Office of Access and Equity: Disability Resources, Inclusion and Ableism
About the Session
Office of Access and Equity: Disability Resources (ODR) engages with students, staff, faculty and community members in an effort to create an accessible learning environment for the university. In this session, presenters will explore definitions of disability, ableism, identity, accessibility, and inclusion. Throughout, presenters will explain primary models of disability & ableism in order to move us beyond compliance and towards inclusivity. Additionally, presenters will offer strategies for creating accessible, inclusive and disability-affirming spaces. Lastly, ODR will share current disability-related trends regarding higher education and offer suggestions for campus partners when engaging with students with disabilities.
Working to create an inclusive and accessible campus stretches far beyond the basic understanding of physical and academic resources; it stems from the constant engagement with individual lived experiences, shifting of federal regulations and an ever-changing campus environment. In this presentation, the Office of Access and Equity: Disability Resources will create a level of understanding around our current understanding of disability, ableism, accessibility and inclusion as it applies to our campus. By educating ourselves on the regulations that guide disability work we can better understand how decisions are made here at Appalachian State. This presentation will speak to primary models used in our work, practical application of ableism language and efforts, as well as tangible strategies that can be utilized across campus.
With an ongoing dedication to accessibility on campus; it is important for all to understand the information needed to work with students, faculty, staff and community partners in these spaces. Appalachian State University strives to continuously work to ensure our campus is creating an accessible environment for all.
Session I, Three Top Mountain, Room 169, PSU
Learning Outcomes
- Explore definitions of disability, ableism, identity, accessibility and inclusion
- Explain primary models of disability & ableism
- Offer strategies for creating accessible, inclusive and disability-affirming spaces
