MaryKate Carter
The Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities hosted an open house for MSU employees from the Student Affairs and Services Division on May 8, 2012 to showcase the services they provide to students.
About 20 participants, representing departments from the MSU Counseling Center, to Recreational Sports and Fitness Services viewed an informational presentation from RCPD Director Michael Hudson, took a tour of the office in 120 Bessey Hall, tried out assistive technologies and experienced disability and accommodation simulations.
Michael Hudson shared the mission of the RCPD, which is to lead MSU in maximizing ability and opportunity for full participation by persons with disabilities. Hudson also emphasized the importance of person-first language and positive imagery in order to empower and respect individuals with disabilities.
For example, the RCPD encourages saying, "a person who is deaf," instead of, "a deaf person." The person-first version recognizes the individual as a fully capable person who just happens to be deaf, instead of simply labeling them with a disability or implying stereotypes.
The RCPD demonstrated how they accomplish these inclusive objectives by designating some guests to wear earplugs or blindfolds to simulate experiences as a student who is hard of hearing or blind and accommodating them accordingly. The participants who were "hard of hearing" were paired with a real-time captioner, who transcribed Michael's speech and audience questions or comments on a laptop for the individual to read.
Real-Time Captioner Denise Hartman transcribes the presentation for Linda Trevarthen of the MSU Counseling Center.
The group then toured the RCPD to learn about services offered there. Participants visited an alternative testing room, which is equipped with a camera for monitoring and a micro lab for students who need tests in Braille, large text or audio format.
RCPD staff also highlighted many of the assistive electronics available in RCPD's technology room. Visitors explored an interactive biology eBook on an iPad, which demonstrates how electronic texts enhance learning with screen readers and additional instructional videos.
Later in the afternoon, guests learned the basics of reading Braille and used this new knowledge to identify soda can labels while blindfolded. They also learned to navigate a wheelchair through both automatic and non-automatic doors.
Open House guests Angela, Deanna, Bre, and Olivia learn the Braille alphabet.
No disability experience is the same, but employees in the Student Affairs and Services Division now have a better understanding of the accommodations the RCPD provides. These individuals will confidently refer students and employees to the RCPD, knowing their needs will be met in a way that maximizes ability and opportunity for the most inclusive campus experience possible.