PRE CONFERENCE SESSION 2

DISABILITY DOCUMENTATION: AN ACCESS OR A GATE KEEPER MEASURE
(June 1, 2008/ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm)

For a very long time, the charge to provide access to all programs and services at
institutions of higher education was treated as a mandate to be addressed by information
in the documentation that students provide. Less students come to college campuses with
diagnoses or with documentations that meet the requirements; lesser even know how to
request accommodations. Many of them see the college environment as dysfunctional.

The question still remains: Who is a person with a disability? What are reasonable
accommodations? Who decides and how? How can we make our environment less
dysfunctional and what responsibilities do we have in that respect?

This half day workshop will share specific findings from a case study research on a college campus and
how we as administrators can better understand and meet the needs of students with
disabilities and the service providers who work with them.

LEAD AND SUPPORTING PRESENTERS
Bea Awoniyi, Ph.D. (bawoniyi@fsu.edu), Florida State University (Lead Presenter)
Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Student Disability Resource Center
Florida State University
874 Traditions Way, 108 Student Services Building
PO Box 3064167
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167
bawoniyi@fsu.edu

INTENDED OUTCOMES OF THE SESSION
Attendees will have a better understanding of the challenges that disability service
providers face and how they can help in making their campuses more accessible and
welcoming to all learners. They will also be exposed to resources that are free and
timely.

ADVANCE READING RECOMMENDED:
1. Legal issues for serving students with disabilities:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/101522355/PDFSTART
2. Postsecondary access for students with disabilities:
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Conf/