July is Disability Pride Month, which is a time to honor the identity, experiences, and contributions of people with disabilities—and to reaffirm the commitment to inclusion across all areas of society. At the University of Houston–Downtown (UHD), that commitment is embedded in the work of the Accessible Education Center, where staff focus on helping students with disabilities through access, support, and advocacy.
“We want to make sure that we are leveling the playing field for individuals who may have a disability,” explained Dr. Hope Pamplin, the Accessible Education Center Director, “Our goal is to ensure that students have equal access to the curriculum.”
That access begins with students filling out an online intake form to formally kick off the process to receive accommodations through the Center. From there, staffers work with students individually to coordinate classroom support and prepare them for life outside of the University. “Sometimes students don’t know what they need, because they’ve never had to ask,” said Dr. Pamplin. “I’m here to advocate for you, but I’m also going to teach you to advocate for yourself. . . . I’m going to give you the fish, but I’m also going to teach you how to fish.”
Regardless of where a student is on their journey in learning to live with their disability, the Center can likely help in some capacity through the office’s partnerships across campus. That includes collaborating with UHD Police to create emergency safety plans for students susceptible to medical events like seizures, referring students to mental health counseling, and helping students, with or without insurance, connect with free or low-cost diagnostic services.
UHD’s staff has worked hard to create resources that minimize the barrier to aid for students, but some may feel reluctant to seek help out of fear of being labeled or misunderstood. The Center is supported through several law—most prominently the Americans with Disabilities Act—that require total confidentiality when it comes to diagnoses. Neither professors nor staff members in any of the other student support services on campus will have access to students' diagnosis or records. Information shared with the office is confidential.
When asked about how members of the UHD community can do their part to make campus a more inclusive space, Dr. Pamplin advocated for a culture of care. “For staff, for faculty, that means I care about the fact that I didn't see you [in class] the other day. Are you OK?” It’s important to ask questions. People want to be seen and know that they are valued.
Pamplin iterates, “When you lead with love and when you care about people and you create a culture of care, it's infectious. It changes the work environment, it changes the academic environment, and it makes a difference in how students learn.”