The certificate prepares individuals to support students with disabilities who are enrolled in institutions of higher education. This certificate will prepare graduates to “understand the complexities of the human experience” by providing them with the knowledge and experiences that promote a deeper understanding of disabilities and the range of resources and strategies designed to promote equity, access, and inclusion.The certificate provides targeted instruction from experts in the field of higher education and disability. Disability resource specialists play a vital role in promoting equal access and ensuring reasonable accommodations are provided to individuals with disabilities so that they can fully participate in postsecondary education. 

 

Required Coursework

Legal Foundations for Disability Resource SpecialistsProvide a comprehensive introduction to postsecondary student disability law, including the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Fair Housing Act. The class will provide students with a series of comprehensive frameworks, “analytical paradigms,” and procedural tools for addressing the broad range of questions and situations they are likely to encounter. (3 credits)Management of a Disability Resource OfficeThis course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the essential tasks and methods for managing and administering a disability resources program. The course will cover all aspects of the self-identification, eligibility, and accommodation determination process. It will also cover processes for faculty notification and implementation of accommodations as well as exam administration, alternative format production, and other essential program responsibilities. (3 credits)Disability Studies: Interdisciplinary PerspectivesThis course will situate disability along with other community and identity experiences. It will relate to professional practice by exploring how our positions may impact building authentic relationships with disabled students and how they may represent disability to campus audiences. It will explore how these dynamics impact contemporary and professional concepts of disability. Borrowing from disability studies and disability history, this course will look at how disability is currently framed in society, explore conscious and unconscious biases about disability, and consider how these ideas may shape our personal and professional ideas. (3 credits)PracticumApplication of theory, skills, and knowledge of disability resource office leaders, implemented in direct public or private human service settings. (3 credits) 

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