Committee Charge
UW System policy Nondiscrimination on Basis of Disability (RPD 14-10) states that the committee shall “provide information and recommendations [to the President of the UW System] relating to individuals with disabilities.” The committee is charged with providing recommendations in three major areas:
- Policy and guideline implementation;
- Procedures for periodic reporting of data regarding disabilities; and
- Disability related issues raised by UW System Administration, universities, or units.
The committee has been involved in promoting many issues to provide a supportive environment for students with disabilities, but over the past two years, it has promoted access to Assistive Technology and the implementation of a Universal Design in Higher Education grant from the Department of Education. The goal of this project is that all UW universities will advocate to:
- Develop policies and procedures that support universal design.
- Plan on all levels to consider universal design principles.
- Identify and support architectural, informational, and curricular experts on each campus to serve as resources in these areas.
Meetings
Meetings occur in the fall and the spring. Both meetings have historically been held face-to-face in Madison, although virtual meetings were held in Spring and Fall 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On occasion, meetings take place in conjunction with Disability Issues conferences held in Wisconsin.
Membership
The committee has 9-12 members appointed by the President of the University of Wisconsin System, two of which are students selected by student senates.
- Ruben Mota, ruben.mota@wisc.edu, ADA Coordinator, UW-Madison (Committee Co-Chair)
- Elizabeth Watson, watsone@uww.edu, Executive Director, Center for Inclusive Transition Education & Employment, UW-Whitewater (Committee Co-Chair)
- John Achter, jachter@uwsa.edu, Senior Director, Student Success and Wellbeing, Universities of Wisconsin Administration (Staff Consultant)