With the increased funding made available by California Assembly Bill 1725, community college faculty members have the opportunity to inform themselves and make changes in policy regarding the disabled. The disabled are often overlooked as a special interest or underrepresented group in affirmative action plans. Individuals involved with the disabled can play critical roles in assisting local academic senates to make their schools aware of the need to recruit and hire the disabled. These specialists can help the senates by pointing out the poor representation of the disabled among faculty, staff, and administrators, and by influencing local policy development and hiring decisions. They should also serve on affirmative action committees as representatives, in order to further sensitize the campus community to the needs of the disabled. Districts and local senates should work together to review district affirmative action plans. Because our culture places extreme value on physical perfection, the disabled face formidable obstacles in becoming part of the community. Within the collegiate setting, these harmful perceptions can be changed. This legislation's focus on staff and faculty development will facilitate modifications in the curriculum and the teaching-learning environment in order to encourage greater recognition of and sensitivity toward the disabled. (WJT)