Beyond Accommodation and Disability Labels: Universal Educational Access in Higher Education

By:
Dr. Sandy Altshuler,
Dr. Romel W. Mackelprang
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The impetus for implementing universal design and universal instructional design (UID) has primarily emerged from advocates for disability access in society and in higher education. Concomitantly, proponents of UID have recognized that it can benefit both disabled and non-disabled students, faculty and staff from multiple backgrounds including those with diverse characteristics such as race, ethnicity, language and country of origin. Most recently, the United Nations has recognized Universal Access as a prerequisite to moving beyond the isolation of accommodation. This presentation describes the work of a university Center for Disability Studies and Universal Access (Center) in developing campus-wide relationships with multiple diversity constituents to improve UID that simultaneously promotes a climate that honors diversity in its broadest sense, including diversity. We move UID beyond the classroom and into all areas of the university milieu, moving people beyond compartmentalized identities (e.g., racial identity, gender, sexual orientation, disability) to promote diversity as the responsibility for all. By providing examples of partnerships and efforts that the Center has developed, the presenters will assist attendees in considering strategies that they can generalize and apply to their respective contexts


Keywords: Universal Education Access, Disability as Diversity, Disability in Higher Education, Beyond Ethnicity in Diversity
Stream: Disability, Health
Presentation Type: 30 minute Paper Presentation in English
Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Dr. Sandy Altshuler

Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Eastern Washington University
UNITED STATES

Dr. Altshuler’s research interests, teaching and service activities all focus on supporting the health and well being of at-risk children, youth and families in a variety of settings. She has successfully obtained external funding over the course of her career from federal and state agencies throughout the U.S. She investigates how to increase protective factors and reducing risk factors for at-risk youth and families at the community level. Most recently, Dr. Altshuler has served as the Principle Investigator for projects that have identified the strengths and needs of adolescents with disabilities from their own perspective. Currently, Dr. Altshuler is working on a longitudinal evaluation of improving the academic success of disabled students in higher education. Dr. Altshuler has published extensively in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, and is a popular presenter at professional workshops and conferences.

Dr. Romel W. Mackelprang

Professor, School of Social Work, Eastern Washington University
UNITED STATES

Dr. Mackelprang is Poject Director of a federally funded research project designed to enhance the educational success of disabled students in higher education in the U.S.

Ref: D07P0492