What challenges can a disability/accessibility services office in post-secondary education face?

Abstract

This study is a Qualitative Case Study on Disability/Accessibility Office in a BC post-secondary institution. The study has explored the Disability Access Services Office and the impressions of support provided through the eyes of the professors and the disability access services staff at the Campus. The methodology used is Qualitative case study and data has been collected through one on one unstructured interviews. Voice recording and short note taking went on during the interviews. Examples of some of the important study findings are: office staffing, an increase in the numbers of students in post-secondary education institution needing services from the disability access services office, departmental teamwork, communicating information and services, useful information and gaps with the intended audience and challenges of accommodating a student in class. In conclusion, access to post-secondary education is important to all individuals of all abilities, with different individual academic and professional goals. This office is important as it supports learners with a special need in education in post-secondary level. The office experiences both success and challenges which the study discusses. The Disability Access Services Office provides a clear example of both how an education institution can respond to increasing and identified students’ needs to facilitate success and new knowledge and learning that would benefit the broader university community in extending these services into classrooms.