The President’s Council on Disability meets monthly. Below are updates from our recent meetings.
Council restructured
In an effort to better address recent developments in the national landscape in the areas of accessibility and enforcement, the President’s Council on Disability was restructured in September 2017. The new council serves as a centralized committee designed to monitor overall accessibility and compliance. The council is comprised of subject matter experts in relevant areas who serve as champions for accessibility in each of their respective areas. The council presently meets monthly and will continually evaluate, identify risks and priorities and make recommendations. To review the council’s revised mission and member list, please access the University Committee Handbook description.
Professional development videos available
The Disability Resource Center, web and new media, and the office for institutional equity and compliance sponsored an employee group ticket to the 2017 Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Accessing Higher Ground Virtual Conference. Staff and faculty members who are interested in information about viewing select webinars are invited to email their contact information to Sara Clark, director of web and new media.
Website updated
On Feb. 1, 2018, the university rolled out its new accessibility website. The website was developed to serve as a central repository of accessibility information for campus members and visitors. From parking lot closures and building notifications to accommodations and faculty resources, this website will serve as a one-stop place to get accessibility information. Use the website sections Using Campus Resources, Advancing Accessibility and Policies and Guidelines to explore the new website. If you know of accessibility-related information that is not included on the website, please contact Melissa Berry, director of institutional equity and compliance, or contact Sara Clark, director of web and new media.
Syllabus statement revised
In collaboration with the President’s Council on Disability, on January 9, 2018, the provost’s office revised the suggested wording for the required syllabus statement on disability accommodation. The Syllabi Policy Statement requires faculty members to include certain informational statements on syllabi, including a statement about disability accommodation. The new suggested wording better reflects the University’s processes related to requesting accommodations. The new suggested wording is noted below.
If you are a student with a disability and anticipate barriers related to this course, it is important to request accommodations and establish an accommodation plan with the university. Please contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) (https://www.missouristate.edu/disability/), Meyer Library, Suite 111, 417-836-4192, to initiate the process to establish your accommodation plan. The DRC will work with you to establish your accommodation plan, or it may refer you to other appropriate resources based on the nature of your disability. In order to prepare an accommodation plan, the university usually requires that students provide documentation relating to their disability. Please be prepared to provide such documentation if requested. Once a university accommodation plan is established, you may notify the class instructor of approved accommodations. If you wish to utilize your accommodation plan, it is suggested that you do so in a timely manner, preferably within the first two weeks of class. Early notification to the instructor allows for full benefit of the accommodations identified in the plan. Instructors will not receive the accommodation plan until you provide that plan, and are not required to apply accommodations retroactively.
Expanded support hours
To improve customer service for students and faculty, the Disability Resource Center and the Testing Center have expanded testing hours. The expanded hours provide students who utilize exam accommodations greater flexibility to take their exams later in the day, at the same time as their class, and when they have Saturday Finals. For more information, please contact the Disability Resource Center.
Report an accessibility issue
Notice a barrier on campus related to accessibility? The university has a new mechanism by which to report accessibility concerns. The new Report an Accessibility Issue online form is housed on the accessibility website.
