Disability Resource Center making strides on campus
Greetings MSUM Community,
The Disability Resource Center, formally known as Disability Services, is making strides to ensure that students with disabilities receive full access to MSUM classrooms, programs, and events. While our commitment to students and the overarching accommodations we provided to students are unchanged, the Disability Resource Center is not only a name change, but a philosophical change as well. Some of the changes to our office philosophy include:
- The transition from “services” to “resources”. This is representative of a nation-wide movement from the medical model of disability to the social model incorporating Universal Design. Dropping the word “services” is more congruent with student development theory wherein we provide resources so that students might direct themselves rather than be served by an office.
- “Disability Support Services” implies that one office has the primary responsibility to serve those with disabilities. The reality is that creating inclusive learning environments is a responsibility of everyone; not just one office.
- “Disability Resource Center” more accurately describes the role of the office with students, faculty, staff, and administrators as well as our community. Often, our role is to collaborate with members of the campus community in creating more usable and inclusive environments.
- “Disability” will remain part of the office name. “Disability” is a key word as a source of pride, as a part of diversity, and as an aspect of the civil rights movement.
The Disability Resource Center will change and grow to better serve our students We invite you to be a part of this change by looking towards our office as a campus partner to assist you in your efforts to make MSUM a welcoming environment for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities. Please be mindful of the name change as you refer to our office in your publications, on your websites, and both written and verbal communication.
Thank You,
Greg Toutges,
Director
Disability Resource Center
Greg Toutges, M.S., CRC
Director of Disability Services/Academic Coach
MSU Moorhead
Flora Frick 154
1104 7th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56563
218-477-4318 (Voice)
218-477-2420 (FAX)
800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY)