Despite the number of students accessing support, those working in Disability Services suspect there’s a significant number entitled to accommodations that aren’t registering with them. In the past couple of years, they’ve publicized their department’s work much more visibly on campus, which is having a positive effect on registration.
They’ve also expanded their range of tools, accounting for more and more barriers that students might be facing. Screen-readers, smart-pens, note-taking software, anxiety reducers, 1-1 support and responsive classroom arrangements are all now part of Disability Services’ inventory. It means that it’s much more likely for students to get the support that they need to engage fully in class and with their course.
Retention rates are steadily climbing (now above the national average), and reliance on traditional forms of support such as peer notetakers is easing. The reduction in admin burden this has created allows for more direct contact with students.