As of June 2013 the Disability Services Office (DSO) has changed its name to Student Accessibility Services (SAS).
The Director of the Student Wellness Centre, Stewart Engelberg, tells Arthur that “the main factor involved [in the decision was] the notion of stigma reduction.”
The name change does not reflect any sort of change in the approach or philosophy of the department, but represents “an additional step in the movement toward Universal Instructional Design — removing all barriers and being truly inclusive.”
He commented further that “the Social Model of Disability adopted by the World Health Organization notes that a disability exists only by virtue of barriers (access and attitudes). Remove the barriers and the disability is no longer disabling. The issue is one of access not disability.”
This move makes Trent one of many universities in North America who have recently decided to change the name of their Disability Services departments. Eight other public universities in Ontario now have names focusing on accessibility, and three (including Trent) are using SAS.
Engelberg called these names “more empowering.”
At least 30 institutions have maintained a name focusing on disability, though Engelberg says they too may be in a process of transition.
The Brown Daily Herald of Brown University reports that their SAS department found that the old name was also off-putting, and implied that only students with serious disabilities were eligible for service.
However, “disability” is a legal term in Canada, so any DSO department wishing to change its name must be careful to remain consistent with legislation.
Engelberg tells Arthur that “the legal notion of the term is still a response to the barriers that are in place and we still require documentation which supports the diagnosis in order to receive accommodations.”
According to the SAS website, “documentation must come from an accredited diagnosing health professional experienced in the field of the student’s disability.”
SAS at Trent is integrated under the Student Wellness Centre along with Health Services and the Counselling Centre, which makes updated documentation and inter-departmental referrals easier to get.
SAS also coordinates assessments for students without up-to-date documentation for their learning disabilities or ADHD so that they can gain access to services.
During Introductory Seminar Week (ISW), SAS is putting on a few events to orient students who are new to their services.
On September 3 from 12-2pm, there will be a Pizza Lunch for new students who are deaf or hard of hearing. On September 4 from 12-2pm, they will hold a pizza lunch for students new to SAS.
The office remains open throughout the summer, and students can find SAS at the Student Wellness Centre booth at all New Student Orientation days this summer. The remaining two will take place on July 13 and August 24.
You can also connect with SAS via Twitter and Facebook.
Staff of SAS pictured below.
