DiSC Resources to Share

Accessible Communications

• Preview the Accessible Communications Presentation
• Download the PowerPoint on Presentation Accessibility
• Download the PowerPoint on Making Documents Accessible

Disability Resources and Services (DRS) is responsible for providing disability accommodation for registered students with disabilities. To register, students must provide documentation of their disabilities, and counselors work to identify needed accommodations that will help students succeed. DRS provides accommodations as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. In some cases, university students choose not to register with DRS, though they may qualify for for accommodations. Reasons for this vary, and include not having money to obtain needed documentation, a desire to keep medical information private, and/0r failure to understand how to register.

The Counseling Center provides reduced-cost testing for disabilities. CU Denver’s Psychology Clinic, run through the Clinical Health Psychology Ph.D. Program, provides a similar service to students. These are great resources for students who are newly diagnosed or need updated documentation.

CU Denver has two resources for mental health support for students. The Counseling Center provides counseling and support groups, all free of charge to students (and a sliding scale for community members). The Psychology Clinic provides similar services on a sliding scale.

The Auraria Library has an Accessibility Services website. These pages contain information about the services provided by the Auraria Library as well as contacts and resources. The Library also has two computer stations which are equipped with Adaptive Technology hardware and software which includes JAWS, Read & Write Gold, a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard, and an ergonomic trackball/mouse on an adjustable workstation table. The stations are located on the first floor of the library near room 116. There is also a videophone available for those who need the assistance of a sign language interpreter when making a call.

Auraria Parking and Transportation Services provides a campus map that highlights disability features, including disabled parking spaces, accessible building entrances, accessible/unisex restrooms, van-accessible parking and loading zones, assistance dog relief areas, and stops for RTD Access-a-Ride. The Campus Handivan is an accessible escort service available to parking customers with disabilities. The service is available (during semesters) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. Call (303) 556-2001 to schedule a ride (accessible email address not available).

Auraria is private property and does not observe the free and extended parking granted in Denver for those displaying disability placards.

• The Neglected Demographic: Faculty Members With Disabilities (Chronicle of Higher Education)
• Faculty Members, Accom­modation, and Access in Higher Education (Profession)
• Access in the Academy: Accommodating Faculty Members with Disabilities Can Help Everyone (AAUP)
• On Faculty and Mental Illness (Chronicle of Higher Education)
• Accommodations and Academia (Chronicle Vitae)
• Disability and Hiring: Guidelines for Departmental Search Committees (Modern Language Association)
• Statement of Best Practices in Faculty Hiring for Tenure-Track and Non-Tenure-Track Positions (Conference on College Composition and Communication)
• Advice on Hiring Faculty Members with Disabilities (Inside Higher Ed)