Summer 2023 Update

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at UC San Diego works with students with documented disabilities to determine reasonable accommodations and with departments and programs to provide access.

1. Purpose and Mission: The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) will work with the Office of Operational Strategic Initiatives (OSI) to update its mission and purpose and to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to comment before its final adoption.
2. Accommodations Process: In alignment with AHEAD's guidance on documentation and practices, OSD will continue to refine its processes for determining accommodations.
   1. OSD is working to develop streamlined and simplified procedures for students with accommodations that will not change.
   2. The OSD will continue to provide provisional accommodations for a quarter for students who are newly diagnosed.
   3. OSD will continue to emphasize student self-reports during the initial interactive process meeting and in follow up appointments with students in alignment with AHEAD's guidance on documentation practices.
   4. OSD is working with Information Technology Services (ITS) to update the OSD student portal so that, when appropriate, eligible students may receive accommodations each quarter through a streamlined process.
   5. Most accommodation requests are determined by an individual specialist or in partnership with a second disability specialist; more complex cases will continue to be shared and discussed by the entire disability specialist team.
3. Services for Graduate and Health Science Students
   1. As stated previously, a separate review is being conducted for Health Science programs.
   2. The OSD and Disability Counseling and Consulting (DCC) are working on ways to streamline communications between units to provide a better experience for graduate students who need accommodations in their role as an employee.
4. Test Accommodations
   1. The campus has created the Triton Testing Center Pilot Program during Winter 2021 and a proposal for a permanent testing center has been submitted.
5. OSD Staffing and Organizational Structure
   1. Two full-time positions, one for an Assistant Director and a Disability Specialist 3, were approved for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. The OSD and Human Resources are actively recruiting and hiring for these positions.
6. OSD Language and Communication
   1. The OSD will continue to revise language on its forms, reminder email templates, and website to make the process clear and user-friendly.
   2. Additional resources will be added to the OSD website to assist faculty and staff in working with students with disabilities.

Disability Counseling and Consulting (DCC) is the division of Human Resources responsible for providing disability management and job accommodation consultation services to UC San Diego faculty and staff who have a medical condition (physical or mental) that interferes with their ability to work or return to work.

7. The DCC is exploring creative funding models for accommodations that would enhance the graduate student experience.
8. 8. The DCC will review how information is shared with faculty and staff and update communication processes as necessary, including grievance processes.

9. ADA Coordinator
   1. Campus will explore the feasibility of creating a full-time ADA Coordinator position. This responsibility is currently embedded in the DCC Director’s role.
10. Physical Access
    1. Physical access barriers can be reported to Facilities Management by calling (858) 534-2930 for urgent issues and by submitting a ticket through Maximo for non-urgent issue.
    2. The campus will determine if the ADA Title II Committee should be charged with identifying and addressing barriers.
    3. Re-examine and re-prioritize current list of areas on campus that need attention
    4. A Committee on Universal Seating comprised of students and staff has been created and convened to look at modifications to furniture in classrooms to provide universal access to all individuals who utilize classroom spaces. John Hughes, AVC-Student Affairs, chairs the committee.
11. Electronic Accessibility
    1. The Website Standards Committee was formed in 2023 and is working on several initiatives including information on website accessibility. A process and online form is being created to allow campus to identify websites and other digital environments that need to be modified to improve accessibility.
12. Campus Climate is being addressed through our Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence.