Two months after receiving approval from senior management, the university is moving forward with developing a strategic plan to address disability access management for the campus. On March 12, six teams, composed of some 35 faculty, staff and students from across campus, met to begin developing the strategic plan. They are focusing on the areas of physical access, educational programs and services, communication, employment, technology and emergency planning.

The groups discussed such possible actions as configuring lecture halls with FM sound systems, continuing to develop maps to highlight accessible pathways, improving parking, doors and restrooms; developing recruitment strategies for individuals with disabilities; and developing training for staff, faculty and students.

In creating a common vision for the future, the teams suggested establishing a universally designed environment, including open spaces; a culture of accessibility that becomes second nature to the community; expectations around accessibility, accountability and education; and making Cornell the leader in disability-access issues for its peer institutions.

"This project involves so many different areas of campus, addressing all types of accessibility issues on a large scale," said Barbara Friedman, instructional technology consultant in Academic Technology Support and User Services, and a member of the disability access management technology team. "The March meeting showed us how we can all work together, using our great variety of interests and talents, toward a unified vision of access for all. It's wonderful that so many people are committed to this goal."

The March strategic planning retreat, facilitated by Chet Warzynski, director of Organizational Development Services, was led by Katherine "Kappy" Fahey, director of Student Disability Services, and Andrea Haenlin-Mott, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator for facility services, who, along with Lynette Chappell-Williams, director of the Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity and Life Quality, comprise the university's ADA Coordinator Team.

Elizabeth Woo, a history/government student who participated in the discussions and a member of the Cornell Union for Disability Awareness, said that seeing the groups move from the strategic plan framework toward concrete actions was motivation to help the teams continue to move forward.

The action plans correspond to the six priority areas outlined in the framework:

1. The physical campus: To evaluate and prioritize paths of travel, accessible restrooms and elevators, signage, building renovations, transportation and accessible academic program space and developing a consistent approach to physical accessibility.

2. Education programs and services: To analyze current procedures for disability accommodations for all participants of educational programs and examine policies and practices to ensure nondiscrimination.

3. Communication: To review the various methods of communication to ensure equal access for the Cornell community and visitors and to develop tools for communicating about disability access on campus.

4. Employment: To ensure that information on the process for requesting disability services and employment accommodations is widely disseminated.

5. Technology: To take advantage of information technology tools in communication and multimedia devices.

6. Emergency planning: To continue emergency preparedness planning and education for faculty, staff, students and visitors with disabilities.