Accessibility Services

At Simmons University, we are committed to the full participation of all students in our programs and activities. Simmons University is mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008 to provide equal access to educational and co-curricular programs, campus activities, facilities, and employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. The University provides reasonable accommodations based on appropriate documentation to ensure equal access and to reduce barriers to learning, programing, and events.

Entrance to Center for Student Success

The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS), located in the Center for Student Success, is a strategy-based service that supports students in their academic endeavors both on the ground and online. Students registered with OAS are expected to adhere to the same academic and behavioral standards as the rest of the University. A student’s initial connection and ongoing interaction with OAS is self-propelled. Accommodations are applied on a prospective basis — students are not entitled to have accommodations applied on a retroactive basis.

Please note: students must be fully registered and receive confirmation of eligibility before requests for academic accommodations can be made.

Download the Simmons Accessibility Information Sheet

Virtual Drop-in Hours

The Office of Accessibility Services has drop-in hours with no appointment necessary. The drop-ins are a great time to ask questions about how to register, documentation criteria, and more.

Wednesdays 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Register and Request

Accommodate

Overview of the OAS Registration Process

  • Review the documentation requirements and criteria. Documentation is an important part of registering with OAS to identify appropriate reasonable accommodations. Please review the criteria and requirements before progressing to the next step.
  • Gather your documentation. The Practitioner's Verification of Diagnosis form may be completed by a health care provider if you do not currently possess documentation that meets the documentation criteria and requirements.
  • Submit your documentation and accommodation requests. 
    • Review the options for Submitting Documents to OAS for instructions on how to submit your documentation. 
    • Documentation may be submitted at the same time as your accommodation requests through the OAS Documentation and Accommodation Request form. Requests for accommodations must be submitted through the form, not through email.
    • Please note: students must be logged into their Simmons University email account to be able to access the student request forms.
    • Accommodations are applied on a prospective, not retroactive, basis. Accommodations may apply to circumstances following, not preceding, a student's connection to and registration with the OAS.

Accessibility Services


Director(s)

JoJo Jacobson

JoJo Jacobson

Director, Academic Support and Accessibility

Staff

Photo of Grace Fairweather

Grace Fairweather

Administrative Assistant, OAS

Autumn Grant

Autumn Grant

Associate Director, Office of Accessibility Services

Brendan Halpin

Brendan Halpin

Assistant Director of Academic Support

Jennifer Wong

Coordinator of Accessibility

Professor and student in conversation

Information for Faculty

The Office of Accessibility Services collaborates with faculty and staff across Simmons University. Our goal is to provide you with information for most frequently asked questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any other questions!

Information for Faculty

Center for Student Success

The Center for Student Success (CSS), located on the ground floor of LeFavour Hall, houses the Office of Undergraduate Advising, the Writing Center and Tutoring Center, the Center for Global Education, the Office of Accessibility Services, and the Career Education Center.

Office of Accessibility Services in the News

Students walking in the hallway under the sign for the Center for Student Success

Academic Support and Office of Accessibility Services Address Diverse Student Needs

Simmons faculty and staff are eager to help their students excel. Academic Support and the Office of Accessibility Services offer key resources to assist students on their academic and personal journeys. We spoke with Director JoJo Jacobson, Assistant Director Brendan Halpin, and Associate Director Autumn Grant about how they support Simmons students.


Contact Us

Office of Accessibility Services

The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) is committed to reducing barriers and enabling the full participation of students in our programs and activities. We provide academic and clinical accommodations to undergraduate and graduate students with documented accessibility needs.