Update on UC San Diego's Accessibility Efforts

UC San Diego continually strives to understand issues affecting individuals with disabilities and to improve the infrastructure that serves people with disabilities. In Winter 2021, UC San Diego initiated an external review of access and inclusion for students with disabilities. Due to the pandemic, the review, which was completed by the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), was conducted virtually. It should be noted that a review of Health Sciences, including the School of Medicine and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, was conducted separately.

The purpose of this page is to provide the community with an update on the work that has been conducted in the past three years, and to provide a roadmap for the future. We will be working with Associated Students (AS), Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA), Staff Association, and Academic Senate to review and address the identified recommendations provided by AHEAD.

We acknowledge the recommendations made by AHEAD and value the opportunity to continuously improve access and inclusion for students, staff and faculty with disabilities at UC San Diego.

The following section details the current progress of campus accessibility using the AHEAD recommendations as a guide. Regular updates will be provided quarterly.

Please refer to the AHEAD Report (Word Document) for the detailed recommendations.

Summer 2024 Update

Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD)

Purpose and Mission: The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) partnered with the Office of Operational Strategic Initiatives (OSI) to update its mission and vision statements. During the Spring quarter, OSI facilitated focus groups with students, staff, and faculty to gather feedback on the draft statements. The OSD has now finalized their mission and vision statements (listed below). A special thank you to our students, staff, and faculty who provided their invaluable feedback!

Mission: The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at UC San Diego is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive community while promoting equitable access and opportunities for students with disabilities. In alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and through close collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, we coordinate tailored accommodations to meet each student’s unique needs. We are committed to advocating for accessibility, empowering students to self-advocate, and ensuring that students have equal opportunities to thrive in all aspects of campus life.

Vision: The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) envisions a universally designed, accessible, and inclusive campus that champions disability rights and addresses ableism. Through continuous education, active engagement, and open partnerships with students, faculty, and staff, we aim to create a student-centered environment where the voices and experiences of students with disabilities are valued and respected. We are committed to upholding the diversity in people and perspectives, as outlined in UC San Diego’s Principles of Community, while embracing intersectionality and fostering a strong sense of community.

OSD Staffing and Organizational Structure:

The OSD has recently hired two Disability Specialist 3 to join the team and support our UCSD students.

Disability Counseling and Consulting (DCC)

DCC Staffing and Organizational Structure:

Elaine Garrido is serving as the Director, Disability Services for DCC.

Campus Accessibility: Facilities, Technology, Culture

Digital Accessibility:

Our Library Website is now fully compliant with the University of California Information Technology Accessibility Policy!

Under the dedicated and meticulous leadership of Jenn Dandle, our web manager, we resolved 41K+ occurrences of 43 distinct accessibility issues across 370 pages of web content. Thank you Jenn for your tireless advocacy for accessibility, commitment to inclusivity, and outstanding leadership!

Many thanks go out to everyone who contributed to this important milestone across the Library, with special shoutouts to the TDX Student Design Team, the Website Committee, Chris Lopez, Tamara Rhodes, Jean Su, David Trujillo, Doug Worsham and campus partners Jimmy Cong and Jessica Hutchinson. Your efforts have made our digital library more accessible and user-friendly for our entire community!

The University of California Systemwide Advisory Workgroup on Students with Disabilities

In Winter 2024, the report and recommendations from the University of California Systemwide Advisory Workgroup on Students with Disabilities was shared. The AHEAD Steering Committee continues to review the report and determine an approach for prioritizing recommendations in collaboration with campus constituents. Ongoing quarterly updates will be shared on this page.

This page is updated as of October 14, 2024

If you have any comments related to this report, they may be submitted on the comment form.