MU student organizations hold panel to discuss the improvement of disability accommodation practices within their organizations and the university as a whole.
Under the moderation of Student Organization Development and Training Coordinator Lauren VanNess, the Missouri Students Association, the Campus Activities Programming Board, the Mizzou Disability Coalition and the Interfraternity Council held a panel to discuss disability accommodation practices and the state of accessibility at MU.
After a delayed start while waiting for more attendees, the panel began a little past 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Panelists included Olivia Hinkle and Danny Daugherty from MSA, Makayla Morton and Reza Alvi from CAPB, Hailey Skorik from MDC and Evan Danaher from IFC. Other than the panelists, only one guest attended the event. VanNess co-moderated the panel with Organization Resource Group Coordinator Avian Wilkins. VanNess was responsible for asking questions of the panelists.
“No one in this room is the expert for the subject matter of accessibility. We all can learn from each other,” VanNess said. “This is just an opportunity for us to talk and collaborate on practices and things like that.”First, the panelists were asked to define accessibility.“It just means eliminating barriers in any way and creating an environment that’s inclusive for all and following a universal design,” MDC panelist Skorik said.
MSA panelist Daugherty expanded upon this by outlining that accessibility is creating a space that allows for people to engage with events and meetings in the fullest possible manner.
VanNess then asked the panelists to share the impact they believed accessibility efforts have at MU.“It just helps to foster a greater sense of community since there are so many things happening in Columbia that aren’t accessible officially downtown,” CAPB Panelist Alvi said. “So having another avenue or opportunity for everyone to come together [,..] it just helps make everyone feel more connected.”
The questions then shifted focus to the accessibility practices that different organizations employ.Hinkle noted the importance of verifying that locations denote available accessible features on sites like 25Live, a tool used by MU for reserving spaces on campus.
“If it says something [is] accessible, also go into that space and make sure that it is accessible,” said MSA panelist Hinkle. “You know, I think it’s important to always double-check and triple-check the spaces that you’re using, and who can access those things.”
Morton and Daugherty both showed examples of providing resources for people who might need accommodations, whether that be an email address on MU Engage where disabled students can ask for accommodations in Morton’s case, or opening up spaces before meetings to allow people to “get to know the area if they’re a little bit newer to be able to ask questions,” as Daughterty said he does with MSA.
Alvi detailed how CAPB provides signs showing where there will be strobe lights and loud noises, which might be harmful to people with sensory issues,epilepsy or other conditions. They also train staff to be prepared for crowd control if needed and have EMS on standby for larger events such as MU’s annual Midnight BBQ.
As for other best-practices, the panel discussed digital practices that are helpful. Items of note included using readable fonts on neutral backgrounds, providing subtitles on Instagram Reels, using distraction-free backgrounds on Zoom or disabling the chime from someone joining a Zoom call.
The panelists then answered questions about changing attitudes towards accessibility and moving to provide better services.
“Sometimes accommodation is not one-size-fits-all, right?” VanNess said. “Sometimes they have different things that they need.”
According to Skorik, MDC tries to start conversations that showcase accessible areas on campus, as well as areas that are not accessible, which helps to raise awareness.
When asked what MU could do as an institution to improve accessibility, Daugherty and Skorik agreed that accessibility training for virtual classrooms like Zoom calls should be mandatory, if nothing else than to decrease stigma around accessibility.
The panel was the final event in the Department of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity’s Disability Culture Month.
Edited by Genevieve Smith | gsmith@themaneater.com
Copy Edited by Bella Zielinski and Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com