Ability Diversity

Paul Derring, YMCA Secretary of Virginia, spoke to NC State students about his experiences in education as a visually impaired person.

The American Council on Education conducted a study of veterans with disabilities in colleges and universities. Chancellor John Harrelson reported that little accommodations were made for student veterans other than a housing office that was established to assist veterans with their living accommodations.

The School of Education (now College of Education) proposed the establishment of a undergraduate program with a focus on “Special Education” for educators working with schoolchildren with physical and mental disabilities.

NC State was allotted an average of $38,570 from 1973 to 1983 to provide equal access to people with disabilities through the removal of architectural and transportation barriers on campus. These structural changes were in response to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which “forbids discrimination by recipients of federal funds against any otherwise qualified handicapped person, solely on the basis of handicap.”

NC State hosted the third annual Wake County Special Olympics. This was the first time the university hosted the event.

NC State was the winner of the “Employer of the Year” Award in the 200 or more employees category by the Raleigh Mayor’s "Committee for Services to the Handicapped."

The NC Agricultural Extension Service published a guide in the Home Extension publication titled, “Physically Handicapped: Aids to Self Help in Homemaking, Grooming & Clothing.”

The “Ad Hoc Committee on Handicaps” met to discuss the development of a service center on campus for students with disabilities amidst concerns that campus was not accessible for all students.

NC State’s Counseling Center published a pamphlet titled, “Services for the Physically Handicapped,” which called for improved services for students with disabilities on campus.

The Handicapped Student Committee was organized in the fall of 1984 “so that handicapped students could come together and talk about their problems and give Pat Davis [the committee's coordinator] an idea of their needs.”

NC State hired Emily McGowan as a part-time Learning Disability Director to provide educational assessments and academic support for students with disabilities.

The Student Handicapped Services Office (later renamed the Disability Resource Office) was established. Patricia D. Smith served as coordinator of the service center from 1985 to 2000.

Students held a rally to demand better access for people with disabilities on campus. The students requested signatures on a petition to “reinstate funding for the removal of barriers.”

Volunteer notetaker and volunteer reader programs were initiated by the Student Handicapped Services Office to assist students with learning disabilities in the classroom.

A "Handicapped Awareness Day Rally" was held by the “Student Organization for the Differently-Abled (SODA).” SODA set up booths at the rally so that people could “experience” different disabilities.

Student government, the “Student Organization for the Differently-Abled” (SODA), and the Student Handicapped Services Office collected signatures at the Free Expression Tunnel during a “Barrier Free Campus” rally. The students held the rally to gain support for barrier removal on campus, including the addition of an accessible tunnel and curb cuts.

The Center for Universal Design was founded by Ronald Mace. The Center was developed through a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) as the Center for Accessible Housing with a mission to improve the quality and availability of housing for people with disabilities, including disabilities that result from aging.

A student reporter from the Technician spent a day in a wheelchair interviewing students with physical disabilities around campus.

Vincent Haley earned a Master's degree in Industrial Design. During his time at NC State, Haley developed an accessibility tool and software for computer users with disabilities called the Access Power Pointer.

The “Student Organization for the Differently-Abled” changed their name to “Student Organization for Disability Awareness.”

The first issue of Education for Awareness was published by the Student Organization for the “Differently-Abled and Handicapped Student Services.” This publication was distributed to all faculty on campus.

The “Student Handicapped Services” Office was renamed “Disability Services for Students.”

NC State hosted the NC Special Olympics Summer Games in 1995. Each athlete could participate in three events of their choice, and over 1,600 athletes from 81 NC counties competed. In the following year, the 1996 NC Special Olympics Summer Games were also held at NC State.

Chancellor Larry K. Monteith launched the Diversity Initiative to provide more equitable access to educational resources on campus regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic background, physical disabilities, and other related factors.

The Special Olympics World Games’ Opening Ceremony was held at Carter-Finley Stadium. The events were hosted all over the Triangle at NC State, UNC at Chapel Hill, and NC Central University.

NC State passed Policy 04.25.05, known as the Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination and Affirmative Action Policy. The policy supported equal opportunity and affirmative action efforts, and prohibited discrimination and harassment based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.

NC State passed Regulation 02.20.01 to provide academic accommodation for students with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.

NC State passed Regulation 04.20.05, which addressed the use of service animals on campus by qualified individuals with disabilities according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Rehab Act”) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The Disability Services for Students Office was renamed the Disability Services Office, at which time its director was named Associate Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity and Equity.

Wolfpack Pickup was founded under the leadership of students in collaboration with university officials to assist students experiencing physical impairment in navigating NC State University’s campus.

The Disability Resource Office reported an increase in the number of students served on campus. The office assisted 614 students in 2007 and 987 students in 2015, with an increase of 60% in eight years.

A chapter of Best Buddies was founded at NC State. Best Buddies was established to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through volunteer efforts.

The NC State chapter of Runway of Dreams was created. The organization was created to empower people with disabilities to have confidence and self-expression through fashion and beauty inclusion, including through the design of fashionable adaptive apparel.

The University of Southern California Race and Equity Center conducted an assessment of NC State’s representation equity and provided recommendations for improving the university’s physical and architectural barriers for students with physical and learning disabilities.

The Special Smiles student organization was formed to promote awareness and knowledge of developmental, intellectual, and social disabilities.

The LGBTQ Pride Center (formerly the GLBT Center) introduced sensory-friendly hours to make the center more accessible for students by providing a peaceful, quiet space during designated times.

The Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED) organized a series of events commemorating the 30th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The Keynote speaker was Lex Gillette, a long and triple jump Paralympic athlete from Raleigh, NC.

A Runway of Dreams Fashion Show was held in collaboration with Duke University and students at the College of Textiles. The event, "Coming Together, Creating Change," was a virtual adaptive runway show organized to showcase people with disabilities and educate about the need for adaptive clothing and disability representation in the fashion industry.

The Pack disAbility Advocacy Club (PAAC) was established to promote a supportive community for people with all types of disabilities at NC State, visible and invisible, including mental health challenges.

NC State University Libraries released sensory-friendly maps for users with sensory sensitivities who are looking for study spaces that fit their needs.