On March 15, 2019, the at-large Board initially met and received its charge from Robert Sellers, Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer. Based upon the charge, the Board brainstormed on topics associated with student disability that required further consideration and scrutiny. These initially-brainstormed topics and ideas from the at-large group were further categorized, with an eye toward identifying common themes. The topics and ideas became the Board’s “heat map” of crucial issues and the categories became our sub-groups.
From the original “heat map,” we formed the following eight (8) sub-groups:
- Physical Accessibility;
- Digital Accessibility;
- Pedagogy, Inclusive Teaching, and Accommodations;
- Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness;
- Intentional Recruitment;
- Career Development Support;
- Disability Culture, Community, and Climate; and
- Academic Program Development in Disability and Accessibility.
The first four sub-groups met from approximately June 2019 through August 2019 and the second four sub-groups met from approximately September 2019 through November 2019. All members of the Board were invited to participate in both phases of the workgroups. Sub-groups met multiple times both digitally and in person each month to collaborate and formulate their recommendations.
The at-large Board met each month throughout this time period. An important part of each at-large meeting was a “report out” from each sub-group on current status, recommendations, and needs. These “report outs” also provided an opportunity for other Board members to provide comments, feedback, suggestions, or assistance.
At the end of each sub-group time period, the sub-groups submitted initial drafts of their reports to the Board Co-Chairs. In addition, a committee of undergraduate students, led by Facilitator Solomon Furious Worlds, then reviewed each of the initial sub-group reports and provided additional comments and suggestions. Upon receiving the sub-group reports and feedback from the undergraduate committee, the Co-Chairs reviewed and modified the reports as appropriate, including incorporating the undergraduate committee input. These modified reports were sent back the sub-groups for a final review and approval. The approved final reports are included as appendices and are referenced throughout the report.