Transcript Greeting the Brave New World with Strategic Planning

Advancing Our Profession
INTRODUCTION
Why Does It Matter?
Medical Model vs. Social Model
Disability is a deficiency or
abnormality.
• Disability is a deficiency or
Being
disabled is negative.
abnormality.
•Disability
Being disabled
is the
negative.
resides in
•individual.
Disability resides in the
individual.
The
remedy
is cure
or or
• The
remedy
is cure
normalization
of the
individual
normalization
of the
individual
• The agent of remedy is the
The
agent of remedy
is the the
professional
who affects
professional
who between
affects the
arrangements
the
individual and
society.the
arrangements
between
individual and society.
Carol Gill
Disability is a difference.
• Disability
is in
a difference.
Being
disabled,
itself, is neutral.
• Being disabled, in itself, is
neutral.
Disability
derives from interaction
• Disability
derives
from
between
individual
and
society.
interaction between
The individual
remedy isand
a change
in the
society.
interaction
between
individual
• The remedy
is athe
change
in
and the
society.
interaction between the
individual and society.
The agent of remedy can be the
• The agent of remedy can
individual,
advocate,
be the an
individual,
anor
anyone
who affects
the who
advocate,
or anyone
affects thebetween
arrangements
arrangements
the
between
individual and
individual
andthe
society.
society.
Accommodation Model vs. Universal Design
Access is a problem for the
Access issues stem from an
individual and should be
inaccessible or poorly designed
addressed
that person
environments
and
should
be
• Access is by
a problem
for the and• Access
issues stem
from
an
individual
and should be
disability
services
addressedorby
the designer
inaccessible
poorly
designed
addressed by that person and
Access
is achieved through
disability services
accommodations
and/or
• Access is achieved
through
•
retrofitting
existingand/or
accommodations
retrofitting existing
requirements
requirements
•
Access
is
retroactive
• Access is retroactive
•
• Access
often provided
provided inin
aa •
Access
isisoften
separatelocation
location or
separate
orthrough
through
special treatment
special
treatment
• Access must be reconsidered
each time
a new
individual uses
Access
must
be reconsidered
the time
system
each
a new individual
uses the system
environments
and should be is
The system/environment
addressed by the designer
designed, to the greatest extent
The system/environment is
possible,toto
usable
by all
designed,
thebe
greatest
extent
possible, to be usable by all
Access is proactive
Access is proactive
Access is inclusive
Accessasispart
inclusive
Access,
of the environmental
design, is sustainable
Access, as part of the
environmental design, is
sustainable
What are we doing that is
inconsistent with our vision
and values?
Emerging Themes

Our Office Identity

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
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Office Name
Position titles
Mission
Statements
Job Descriptions



Our Language



Brochures
Websites
Letters to faculty
Our Reality of
Requirements for
Documentation
Government/fundi
ng requirements
Our Practices

Too busy being
reactive to be
proactive
Mission Statements
In partnership with the university and external
organisations, the mission of DSS is to facilitate
access to the university and to support the goals and
academic endeavours of the students (registered
with our office).
Our goal is provide consultation to the university
community, as we, the university community,
facilitate individual growth and development within
an accessible and equitable academic environment.
Proposed UALR Mission
Statement
Providing access to a diverse student population is embedded
in the philosophy of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.1
We recognize disability as an aspect of diversity that is
integral to society and to the campus community. To this end,
the Disability Resource Center collaborates with students,
faculty, staff, and community members to create usable,
equitable, inclusive and sustainable learning environments.2
We promote and facilitate awareness and access through
training, partnerships, innovative programs and
accommodations.3
1-Adapted from Educational Student Services Mission Statement.
2-Adapted from AHEAD “UDLI-endorsed” mission statement.
3-Adapted from U of Arizona's mission statement.
Job Description Samples
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Old: Duties related to accommodations and case
management listed first. (7 bullets)
New: Duties related to creating inclusive, usable
environments listed first. (Only 2 bullets related to
accommodation model)
Old: Emphasis on legal compliance.
New: Very little legal compliance language
Old: Not directly tied to mission statement
New: Uses language directly from mission statement
to provide the structure.
Job Description Samples

Collaborate with students, faculty, staff, and
community members to create usable,
equitable, inclusive and sustainable learning
environments.
Develop and recommend policies and procedures
that promote inclusion and universal design in
programs and facilities
 Establish collaborative relationships by serving on
campus committees such as …
 Recommend student participants for campus
committees on which student representation is
needed

Job Description Samples

Promote and facilitate awareness and access
through training, advocacy and
accommodations.
Provide training and technical assistance to faculty,
staff, administrators, and students
 Conduct application interviews and collaborate with
students to determine appropriate accommodations
 Conduct workshops and conference presentations

Fewer words like this…
Assistance
 Needs
 Weakness
 Service
 Limitation
 special

And more words like this…
Collaboration
 Inclusive
 Preferences
 Diversity
 Usability
 Environmental change

Identifying Old Language and Thinking…
The mission of _____ is to maintain a campus environment that is
accessible to students with disabilities. Further, it is our goal to
support a wide range of progressive services and assistance to
meet the needs of permanently and temporarily disabled
students.
Our primary function is to make available the necessary tools and
instructional services to enhance the experience of higher
learning; leading to success in the student’s program of study.
_____ provides services to enrolled students who have a
documented permanent or temporary physical, mental, learning,
or sensory disability that qualifies them for academic adjustments
and accommodations under the law.
Students with disabilities who need special accommodation or
other assistance are encouraged to contact _____ as soon as they
enter college.
Changing the Focus

Old: How does your disability affect you in biology
class?

New: What aspects of the course design in your
biology class miss the mark in terms of the
effectiveness at:
 engaging you with the course material?
 perceptibility of the information provided?
 assessing your knowledge?
 How might those aspects that fall short be altered
to improve their effectiveness?
Changing the Focus

Old: What accommodations do you need to
access the Library?

New: How might the design of the library (its
services and architecture) be altered to improve
usability for you?
Changing the Focus

Old: What support do you need to write
exams due to your disability?

New: What assessment strategies do you find
most accurately reflect the knowledge you've
obtained in a given course? List 3 in order of
your preference.
As we shift the paradigm…

What do we want to do less of?
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1
2
3
What do we want to do more of?
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1
2
3
Letter to Myself…
What do you want to remember?
 What are the key concepts you want to hang
onto?
 What are the key words that will move you
forward?
 What 2 or 3 changes do you want to make?

You are extreme leaders…
…bold and audacious agents of change!