Advancing Our Profession
INTRODUCTION
Why Does It Matter?
Medical Model vs. Social Model
Disability is a deficiency or
abnormality.
Disability is a difference.
Being disabled is negative.
Being disabled, in itself, is neutral.
Disability resides in the
individual.
Disability derives from interaction
between individual and society.
The remedy is cure or
normalization of the individual
The remedy is a change in the
interaction between the individual
and society.
The agent of remedy is the
professional who affects the
arrangements between the
individual and society.
The agent of remedy can be the
individual, an advocate, or
anyone who affects the
arrangements between the
individual and society.
Accommodation Model vs. Universal Design
Access is a problem for the
individual and should be
addressed by that person and
disability services
Access issues stem from an
inaccessible or poorly designed
environments and should be
addressed by the designer
Access is achieved through
accommodations and/or
retrofitting existing
requirements
The system/environment is
designed, to the greatest extent
possible, to be usable by all
Access is retroactive
Access is often provided in a
separate location or through
special treatment
Access is proactive
Access is inclusive
Access must be reconsidered
each time a new individual
uses the system
Access, as part of the
environmental design, is
sustainable
What are we doing that is
inconsistent with our vision
and values?
Emerging Themes
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Our Office Identity
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Office Name
Position titles
Mission Statements
Job Descriptions
Our Language
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Brochures
Websites
Letters to faculty
Our Reality of
Requirements for
Documentation
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Government/funding
requirements
Our Practices
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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
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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
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Job Description Samples
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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
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Fewer words like this…
And more words like this…
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
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Old: How does your disability affect you in
biology class?
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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
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Old: What accommodations do you need to
access the Library?
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New: How might the design of the library (its
services and architecture) be altered to improve
usability for you?
Changing the Focus
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Old: What support do you need to write
exams due to your disability?
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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…
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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?
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You are extreme leaders…
…bold and audacious agents of change!