New committee ensures continued commitment to accessibility on all three campuses

November 18, 2009

Last year, the accessibility task force was put in place to take a close look at our campus’ accessibility—physical, academic, and otherwise. The task force administered a survey to all three campuses and then crafted recommendations in a report to the Executive Council. This year, a standing committee has been established to ensure continued commitment to the original charge. The Source caught up with Rachel Orlansky, director of student support services, to find out more.

What were some of the recommendations put forth?

The report provided to the Executive Council last year included a total of 24 recommendations from four subcommittees. The new committee is reviewing those recommendations and identifying the recommendations most critical to improving campus climate, which we will focus on for this year.

Are there any priority recommendations?

Yes, the task force established six priority recommendations, which include establishing accessibility training for all new and existing employees, increasing opportunities for academic courses to adopt universal design (alternate learning formats), and providing an annual report of the College’s progress toward achieving our goals. 

How do you see your role in helping Lewis & Clark become a more accessible campus?

Right now, we’re identifying the most critical facets of campus in need of some changes. Architects have been studying the campus to identify inaccessible routes and buildings. Currently, we’re reviewing these findings and making recommendations. As a representative from Student Support Services, my role also includes identifying and educating the community about the accessibility needs of our current students, not only in terms of physical access, but educational access.

How often will the accessibility committee be meeting this year?

We plan to meet about once a month this academic year.

What if I wanted to join the accessibility committee?

You should definitely let me know. We would love more participation from staff, faculty, and students. Just shoot me an email (orlansky@lclark.edu), and I’ll let you know when we’re meeting next.