UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 3, Page 1
September 16, 1993
Coordinator's aim: Equal opportunity for everyone

     Jeanette DiScala is the new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
program coordinator at the University of Delaware. She started her job
Sept. 13.
     "The University has many programs and services in place for persons
with disabilities," DiScala said, "and my role is to act as a liaison and
coordinator of these efforts for students, employees and members of the
general public with disabilities who are on campus, and to introduce new
programs where appropriate."
     "This newly created position is indicative of the University's
commitment in this area, and we are pleased to have Dr. DiScala in this new
position in the Office of Affirmative Action and Multicultural Programs to
coordinate campus efforts," Maxine Colm, vice president for employee
relations, said. DiScala says she views her job as multifaceted since she
serves as an advocate for those with disabilities and as an educator and
trainer about disabilities and ADA compliance for the campus community.
     In addition, she is a coordinator, working with staff members in
student affairs, employee relations and facilities planning and
construction who already have been involved in improving the campus
environment for persons with disabilities. Much work already has been done
to make the campus and University programs accessible for persons with
disabilities, DiScala said.
     "While working directly with people with disabilities, I also want to
heighten campus awareness of disability issues. My goal is to dispel the
misinformation, myths  and stereotyping about individuals with
disabilities. In general, there is so much that can be done to remove
barriers and improve the environment for persons with disabilities, and
many of these improvements are low in cost and can be brought about by
simple, creative changes.
     "Today's amazing technological advances also have contributed greatly
to improving opportunities for individuals with disabilities," DiScala
said.
     Disabilities cover a large range, she said, from mobility, vision and
hearing impairments to learning disabilities and emotional and mental
impairments.
     A graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton and
Cornell University Law School, with a doctorate from the University of
Washington in Seattle, DiScala has a diverse background that will be
beneficial in her new position. For example, her legal training is
important in understanding the ramifications and compliance requirements of
the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, she said.
     In graduate school, she carried out research on public and private
research universities' policies in dealing with those with mental and
emotional impairments, so she has a broad understanding of how other
educational institutions function. DiScala also worked as special assistant
to the ADA coordinator at the University of Washington, gaining hands-on
experience in implementing the ADA.
     "I am looking forward to the challenge of this job and to working with
others in achieving goals for a positive environment that ensures that
people with disabilities have equal opportunities at the University,"
DiScala said.
                                        -Sue Swyers Moncure