MAKING YOUR ORGANIZATION ACCESSIBLE TO
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Be intentional about welcoming students with disabilities.

• A commitment to making your organization accessible could be acknowledged with a statement or policy in the organization’s handbook. For example:


• [Name of organization] is committed to providing equal access in our activities, including meetings and events hosted and endorsed by us.


• All materials/publications about the organization should include a disability access statement, such as:
  

  To request this material in alternate format, contact
  name/department/phone.

• For information on how to provide printed materials in alternate formats, see the
  Disability Services for Students website: Alternate Formats


• Advertisements for meetings and events should also include an access statement, such as:
  To request an accommodation, contact name/department/phone.


• It is good practice to always schedule meetings in accessible locations. If
  that is not possible, have a plan for what your group will do if someone comes who needs access.


• The organization’s website should be accessible to students who use screen readers and large print. Two of the websites that evaluate web pages for access barriers are http://validator.w3.org/. DSS is also available for consultation on making websites more user friendly for people with disabilities.
  

Know who’s responsible for what.

• The student with a disability is responsible for requesting an accommodation in a timely manner and working out the details with a representative from the organization. Even if the request is made at the last minute, it is necessary to make a good faith effort to comply, although some accommodations cannot be arranged without some lead time, i.e. hiring a sign language interpreter.


• The organization is responsible for providing the accommodation.


• Disability Services for Students (DSS) (777-3425, McCannel Hall, Rm. 190) will consult with the organization regarding providing accommodations and will help the organization identify possible funding sources when necessary.


• One of the accommodations that must be scheduled prior to the day of the event is sign language interpreting or realtime captioning. Call DSS to schedule these services.

Negotiating accommodations.

When the request for an accommodation is appropriate and reasonable, that request for access must be honored. However, how the accommodation is provided is negotiable. The organization’s representative can suggest an alternative to the accommodation the student requests, as long as the alternative provides equal access, is respectful and inclusive. If the organization and student cannot reach an agreement on the accommodation, DSS can assist with problem solving.

All University programs and activities must be accessible to students with disabilities.