Hello Local Guides,
As part of our advocacy, #OneAccessibility, we shall share information about disability issues, inclusion, and/or accessibility features on Maps. Look out every week for this enlightening post.
This month’s topic is about accessible campus. I search on Google for what campus the most disability-accessible friendly in Michigan is. The answer is the University of Michigan (U-M).
Top photo credit to U-M and bottom photo U-M Flag credit to Pixabay.com
Its main campus is in Ann Arbor Michigan with outreach campuses spread all over Michigan. Consider this campus is Michigan State’s oldest institution its service for students with disabilities has lasted over 40 years.
In 2022 U-M ranks as the second-best disability-friendly college and university in the US. In 2018 Ann Arbor campus is among the top disability-friendly online schools. In 2016 U-M ranked as the best disability-friendly university in the US.
If you are an accessible enthusiast, would the above statements make you wonder how accessible-friendly they are?
One of their commitment is to support full inclusion for disabled individuals to create a diverse and multicultural community. Many resources like specialized advocacy, academic services, and support are offered to students with physical disabilities this service is available for no extra charge. Among the services they provide are for students with learning disabilities, visual and hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and disabled persons with physical needs with special access, service animals, alternative transportation, or accommodations.
What kind of accommodation the does campus offer?
The University believes that accommodations come in many shapes and sizes for different people with their disabilities: audio recording or note-taking services, longer test-taking times, moving a classroom or lab to a more accessible building, the use of technology or specialized apps including dictation software. Other services campuses provide are extra mental health support, access to on-campus support groups, and adaptive principles for athletic teams even some campuses use universal design in their curricula and building infrastructure.
Their Services for Students with Disabilities [SSD]:
- Academic Accommodations
- Innovative Resources
- Technology to support the students academically (academic support programming, media captioning, transcription services, screen reading, speech-to-text software)
- Adaptive sports and fitness program
Who can apply? Any students with
- mental health disorders - PTSD anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder
- chronic health conditions - Crohn’s disease, chronic migraine, diabetes, asthma, cancer
- neurodevelopmental disorders - learning disabilities, attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- speech and language impairment
- a broken hand, concussion
I hope this post will inspire other Accessible enthusiasts to have the technology and accommodation for people with disabilities on their campuses.
Please read our last month’s article by @EmekaUlor regardingAccessible Restaurant: Terra Kulture
If you have a question, suggestion, or contribution, feel free to comment below. You can read and check the list of our other articles under "Accessibility Uncovered".
Happy weekend!