Campus Resources
In addition to the accommodations provided to students with documented disabilities by the Office of Disability Services, students are encouraged to use the following on-campus resources.
Assistive Technology
The Assistive Technology Lab is located in the Neilson Library Learning commons in room 108H and is available during the library's regular open hours. The lab contains Mac and Windows machines which have the manufacturer's built-in software as well as specialized accessibility software. Students may Reserve the Assistive Technology Lab up to 1 week in advance.
Technology for Learning: If you would like to learn more about how these technologies could be applied to your learning needs, contact the Office of Disability Services at ODS@smith.edu.
Software Training: If you would like information about what the current offerings in the lab include, if you need assistance learning about the software available in the lab, or if you would like to learn how to use the accessibility features of your own computer or laptop, please contact ithelp@smith.edu.
Exam accommodations: Students needing computer access for exams should get approval with the Office of Disability Services at ODS@smith.edu at least a week in advance to make arrangements.
Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive listening devices must be made available in any space that requires amplification. Please review the guidelines linked here.
Access Van
Please continue to request approval for Access Van usage through ODS. Please also note that the Access Van is now operated out of Campus Safety. You may email Access Van Coordinator Zachary Parker-Mayforth to find out the current hours or to schedule rides. Once students have been approved for the van through ODS, a phone number is provided for requesting unscheduled rides. Please note that when rides are not scheduled in advance, there is sometimes a wait for an available driver.
Campus Map
View the Smith College interactive campus map, which shows accessibility access.
Create Accessible Documents
Use Robobraille to quickly convert your scanned or existing electronic documents. The success of this conversion depends upon the quality of the original document.
The Jacobson Center for Writing, Teaching and Learning
The Jacobson Center, located in Seelye 307, offers a variety of services to help students develop skills in writing and effective learning. Jacobson Center staff make every effort to address the needs of students with learning disabilities. Writing counseling and peer subject tutoring are provided to all Smith students through the Jacobson Center.
Professional Writing Instructors
During the week, a staff of professional writing instructors is available to review student drafts, point out strengths and weaknesses, listen to new ideas, and make suggestions for improvement.
Tutorial Program
In the tutorial program, students seeking help with a particular subject taught at Smith are matched with student tutors who have done well in that subject and who have been recommended by faculty members. All of these services are free and are used by substantial numbers of Smith undergraduates, ranging from first-year students taking their first college courses to seniors writing honors essays.
Time Management & Study Skills
The Jacobson Center also offers workshops and one-to-one sessions on time management, organization and academic study skills.
Zoom Workshops from Dr. John Body, Learning Specialist:
The Spinelli Center
The Spinelli Center provides support for quantitative skills, math, and statistics. For more information please visit their linked webpage.
Lazarus Center for Career Development
The Lazarus Center for Career Development provides assistance to students and recent alums.
The center's professional staff offers advising individually and in groups, in-person and online, throughout the calendar year. The Lazarus Center holds seminars, workshops, and panel discussions that cover internships, career choice and decision-making, resumé writing, interviewing and job search techniques, networking, applying to graduate and professional schools, and more.
Health Center and Covid-19 Information
In our COVID-19 efforts we want to clearly acknowledge there are students, staff, and faculty with immune disorders, disabilities, or other health conditions who will continue to live with greater risk for the foreseeable future. Additionally, we know that some communities face health inequities that place them at increased risk.
As an inclusive community, the needs of the most impacted individuals must be understood and considered in our planning decisions. From that perspective, we can strive to remain a healthy and welcoming community for all and sustain a culture of care.
We are committed to exploring accommodations and alternative strategies where possible and necessary, and to finding individualized solutions wherever it is reasonable and efficacious to do so, in order to safely care for all members of our community.
Please use this resource page to learn more about the support available on and off campus:
On Campus:
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Smith College Schacht Center - strategies for wellness, COVID-19 related medical care/consultations, and referrals to community resources.
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Smith Class Deans Office - medical leaves and academic support.
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Smith College Counseling Center and TELUS Health - support groups, individual counseling, psychiatry, referrals.
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Smith College Ombud - support for faculty and staff.
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Smith College Human Resources - for employees’ questions and accommodations.
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ADA/504 Coordinator Martha Alexander malexander@smith.edu
Off-Campus: