Virginia Tech Services for Students with Disabilities

12/11/2023

Does your student have current disability accommodations with Virginia Tech Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)? Encourage them to join the peer mentor program! 🧡

This unique program is designed to help students who experience unique barriers due to their disability by pairing them with a mentor to aid in the transition to social life on campus.

Fill out the quick and easy application to be considered for Spring 2024 ➡️ https://forms.office.com/r/P0GpiCd3an

03/28/2023

You're invited to the 2023 Excellence in Access and Inclusion Awards. The awards celebration will take place on Tuesday, April 11th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM in the Graduate Life Center. Attendees may also join via Zoom.

We are excited that Jay Dolmage will be our keynote speaker. Jay Dolmage, Professor and Chair of English at the University of Waterloo, is committed to disability rights in his service and teaching. His book Academic Ableism: Disability and Higher Education, examines the roots and branches of eugenics in North American higher education by looking at campus accommodation processes, architecture and even popular films about college life. In his book, Dolmage argues that disability is central to higher education, and that building more inclusive schools allows better education for all.

The 2023 Excellence in Access & Inclusion Awards celebration recognizes faculty, staff, students, teams, and departments who have shown exceptional leadership in access and inclusion. Nominees have influenced campus structure in ways that allows disabled students to demonstrate their full potential at Virginia Tech. More information about the awards is available on the SSD Website:

Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) annually hosts the Excellence in Access & Inclusion Awards reception to recognize faculty, staff, students, teams, and departments for contributing to an inclusive and accessible environment at Virginia Tech.

09/23/2022

Students with Disabilities: Apply for Internships and Jobs through the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)!

Are you interested in a government internship or a long-term job after you graduate? If so, SSD would like to tell you about a great opportunity for Virginia Tech students with disabilities!

SSD is hosting an Information Session on Monday, September 26th at 6:00 PM on Zoom. This information session will highlight the WRP and upcoming deadlines. There will also be time for you to ask questions and complete the registration.

Contact [email protected] to register for the Zoom meeting.

05/27/2022

Tip 5: Check for Accessibility: Virginia Tech has numerous accessibility checkers available. One tool is Ally built-in to Canvas. This tool lets students download documents in an and helps instructors improve the of the course material.

https://tinyurl.com/gaad22-tip5



[Image Description: Written in maroon lettering, disability truths in higher education and other helpful tips, inside a circle with quotation marks above the lettering. ssd.vt.edu is at the bottom.]

05/26/2022

Myth 4: Accommodations are retroactive. FALSE! Accommodations only work forward in time. New accommodations do not apply to the past.

https://tinyurl.com/gaad22-myth4



[Image Description: An infographic that reads "Did you know?" Mythbusters and Frequently asked questions about SSD. Below the wording is a cartoon-style female looking at camera.]

05/25/2022

Tip 3: Like headings, distinguishing links from other text on a page makes content easier to read. Screen readers and other assistive technologies allow users to browse a website by links only. Join the Keep C.A.L.M and Use Meaningful Links campaign https://tinyurl.com/gaad22-tip3

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[Image Description: Written in maroon lettering, disability truths in higher education and other helpful tips, inside a circle with quotation marks above the lettering. ssd.vt.edu is at the bottom.]

05/24/2022

Myth 3: There are few disabled students at . FALSE! About 7% of students register with our office. That's only a fraction of estimated 1 in 4 people who have a

https://tinyurl.com/gaad22-myth3



[Image Description: An infographic that reads "Did you know?" Mythbusters and Frequently asked questions about SSD. Below the wording is a cartoon-style female looking at camera.]

05/23/2022

Tip Number 2: Plain Language: Content written in plain language can ensure that users can quickly understand and act on your content. It might even reduce those frequently asked questions about your syllabus. Check your language with Hemingway App https://hemingwayapp.com/

[Image Description: Written in maroon lettering, disability truths in higher education and other helpful tips, inside a circle with quotation marks above the lettering. ssd.vt.edu is at the bottom.]

05/22/2022

Myth Number 2: SSD only supports learning disabilities. FALSE! We work with all disabilities. Hidden (chronic health), visible (mobility), and emergent (broken bones). We determine accommodations by considering the disability and its limitations.

https://tinyurl.com/gaad22-myth2



[Image Description: An infographic that reads "Did you know?" Mythbusters and Frequently asked questions about SSD. Below the wording is a cartoon-style female looking at camera.]

05/21/2022

Tip Number 1: Use headings instead of large or bold text to break content into small sections. This gives your content structure making it easier to read and easier for assistive technology like screen readers that navigate.

https://tinyurl.com/gaad22-tip1



[Image Description: Written in maroon lettering, disability truths in higher education and other helpful tips, inside a circle with quotation marks above the lettering. ssd.vt.edu is at the bottom.]

05/20/2022

Myth Number 1: Accommodations are an advantage. FALSE! Accommodations are more like eyeglasses -- a custom solution for one individual. And It's something many people need.

https://tinyurl.com/gaad22-myth1



[Image Description: An infographic that reads "Did you know?" Mythbusters and Frequently asked questions about SSD. Below the wording is a cartoon-style female looking at camera.]

05/19/2022

This year's Global Accessibility Awareness Day is May 19 and we'd like to bust some myths and bring you some tips to save you time and energy. Become an today by keep a look out for M1-M5 myths and T1-T5 tips for the next 10 days.