Co-Creating A Disability-Friendly Academic Year

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 18:08:33 -0400
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Creating a disability-friendly campus is a collaborative effort that benefits everyone, fostering inclusivity and ensuring equal opportunities campus wide. By doing our part and working together, we create a campus environment where people with disabilities feel supported, respected, and empowered. This post may be a gentle reminder of resources and departments for some, and create new awareness for others, as accessibility is everyone's responsibility.

Everyone:

Read up on UMBC's Style Guide on Inclusive and Affirming Language to communicate well about disability

Sign up for Accessibility and Disability Services myUMBC page

Go on UMBC's Accessibility Tour to better support your role as an accessibility ambassador.

Report Accessibility Concerns online via the ADS website.

Students (Undergraduate and Graduate):

Check out Student Disability Services Student (SDS) Resource Pages.

Getting Started: Registering with SDS for Accommodations

Returning students may complete a semester request in Accommodate to communicate approved accommodations to their new classes

Look over syllabi and schedule accommodated tests early.

If a need for accommodation has changed, or there is a new request - reach out for an update via Accommodate.

Get busy with student organizations that are welcoming and inclusive for students with disabilities. UMBC has the Gamma Kappa Chapter of the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society for Students with Disabilities - join an upcoming meeting.

Find and use an accessibility checker on documents, presentations, and digital content to assure that all that you are sharing socially, academically and vocationally has ideal accessibility.

Faculty:

Check out Student Disability Services' Faculty Resources Page

As course syllabi are updated, add or confirm UMBC's recommended Disability Syllabus Statement

Take advantage of all that Instructional Technology and Blackboard (via Ally) have to offer for course accessibility:

ALLY now supports AI-Generated Image Description - more detail in the link, including details for exploring this impressive feature.

October 16 Universal Design for Learning 3.0 What's New and Why It Matters

October 25 Inclusion By Design Virtual Conference

Whether through accessible facilities, inclusive policies, or awareness initiatives, each step we take brings us closer to a campus that celebrates diversity and offers a welcoming space for everyone to thrive. Let's embark on this journey together, co-creating a community that values accessibility, dignity, and mutual respect.

A photo of a woman with dreadlocks and noise-canceling headphones sitting at home with a laptop accompanies this post. Credit: Surface via Unsplash.

Enjoy some of the excellence from this year's Paralympic Games in Paris (they always follow the Olympics)