UMass Boston

Our Mission 

The mission of the Ross Center is to serve as a resource for the UMass Boston campus community in order to ensure academic and housing access and inclusion for students by promoting a view of disability informed by social, cultural, and political forces. The Ross Center strives to create inclusive academic environments by advancing universal design throughout the university.

We accomplish this by providing academic accommodations, resources, and training in assistive technology, and information to increase the understanding of disability throughout the university community.

Drop-in hours for the Ross Center for the semester will begin January 30 and end May 10, 2024 (please see schedule below).  Please schedule your final exams for this semester by May 1 using the myRCDS database!

Registration Request

myRCDS

Instructor Module

Spring drop-in hours begin January 30 and end May 10, 2024:

Our Partnerships

Beginning in 2018, we are a partner in reviewing requests and making appropriate recommendations for housing accommodations for our on-campus residential facilities.  We also provide support to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.  

Our Values

• access
• advocacy
• collaboration
• cultural diversity
• empowerment
• equality
• inclusion
• integration
• integrity
• research
• social model
• success
• technology
• teamwork
• transformation
• universal design
• usability

Helpful Resources for Students

• Subject Tutoring Program
• Writing Center
• Healey Library help
• U-ACCESS
• Contacting General Medicine and Counseling Services
• IT help

Forms

Confidentiality

The Ross Center for Disability Services is committed to ensuring that all information provided is maintained as confidential information. Any information collected is used for the student's benefit. This information may include: biographical history, disability information, and case notes. The Ross Center has adopted the following confidential guidelines:

1. The Ross Center will treat disability-related information as medical information. Any information regarding a disability is considered confidential and shall be shared with others within the institution on a need-to-know basis only.
2. To protect confidentiality by assuring limited access, all student disability-related information must be filed with the Ross Center.
3. The Ross Center will not release Information in our files, except in accordance with federal and state laws.
4. A file may be released pursuant to a court order or subpoena.
5. If you have a record within the Ross Center, you may give written authorization for the release of information when you wish to share it with others.
6. Students are expected to keep confidential any material recorded in class, should that be an accommodation, and will be asked to submit a confidentiality agreement.
7. Students have the right to review your file, however, you must make an appointment to do so.

Contact Us

The University of Massachusetts Boston complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.