All Departments:

  • Overview:
    • All: Assess how they can support disabled students, improve accessibility, commit to anti-ableism, and make their work equitable to disabled members of the Emerson community. Work to hire and retain disabled staff. 
  • Point Person(s): Ruthanne Madsen, Paul Dworkis, Jan Roberts-Breslin, Social Justice Collaborative, Human Resources
  • Updates:
    • Summer 2021: Departmental and office-centered conversations across the College.

Iwasaki Library:

  • Overview: Increase access to and number of audiobooks in the library’s collection. Create a dedicated study space for disabled students that is sensory-friendly and accessible. If the space has computers, they should be fully equipped with accessibility software and features.
  • Point Person(s): Jan Roberts-Breslin, Cheryl McGrath
  • Updates:
    • Fall 2021:
      • Reading lounge offered as part of Teach In On Race, with sensory friendly space and accessible texts related to programming. 
      • Collaborating with SAS, Academic Affairs, and ITG on requesting resources for accessible PDFs for courses.  
      • Exploring institutional membership to libraries for accessible texts for people w/print based disabilities.

ECAPs/Health and Wellness Center:

  • Overview: New accessibility implementations such as sensory-friendly treatment/therapy rooms and staff fluent in ASL. Expand staffing to better serve the Emerson population, which includes disabled students. An emphasis should be placed on hiring disabled clinicians and staff members. Expand services, particularly the ability to perform at least some forms of affordable diagnostic testing that could result in easier access to accommodations. Give the ability to provide excused absences, particularly to disabled students. Improve health care at Kasteel Well.
  • Point Person(s): Jim Hoppe, Brandin Dear
  • Updates:
    • Fall 2021:
      • Contract with Mantra Health Services includes efforts to support students with disabilities. 

Equipment Distribution Center (EDC):

  • Overview: Audit accessibility services at the EDC.
  • Point Person(s): Brian Basgen, Tim MacArthur
  • Updates:
    • Fall 2021: The EDC Policies and Procedures were updated from small print booklets and online PDF files, to a new Zendesk hosted webpage. Current and future video content will be accurately captioned within Panopto or YouTube. EDC management will meet with SAS to review accessibility of the EDC facility itself and develop individualized plans for students in partnership with SAS as needed.

Writing & Academic Resource Center (WARC):

  • Overview: Create a read-aloud student employment program where students can record themselves reading papers, essays, articles, ect. for students when there is no accessible audio format available.
  • Point Person(s): Jan Roberts-Breslin
  • Updates:
    • Fall 2021: The WARC coordinates with SAS and has taken over the assignment of notetakers in class. A request has been submitted to lower part of the WARC desk to an accessible height. Push button doors have been added to the restrooms.

Information Technology:

  • Overview: Ensure all computers in labs and classrooms have accessibility features fully turned on or able to be turned on. Increase the number of accessibility devices available for reservation at the Media Services Center, such as hearing aids and noise canceling headphones. Increase awareness of Media Services Vending, particularly as an access tool for disabled students, and collaborate with SAS to meet student need.
  • Point Person(s): Brian Basgen, Molly Coombs
  • Updates: 
    • Spring 2021:
      • In alignment with Student Accessibility Services, we are currently working exploring additional assistive and hearing aid equipment options to expand the Media Services vending, event support, and classroom technology inventory. Updated the information about the Listen wireless kit to emphasize its role as assistive to hearing, rather than a replacement or to be used in lieu of personal hearing aids.
      • Purchased 5 Anker Life Q30 headphone sets this summer, with noise canceling and Bluetooth capability, and made them available for borrowing in August 2021 prior to the start of the Fall 2021 semester. 
      • All computers in labs and classrooms have accessibility features either enabled or able to be turned on, and a guide outlining how to access these settings and highlighting most commonly use is being developed, with a target publication date of mid-October.  
    • Fall 2021:
      • IT sent the annual 'Welcome Back' email to students on August 30th, specifically highlighting the Media Services Center's vending offerings and linking to the vending catalog and PatronPortal online booking portal.

Emerson College Police Department (ECPD):

  • Overview: ECPD must issue a public apology for posting in support of Autism Speaks. ECPD should make a commitment to anti-ableism training and the College should provide alternatives to policing, including resources and programs aimed to support disabled Emersonians and other marginalized Emersonians.
  • Point Person(s): Paul Dworkis, Jim Hoppe, Robert Smith
  • Updates:
    • Spring 2021: Public apology issued and communicated on 5/7/2021 Recommitting to an Accessible Emerson. Posters with additional resources posted in Spring 2021 in all Res Halls and shared with RAs. 

Dining Services:

  • Overview: Post enlarged physical signs, brailled physical signs, and increased font size on digital signs in dining halls and cafes. Adapt the dining center to include more accessible seating and a sensory-friendly section/room. Improve options for community members with food allergies and dietary restrictions, including a better system of accommodation and assurance that the food will be safe to consume, such as improved labeling and ingredients listing.
  • Point Person(s): Duncan Pollock
  • Updates:
    • Fall 2021: Sensory Friendly dining section added. More frequent communication from Dining about food options available.