10 Ways to Make UW-Madison More Disability Friendly

10. Update buildings on campus that do not comply with ADA standards

The original Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) was published in 1991 and has incorporated four supplements since (U.S. Access Board). The only buildings on campus to be built after this time are the Livestock Laboratory, Grainger Hall, and the Biotechnology building (Feldman, 1997).

9. Add ramps in popular lecture halls

Many lecture halls only have stairs as a means of getting to another level of the same lecture hall, which is inaccessible to people with physical disabilities (Self Examination, 2015).

8. Provide ways for people with disabilities to give feedback

Feedback is important for knowing what is working and what is not on campus. It can help figure out a way to better serve students with differing needs (Self Examination, 2015).

7. Establish policies for faculty dealing with McBurney Center

Ruben Mota, Associate Director of the McBurney Center says that the biggest challenge he sees regarding students with disabilities is getting faculty to comply with a student’s accommodations (R. Mota, personal communication, September 26, 2018).

6. Create a budget that reflects actual needs of accommodation

In 2017, the ASM did not pass a budget increase for disability inclusions programming and there was no further allocation of money toward disability programs (ASM Internal Budget, 2015). Meanwhile, the number of students using the McBurney Disability Resource Center has doubled in recent years (R. Mota, personal communication, September 26, 2018).

5. Make technology more accessible

One example is putting on closed captioning with in-class videos, so that students who are hard of hearing are not placed at a disadvantage. Further, students with physical disabilities may be benefitted by having access to voice-controlled technology in courses where technology is mostly hands-on (Self Examination, 2015).

4. Promote resources for mental health and other

Students at UW-Madison receive free mental health services at University Health Services (Univeristy Health Services). Promotion of this service would reduce the stigma around mental illness.

3. Make people with disabilities visible on campus

People with disabilities should be visible on campus, whether their disability is visible or not, as professors, administrators, faculty, and students (Self Examination, 2015).

2. Understand that not all disabilities are visible

Ruben Mota says that one issue the McBurney Center sees is professors not believing students who have invisible disabilities, such as a mental illness or learning disability (R. Mota, personal communication, September 26, 2018).

1. Be inclusive

Everyone should be allowed the same UW-Madison experience, regardless of ability.