To further support Georgetown’s efforts to be an inclusive community that is accessible to people with disabilities, the university recently launched a new “Accessibility at Georgetown” website.
The site brings together information and resources related to disability accommodations, the physical accessibility of our campus and spaces, digital accessibility, disability programs and scholarship, event planning guidance, relevant policies and our disability community.
“Everyone can play a role in creating a culture of access. We are all invited to celebrate and support our disability community on campus, one small, decision at a time.”
Dr. Amy Kenny, inaugural associate director of the Disability Cultural Initiative
Curb cuts (dips in the curb that allow access to cross the street) are crucial to accessibility. When curb cuts are blocked by a car, scooter, bike or other impediment, it prevents disabled community members from accessing our campus. Whether it’s being mindful of your parking or helping to move a scooter off a pathway, you can clear the way for our disabled community members.
Our digital presence – in emails, on Zoom, on websites and social media – is an important way that we connect with our colleagues and community, but you might be unintentionally excluding your disabled colleagues. Taking actions like captioning pictures on websites, using descriptive hyperlinks, asking speakers to identify themselves verbally when speaking in a videoconference, creating electronic documents that are accessible to screen readers, and using accessible tools with Zoom and other platforms can make all the difference.
From academic programs like the Disability Studies Program to the Disability Employee Resource Group to a range of student groups, get to know the stories, contributions and insights of our disability community. A more connected and informed community can be a more accessible community.
Every event organizer wants a large crowd for events that they put so much work into. Don’t keep away crucial event attendees by not thinking about event accessibility! From physical space considerations to virtual event accessibility, some simple planning upfront can make your event meaningful and successful for everyone.
When receiving a disability-related accommodations request, make sure that you refer the situation to the right team. There are various offices designed to assist faculty, students and staff with formal disability accommodation requests.
