Lauren MB Kinast,
University of Texas
Bambi Riehl,
University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee

• What IS the ‘college experience’ for students?
• Challenges Accessing the “College Experience’
– Actual Experiences Shared
– PN2 Research Found
• Sample Campus Philosophy on ACCESS
• Survey Respondents
• Campus Coordination & Budget Models
• Tools / Steps to Take with You

• In the News: http://georgetownvoice.com/2014/04/10/gusa-resolution-aims-to-assist-deaf-community/
• “Presently, there is no centralized system to pay for sign language interpreters at extracurricular events, and the responsibility often falls on individual students to arrange for their own interpreters.”
• “If I ask for interpreters, it’s through the Academic Resource
Center, and it’s a battle, not necessarily with the ARC, but with the departments here because it is all about money,”
Heather Artinian (COL’15) previously told the Voice.

In the News: http://www.ilusa.com/News/deaf_college_un.htm
''I find it very frustrating,'' said Collins, speaking in sign language translated by an interpreter.
‘'I feel I have to fight for everything. ... I can't relax and have a regular college experience.'‘
• ''Social learning - discussion in a cafe, discussion with a
professor - shouldn't be considered incidental,'' said
Ruth Bork, director of the Disabilities Resource Center at
Northeastern. ''It's part and parcel of what you come to college for. It contributes to your growth, to figuring out who you are.''

PN2 Needs Assessment Report http://pepnet.org/sites/default/files/NAMASTERCOMPILEDPDF.pdf
Another trend that professionals have noted as a concern is that it is difficult to determine who is paying for the resources available to students who are DHH.
One focus group, discussed this in depth, and they tended to agree that the services requested by students are available, but that they are difficult to implement, because there are challenges to finding who would be financially responsible for the service . The professionals believed that the bureaucracy and lack of coordination between departments of the institution created difficulties in attaining financial support for services requested.

PN2 Needs Assessment Report
“I think something that frustrates me is when people start doing finger pointing as to who is responsible for providing this, who is paying for this... Is it the faculty? Is it the department? Is it the college? Is it
I.T.? Is it disability services?... It would be nice if we could get past the finger pointing because it is the responsibility of

• Deaf and hard-of-hearing students are very much a part of campus life at (college). The Program for
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students at (college) provides total access for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and members of the community to all programs and activities at the college.
Qualified interpreters and notetakers are provided for classes and for conferences in any campus office. In addition, interpreting services are available for any student club activities, athletic and cultural events.

Responses for: Bill to Department(s)
Athletic Events: 34.09%
Dept Meeting for Student Workers: 33.33%
Fraternity/Sorority/Greek Organizations: 31.58%
TIED: Plays / Student Organizations: 28.57%
National Conference on Campus: 28.26%
Happy Hour with Cohorts: 27.03%
Guest Lecture: 26%
Career Services/Workshop: 22%

2009 PEPNet Postsecondary Interpreting and Speech-to-Text Survey
If your office provides interpreting/captioning services for campus-wide events other than classes, for example, guest lectures, chancellor's speeches, departmental meetings, theatrical performances, etc. which procedure below is used for funding?
Answer Options
We bill back to the department hiring us.
We have general campus funds given to our department to provide the service.
NA We provide interpreting and captioning services only for academic related needs.
Other (please specify)
Response Percent
28.2%
30.9%
18.2%
22.7% answered question 110

If your office provides interpreting/captioning services for campus-wide events other than classes, for example, guest lectures, chancellor's speeches, departmental meetings, theatrical performances, etc. which procedure below is used for funding?
We bill back to the department hiring us.
We have general campus funds given to our department to provide the service.
NA We provide interpreting and captioning services only for academic related needs.
Other (please specify)

2009 PEPNet Postsecondary Interpreting and Speech-to-Text Survey: “Other”
• Eight Respondents said it comes from Disability Services budget
• Five Respondents said it comes from Campus General
Fund/Administrative Account/Etc.
• Five Respondents said it is billed directly to Department/Host
• Three Respondents said they provide Department with referrals and the Department then schedules and covers the cost(s)
We absorb the cost. Depts with deaf staff are responsible as of year two of employment (to give the dept time to budget for interpreters).

Funding
50% from university general funds to cover costs for accommodations outside of the classroom
50% from DSS office to cover academic classroom costs
Disability Services
University General Funds
Coordination
DSS office coordinates almost all campus accommodations needs .
Disability Services
One –Stop shopping

• What IS the ‘college experience’ for students?
• Challenges Accessing the “College
Experience’
– Actual Experiences Shared
– PN2 Research Found
• Sample Campus Philosophy on ACCESS
• Survey Respondents
• Campus Coordination & Budget Models
• Tools / Steps to Take with You

Interim Assistant Director
Accessibility Resource Center
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee