InclusAbility
InclusABILITY
#INCLUSABILITYIOWASTATE
About
Definition of InclusABILITY
An environment that embraces the richness of diversity by celebrating, including, and acknowledging persons with disabilities within our Iowa State campus and community.
Campaign Goals
- Create more visibility of people with disabilities across campus and in the community.
- Collaborate on initiatives, development, and resources to increase support and inclusion at Iowa State University.
- Create intersectional and meaningful programs that highlight the services and support of the Iowa State community.
- Create intentional space for dialogue and learning that fosters a sense of inclusivity for personals with disabilities.
InclusABILITY Professional Development
AVAILABLE WEBINARS
Webinar 1: Strategic Outreach: Spreading Accessibility throughout Campus
Originally posted on February 18, 2020 by AHEAD
Dawn Hunziker, M.A., University of Arizona
Barbie Lopez, University of Arizona
Disability resource personnel are committed to designing campuses that are fully accessible. From our offices, often seen primarily as student services, how do we ensure equitable experiences for everyone across the campus? Participants will learn to identify opportunities for engagement and strategies for achieving routine inclusion in campus projects related to digital accessibility, with a minimum of technical expertise. The University of Arizona’s current DRC staff structure and our involvement with procurement, IT initiatives, campus-wide and individual department outreach and collaborative presentations/workshops will be demonstrated as use-case examples to take back to your institution.
Click here to start the Strategic Outreach: Spreading Accessibility throughout Campus webinar.
Webinar 2: Identifying and Removing Barriers to Access: Using a Framework to Guide Considerations of Complex Requests
Originally posted on February 13, 2020 by AHEAD
Jamie Axelrod, M.S., Northern Arizona University
Adam Meyer, Ed.D., University of Central Florida
When complex requests, such as extending deadlines for assignments, are presented to us, it can be difficult to know how to assess their reasonableness. Much time can be spent analyzing how to proceed. In the end, how do we know if the accommodation would actually address a barrier and provide access? In this webinar, we will explore this question and propose a framework for considering challenging requests. We will model the proposed framework through the example of extended time for deadlines to provide a concrete example of its use. While the framework is not meant to be a checklist that would turn complex requests into routine decisions, having a structured approach to considering requests can increase confidence in decision-making.
Webinar 3: A Disabled American in Paris. Or Was It Nairobi? Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities who Study Abroad (AHEAD)
Originally posted on April 2, 2020 by AHEAD
Justin Harford, M.A., Mobility International USA
Monica Malhotra, M.A., Mobility International USA
Sooner or later, your students will want to study or intern abroad through one of your college's many international exchange offerings. While the law technically doesn't require you to provide reasonable accommodations outside of U.S. soil, that doesn't mean that you should not go for extra credit. It is possible and affordable to make study abroad experiences accessible for students with disabilities abroad with preparation. In this webinar, staff from MIUSA's National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange will equip you with the tools to be an advocate for access to all of your institution's programs by understanding the legal nuances and acting as the campus go-to expert on all things disability and exchange.
Click here to start A Disabled American in Paris. Or Was it Nairobi? webinar
UPCOMING WEBINARS *visit Learn@ISU to register starting Monday, April 6th
Assistive Technology for Students with Mental Health Conditions
Michelle Mullen, M.S., University of Massachusetts Medical School
Students with mental health conditions face unique challenges which may require support through skill-building, resource acquisition, accommodations and assistive technology. Assistive technology (AT) is any device, software, or equipment that supports a student to work with specific barriers. Schools are more adept at offering AT to students with disabilities in recent years but may find supporting students with mental health conditions challenging. AT and other accommodations may not be advertised to students with mental health conditions due to a lack of perceived legitimacy of functional implications associated with psychiatric conditions in higher education. In addition, students with mental health conditions may not believe that they deserve to receive or use AT. This webinar will explore the potential functional implications of mental health conditions in the post-secondary learning environment and detail the assistive technologies that can support student persistence and success.
COMING SOON
InclusABILITY Blog
Reports
Diversity and Inclusion Report
Link to Diversity and Inclusion Report
Iowa State University's Diversity and Inclusion reports highlight initiatives related to Academic Affairs, Board of Regents, Institutional Research, Enrollment, and Human Resources. Each area serves as a source for information related to data collected in its corresponding year. To receive more information related to diversity and inclusion data, contact the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at vpdioffice@iastate.edu or 515-294-8840.
Technology and Support
At Iowa State University, we are committed to addressing accessibility as we embrace new technologies. The Digital Accessibility Coordinator provides guidance, support, and consultation to units throughout campus to enable an increasing adoption of accessibility-minded practices. For more information visit Link to Digital Accessibility at Iowa State.
- Digital Accessibility Services
- Digital Accessibility Lab
- Committees and Partnerships (Taskforce)
- Training and Additional Resources
Link to Working Remotely Resources
Extension and Outreach (eAccessibility)
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach's eAccessibility Initiative provides training and resources that incorporate universal design practices in the classroom or office setting. Extension and Outreach have created accessibility training for Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Publisher), Adobe InDesign and Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. Please find links to the courses that have been created for your use, or Request the Toolkit if you would like to learn how to implement incremental and sustainable universal design practices.
Link to Extension and Outreach eAccessibility
Faculty/Staff/Administration Support
Classroom (CELT)
The Iowa State University Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching provides resources for instructors, faculty, staff, graduate students and postdocs interested in teaching. They offer face-to-face workshops, longer-term teaching and learning circles on selected topics, and facilitation of teaching and learning communities. To learn more, visit Link to Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.
Education and Development (AHEAD, Learn@ISU)
Iowa State University offers a variety of teaching and learning tools to enhance your understanding of creating an inclusive environment. Alongside CELT, committees such as the University Committee on Disabilities provide a leadership role in fostering a campus environment of inclusiveness and accessibility. Visit our upcoming events for development opportunities.
Development Calendar - Coming Soon
Human Resources
Iowa State University Human Resources encourages early engagement in requesting accommodations for a disability. These accommodations include Sign Language Interpreting requests, Religion Accommodations, and collaboration with Environmental Health and Safety on addressing needs around human performance.
Link to Environment Health and Safety occupational services
Link to employee workplace accommodations
Student Support (SAS)
Student Accessibility Services
The Student Accessibility Services office (SAS), formerly Student Disability Resources (SDR), at Iowa State University is a unit in the Dean of Students Office that supports students with disabilities related to the services and programs that enable their access to education and university life.
SAS believes that equity, social justice, and diversity are essential to creating/maintaining an environment of equal access and opportunity for all. We believe that disability is a naturally occurring aspect of the diversity of life and that it is an integral part of society and to the Iowa State University campus community.
Link to Student Accessibility Services
Student Organizations
Alliance for Disability Awareness - The Alliance for Disability Awareness is a student organization dedicated to supporting students with disabilities, as well as raising awareness for the wide variety of disabilities on campus and pushing for a more accessible ISU.
Link to Alliance for Disability Awareness
Vocational Rehabilitation
Iowa VR is an employment program for individuals who experience a disability. They focus on service delivery that assists individuals to prepare for, obtain, retain, and advance in employment. For those who have been determined eligible, it is an individualized program that delivers employment services based on your unique individualized employment plan.
Link to Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation