not fund personal care assistants or caretakers, mobility assistance/mobility training, ADHD, ASD coaching, personal tutoring, personal specialized technology or training on specialized technology, personal equipment such as wheelchairs or scooters, medical evaluations of disability, or transportation to campus.