Upcoming Disability Related Webinars Open to Regis Community

Student Disability Services and University Testing is excited to share the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) spring 2022 webinar series with the Regis community. Feel free to join live using the ID and password. A recorded link will also be available following the live session.

From Burnout to Demoralization: The Perfect Storm That is Raining Resignation

Wednesday, February 23, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern/11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pacific

Zoom webinar ID#: 834 5382 2880

Passcode: CksyCDHp3g

Presented by: Margaret Camp, Clemson University

Almost 2 years into a global pandemic, we are burned out on the term 'burnout' it doesn't accurately capture the stark erosion of morale in our profession. A perfect storm of turbulence factors have us swirling: a widening gap in college readiness and resilience skills for students coming from high school; increasingly demanding parents and complicated, customized accommodation requests; rising costs and the consumerization of 'the college experience'; understaffed and under-resourced offices trying to do more with less as we pivot and flex — all set against a backdrop of political unrest, social discord, and a high-anxiety pandemic that drove us to shared isolation. By “claiming our crisis” and more accurately naming our response — demoralization — we will explore how we can wield new tools to restore some balance and satisfaction back to the important work we do.

Learning from Each Other: Developing an Effective Peer Mentoring Program for Students with Disabilities to Facilitate Access and Community

Thursday, March 3, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern/11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.  Pacific

Zoom webinar ID#: 834 0288 1871

Passcode: fDrjQj6zXg

Presented by:

• Jennifer Biggers, University of California, Riverside
• Ryan McCombs, Purdue University

To navigate college independently and successfully, students with disabilities need to hone their skills to navigate what can sometimes be an inaccessible or non-inclusive environment. Peer Mentor Programs at Purdue University and the University of California, Riverside are examples of programming initiatives designed to support a student’s transition to college. Participants will learn how to establish an enriching peer mentoring program for students with disabilities and have the opportunity to learn strategies for recruitment, training, leadership development, and data collection.

Trauma-Informed Teaching Strategies

Tuesday, March 8, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern/11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pacific

Zoom webinar ID#: 821 7538 1866

Passcode: vPpzjBf7SA

Presented by: 

• Lisa Noshay Petro, UC Hastings School of Law
• Annie Rosenthal, UC Hastings School of Law

Sexual violence, police brutality, child abuse and all manner of civil rights issues are common topics of conversation in higher education classes. For faculty, it can be challenging to navigate class discussions around these topics with the knowledge that students in the room may have a trauma background. Impacted students can have difficulties focusing on material and engaging in classroom discussions, making it essential to educate campus communities, especially instructors, on the prevalence of trauma, its impact on brain functioning, and ways to best support students who are at risk of re-traumatization. This train-the-trainer session will provide an overview of trauma and tips on how to support your campus in implementing trauma-informed teaching.

Using A Universal Design Framework to Underpin DEI Initiatives That Address Issues Related to Students with Disabilities

Wednesday, March 9, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern/11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pacific

Zoom webinar ID#: 834 1065 2870

Passcode: e8HvoCuuHA

Presented by: Sheryl Burgstahler, DO-IT Center, University of Washington

Is disability a diversity category addressed in your campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives? Attend this webinar to consider how to promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities as a marginalized group within DEI initiatives and to design DEI activities designed for another marginalized group to be accessible and inclusive of its members who also have disabilities. A Universal Design Framework, DEI implementation model, and resources for guiding a DEI initiative on any campus will be shared.

Designing the Digital Accessibility Gateway: Using Data to Create Sustainability and Culture

Thursday, March 17th, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern/11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pacific

Zoom webinar ID#: 895 0961 8958

Passcode: ivYTEU8BuA

Presented by:

• Jessica Guess, University of Cincinnati
• Jermaine Fields, University of Cincinnati
• Heidi Pettyjohn, University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati has devoted considerable resources to support improving our digital accessibility, included finding ways to collect and share data about accessibility and provide opportunities for various academic and business units to create action plans directly related to improving electronic accessibility. This led to the development of a collaborative tool called the Digital Accessibility Gateway. This tool provides tiered access, allowing administration and leadership to access a dashboard and drill down for specific information about units under their purview. We included four modules: academic, web, 3rd party, and training. This tool was developed internally. Hear from a developer about the logistics of creating the tool and from our data collection expert why this is an important part of our commitment to accessibility.

Emotional Support Animals in Housing, Classrooms, Dining Facilities, Testing Spaces, and More

Monday, March 21th, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern/11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pacific

Zoom webinar ID#: 818 1361 3349

Passcode: w4rlekDOyQ

Presented by: Scott Lissner, The Ohio State University

Students are requesting to bring Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) to campus more and more often. The appropriate response to those requests can be unclear, given the multiple federal laws (and sometimes state laws) that come into play regarding ESAs. In this webinar, Scott will distinguish service animals from ESAs, describe the legal obligations imposed by the Fair Housing Act, Section 504, and the ADA, then discuss how schools should assess ESA requests in all its types of campus spaces. Plenty of time will be set aside for Q&A.

Practical Application of the AHEAD Guidance on Disability Documentation Practices, a Presentation and Panel Discussion

Thursday, March 24th, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern/11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Pacific

Zoom webinar ID#: 898 6650 8906

Passcode: t2FVhW70vg

Presented by:  

• Adam Meyer, University of Central Florida
• William Eidtson, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
• Daniel Jordan, Gwynedd Mercy University
• Maria Schiano, County College of Morris
• Melanie Thornton, Partners for Inclusive Communities, University of Arkansas

Since its launch in 2012, the AHEAD Guidance on Documentation Practices encouraged discussion and reconsideration of the role of third-party documentation in the higher education disability accommodation process. Since then, many schools have wondered how to actually apply the guidance to make updates to office protocol. Through presentation, followed by a panel discussion, this webinar will revisit the guidance and offer practical information on how the suggested documentation practices can be applied in your disability office. Panelists with various office policies regarding documentation will explore what the guidance does--and does not--say in terms of utilizing the student narrative, professional judgment, and third-party information. Students’ need for disability documentation when applying to take professional licensing exams or graduate school entrance exams will also be addressed. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions during this 2-hour session.

Implementation Strategies for the New AHEAD Code of Ethics

Thursday, April 28th, 3 PM-4:30 p.m. Eastern/noon-1:30 p.m. Pacific

Zoom webinar ID#: 823 6055 5494

Passcode: g7D1-U36ng

Presented by: 

• Adam Lalor, Landmark College
• Lyman Dukes, University of South Florida
• Lourdes Quiñones, University of South Florida
• Amanda Kraus, University of Arizona

Professional ethics are critical for postsecondary disability services. As such, the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) released the revised AHEAD Code of Ethics in September 2021. But how do AHEAD members take this foundational document and translate it into practice in disability resource offices and disability-related research? This webinar will offer concrete strategies for implementing the AHEAD Code of Ethics in office procedures, the interactive process, program delivery, research/assessment design, and more. Opportunities to offer ideas for potential uses of the Code will be offered to attendees.