LSA Opportunity Hub Accessibility

Accessibility means being usable by people with disabilities. A disability is any short- or long-term physical, mental, or emotional condition that makes it difficult to navigate spaces and utilize tools designed only for able-bodied people. 

The U-M University Health Service reports that more than 1 in 5 U-M students manage some form of disability.  Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990), “Postsecondary institutions must ensure that students with disabilities have equal access in extracurricular and nonacademic activities."

Making services and materials at the Hub accessible to students with chronic disabilities will also make them accessible to students with temporary disabilities, students using mobility devices not related to disability (e.g. strollers, carts, or wheeled backpacks), students who are non-native English speakers, and students attempting to access materials in environments that are not ideal (e.g., watching a video with captions in a noisy café or a quiet library without headphones). Ensuring accessibility allows us to serve all students better.