From Policy to Practice: How Oglethorpe University is Strengthening Accessibility

For decades, students with disabilities faced barriers in higher education, ranging from difficulties in accessing accommodation services to the challenges of navigating non-accessible campuses. While federal laws like Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) have paved the way for more inclusive college experiences, the reality on individual campuses continues to evolve. Yet, at Oglethorpe University, new leadership and structural changes aim to create a more student-centered approach and expand accessibility services. 

 Accessibility Services at Oglethorpe University offer accommodations and support for students with disabilities, like note-taking services, course substitutions, and specific needs to ensure disability does not hinder learning. As of the fall of 2024, a new Accessibility Services Coordinator took on the position at Oglethorpe University: Anthony LaPorte.

The National Center for Education Statistics showed that in 2020, 21 percent of undergraduate students reported having a disability. For Oglethorpe, Director of Admission Operations Caitlin Douglas said, “The number of students actively registered with Accessibility Services as of our fall Census data is about 9 percent.” Douglas reported in the fall of 2024 21 percent of students registered with Accessibility Services but did not request accommodations for the fall.

LaPorte expressed that he came into the position with a plan to create "a well-oiled machine." LaPorte noted three primary goals for the future of Accessibility Services at Oglethorpe University: expanding resources, continuing to educate faculty, and tackling obstacles headfirst. A more collaborative and organized system between Accessibility Services and Student Success allowed LaPorte to implement his goals seamlessly and build a stronger foundation for the office. 

In the fall of 2023, Vice President for Student Affairs Meredith Raimondo initiated a change in the reporting lines for Accessibility Services to help the office “run in a more student-centered way,” she said. Accessibility Services now reports to Student Success, whereas previously, they reported to Student Affairs. Senior Director of Student Success Vivian Medrano said, “It is definitely a bit more centralized and collaborative now.” These structural changes laid the groundwork for further advancements, including implementing new technology and resources to improve the student experience.

LaPorte hoped to establish a new administrative software that would create easier systems to meet the needs of students and foster more effective communication between faculty. According to LaPorte, Oglethorpe University purchased new software that “will be implemented in the fall of 2025." The latest software will automatically manage previously manual processes, allowing LaPorte more time to work with students face-to-face. 

Creating an established testing center was another of LaPorte's primary goals. Before the fall of 2024, Oglethorpe University had no established testing center location where students with accommodations could sit their exams. Medrano said, “A large stressor was having to coordinate testing accommodations among different rooms.” Now that Accessibility Services and Student Success work together in the same building, they were able to establish a centralized testing center. A student with experience in using the testing center, Asante Allwood, said, “It was easy. I requested the time and class, and they handled the rest of it.” 

Establishing the testing center and purchasing updated software are current improvements within Accessibility Services, but LaPorte, Medrano, and Raimondo hope to continue creating a more accessible campus for all students. Some of Accessibility Services' long-term goals are to revive and improve faculty training, make more accessible course formats, and work toward a more physically accommodating campus.  

Currently, university faculty undergo disability-focused training, but according to Raimondo and LaPorte, there are plans to expand these training resources. A significant factor in creating a more accessible campus for all students is ensuring accessible coursework. One solution Raimondo suggested is Universal Design (UD). According to Raimondo, the goal of UD is to design classes accessible to all from the beginning, eliminating the need to adjust classes to student-specific accommodations. Raimondo also noted that professors she has spoken with are interested in UD and hope to begin designing courses shortly. 

LaPorte and Raimondo noted a long-term goal of making Oglethorpe University 100 percent physically accommodating. Right now, Raimondo estimated that about 85 percent of the campus is accessible to all students, but she plans to continue working alongside Residence Life and the university to increase that number. 

Overall, accessibility on college campuses continues to grow as a topic of conversation nationwide. As shown by recent changes in leadership and plans for improvement, Oglethorpe supports student needs and continuously pushes for accessibility across its campus. “Accessibility is a question of fundamental fairness around student success," Raimondo said, emphasizing the importance of accessibility on college campuses. With ongoing improvements and a commitment to accessibility, Oglethorpe University is working toward a future where every student has the tools to succeed.