UMass Amherst has various systems to ensure that students with disabilities are accommodated in classroom settings, but there was a lack of communication between students with disabilities and lab instructors regarding accommodations. This lack of communication makes it difficult for students with disabilities to articulate their needs in labs and can make students prone to discrimination in the research setting. Improvements to this system were accomplished through communication and collaboration with the UMass Disability Services office. Through the Clockwork platform, accommodation plans can now be sent to student’s mentors as the majority of research labs are registered at Independent Studies. This ensures that students with disabilities receive the necessary accommodations and support to fully engage in their research. 

Another gap that has not been frequently addressed in the research opportunity environment is digital accessibility. A large number of students found their research labs through using the PROPEL program (Promoting Research Opportunities for Equity in Learning), but the website itself was lacking some accessibility features that could deter students with disabilities from using the site. Improvements to the PROPEL site were completed by using SiteImprove, a website that analyses the accessibility of websites and gives feedback on what aspects to change and what types of change are needed (i.e.: conformance software testing). These technical changes allow for a digitally accessible website, meeting Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and allowing all types of students to access and apply for research through the PROPEL program.