ERIC Number: EJ1026885
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Transforming Barriers into Bridges: The Benefits of a Student-Driven Accessibility Planning Committee. Practice Brief
Cragg, Stephanie J.; Carter, Irene; Nikolova, Kristina
Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, v26 n3 p273-277 Fall 2013
The School of Social Work and Disability Studies Accessibility Planning Committee (APC) is a student-driven initiative that has been in existence for over 10 years. This practice brief looked at the committee through interviews with faculty and student members. The investigation aimed to determine whether the benefits of having a student-driven committee outweighed the challenges for the students, the faculty, the university, and the wider community. Outcomes indicate that student-driven committees, though faced with issues of recruitment, low membership, and reduced retention, also provide students with leadership and citizenship skills, promote dissemination of accessibility issues on campus, encourage personal growth, and serve as a tool for the consolidation of material learned in class to applications in the non-academic world. These outcomes indicate that continued support of student-driven committees on campuses has the potential of benefiting not only students, but also the university and the wider community.
Descriptors: Social Work, Barriers, Disabilities, Interviews, Teacher Attitudes, Participative Decision Making, Committees, Leadership Training, Citizenship, Accessibility (for Disabled), Individual Development, Student Leadership, Consciousness Raising, Social Bias, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Counselor Training, Foreign Countries, Partnerships in Education, Campuses
Association on Higher Education and Disability. 107 Commerce Center Drive Suite 204, Huntersville, NC 28078. Tel: 704-947-7779; Fax: 704-948-7779; e-mail: ahead@ahead.org; Web site: http://www.ahead.org/publications/jped
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
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Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A