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Disability Services is Established

CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ created the Office of Services for Disabled Students (OSDS) under its first director, Dennis Allen. Housed in the University Memorial Center, the office represented CU’s first formal commitment to supporting students with disabilities.

Disability Day & National Advocacy Connections

OSDS hosted Disability Day to raise awareness about disability rights and access, featuring nationally recognized activist Judy Heumann. The event connected CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ to the broader disability rights movement, shaping federal policy and higher education.

Campus Accessibility Takes Shape

Under Director Hank Atkinson, OSDS began implementing early physical access improvements across campus. These included curb ramps, Braille markings in elevators and lowered drinking fountains and telephones.

Student Advocacy Sparks Structural Change

OSDS student Wynn Vaughn drew national attention to campus barriers by crawling the stairs of Macky Auditorium in protest of the lack of elevator access. His advocacy helped accelerate major infrastructure improvements across campus buildings.

Academic Accommodations are Standardized

Disability Services introduced the accommodation letter, giving students a consistent, formal way to communicate approved accommodations to faculty. This process remains a cornerstone of disability access at CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ today.Ìý

CU Confronts the ADA

After missing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance deadline, CU undertook significant campus accessibility upgrades. Disability Services leaders helped drive improvements including elevators, automatic doors, accessible parking and improved paths of travel.

Digital and Academic Inclusion Expand

This period marked multiple milestones, including the 1995 transition from OSDS to Disability Services (DS), reflecting a broader commitment to accessibility and inclusion. It also saw the launch of DS’s first website, national recognition for innovative programming, ASL acceptance as a foreign language and the continued evolution of the Learning Disabilities Program into Academic Access & Resources.Ìý

Creating the Syllabus Statement and Expanding Student Support

Following a 2001–2002 Disability Task Force that identified gaps in understanding academic accommodations, Disability Services introduced a syllabus statement in 2003 to clarify processes and outline students’ rights and responsibilities. Building on this foundation, the 2013 launch of the Academic Skills Kit (ASK) Program expanded one-on-one support in areas like organization, time management and note-taking, while incorporating assistive tools to strengthen academic success for students with disabilities.

Digital Accessibility Becomes a University Priority

Following a U.S. Department of Justice investigation, CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ established the Campus Digital Accessibility Working Group. This effort led to the creation of the Digital Accessibility Policy and Digital Accessibility Office, embedding access into CU’s digital environment.

Equal Access to Testing: Student Testing Center Opens

Disability Services opened the Student Testing Center (STC) in the CASE building to provide a centralized, accessible testing environment. Designed with quiet rooms, secure storage and trained staff, the STC significantly improved consistency and equity in exam accommodations.Ìý