Although the College announced that it would create a new note-takers program, a more accessible design for College websites and workshops for faculty members about assisting students with disabilities throughout Spring term, these programs have not yet been instituted, Emily Broas '11, co-founder of Access by Leadership in Equality, said at an open forum hosted by the organization on Thursday evening. The previously-announced initiatives will now likely be implemented by the beginning of Fall term, according to Broas.
The Office of Student and Accessibility Services was "really behind this year" in addressing student concerns following a significant increase in the number of students requesting services, Broas said.
After announcing the efforts to revitalize student accessibility services, the College named Martha Hennessey '76 as the interim Assistant Director of Student Accessibility Services at the end of Winter term. Since she began on March 7, Hennessey has spent the past several months learning about students' needs and how Accessibility Services can best meet them, she said in an interview with The Dartmouth.
Although it is "great" that the College filled the position temporarily, the Office has not yet been able to "do anything new," she said.
The College is in the final stages of searching for a permanent Assistant Director and the position should be filled by the beginning of Fall term, Provost Carol Folt said at a Monday meeting with the Accessibility Steering Committee which was founded last spring and comprises 28 administrators, faculty members, staff members and Presidential Fellows to update the Dartmouth community on the progress of the group.
College President Jim Yong Kim, who also spoke at the meeting, said he recognizes that more must be done to improve student accessibility services.
"There are enormous obstacles that shouldn't exist in this day and age," Kim said. "The responsibility lies on us that's our belief, that's our conviction, but we still have a lot to do."
Accessibility Services has focused on addressing student concerns rather than establishing new, overarching initiatives so far this term, according to Broas.
"They've just been really trying to catch up recently, and they're not sure what that entails," Broas said. "There was a concern shared amongst students that they weren't seen in an effective matter or their concerns weren't addressed concerns that come from an understaffed office."
Broas said she hopes Accessibility Services will be able to provide "more comprehensive education for faculty" members next year. The Dartmouth Center for the Advancement of Learning will likely host the training sessions, which would also include candid conversations that educate faculty members about the nature of disabilities within the student population and why accommodations are necessary, Broas said.
Although workshops for faculty members have not yet been fully implemented, Accessibility Services communicates with faculty members in an ongoing process, Hennessey said.
ABLE's main recommendation to the College administration is the creation of a permanent Office of Pluralism and Leadership advisor for students with accessibility issues. The advisor would advise students one-on-one and be the person who would be the "linchpin for building community," Broas said.
Representation in OPAL will help centralize sources of support for students with disabilities and provide ABLE with additional resources at its disposable, according to Broas.
Although ABLE co-founder Rebecca Gotlieb '12 said she does not know of a definite timeline for the creation of such a position, she would like to see it happen "as soon as possible," Gotlieb said in an email to The Dartmouth.
Implementing the new note-takers program within the Dean of the College's Office at the beginning of next year will enable the initiative to be more organized than if it was introduced in the middle of this term, Broas said.
Hennessey plans to have a "trial version" of the program ready by the beginning of Summer term, she said.
The Accessibility Steering Committee also suggested the upgrade of College websites so that they are more accessible to students with disabilities.
The College will begin interviewing candidates for the website changes on Friday, Gotlieb said.
Members of ABLE discussed other possible new initiatives at the open forum, including organizing an Orientation program for incoming students who might need accessibility services, according to Broas.
ABLE was founded in Winter 2010 in order to raise awareness about accessibility issues, create a support network for students with health or accessibility issues and advocate for policy changes, according to Gotlieb.
Staff writer Jackie Donohoe contributed to the reporting of this article.
