8:07 a.m., Feb. 16, 2009----The University of Delaware has announced the formation of the new Office of Disabilities Support Services (DSS), which will bring together an array of services for students, faculty and staff under one unit that will be housed centrally in first-floor facilities in Alison Hall.

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The office is open for business in Room 119 Alison Hall.

The DSS office will bring together services for students with learning disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) previously provided through the Academic Enrichment Center and for students and employees with permanent disabilities previously provided through the Office of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The establishment of the Office of Disabilities Support Services will allow us to provide more comprehensive services in one place, which is centrally located and easily accessible,” Karen Mancini, DSS director, said. “Before, LD/ADHD issues were handled by one office and ADA issues by another. This resulted in confusion for both students and faculty. We are excited to offer the services for students in one location and to begin focusing on campus accessibility as a University-wide effort.”

Maxine Colm, associate provost for faculty administration, said the change is in keeping with the University's Path to Prominence strategic plan, which has called for a more diverse campus community, and dovetails with the work of the Diversity Task Force. “This is absolutely part of the overall goal of a more diverse campus,” she said.

“The commitment of the University is to be more open and welcoming, and DSS will help make that a reality for those with disabilities,” Mancini added.

Colm said the new office will help meet the unique educational needs of enrolled students with documented disabilities and will eliminate the physical, programming and attitudinal barriers that can impede academic success.

Also, she said, it will work with faculty and staff with disabilities to ensure that they receive reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of the positions for which they were hired.

The University has a growing population of students and employees with disabilities. There are more than 500 students with documented disabilities who are eligible for accommodations and about 30 employees receive accommodations. The types of disabilities range from physical, psychological, learning disabilities, ADHD and chronic illness.

Services will include:

Providing alternate format textbooks and materials. Books are available in MP3 or e-text versions for use with adaptive software or in enlarged print. These formats may assist individuals with visual impairments, learning disabilities or ADHD in accessing course materials.

Providing transportation services for students and staff with mobility problems, chronic illness and visual impairments;

Offering real-time captioning, sign language, note takers and assistive listening devices for those who are hard of hearing;

Providing test accommodations such as extended time, reduced-distraction environment or tests with assistive technology.

Assisting students and staff in the use of adaptive technology depending on their individual disabilities related needs; and

Working in collaboration with campus offices such as Facilities, Housing and Student Health and with academic departments and faculty to ensure that reasonable accommodations are provided for students, employees and visitors.

Article by Neil Thomas
Photo by Kathy Atkinson