A New Digital Resource for Student Accessibility at U-M
In a significant step towards enhancing student accommodation at the University of Michigan, faculty and teaching instructors now have access to a comprehensive online resource: the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) website, studentaccessibility.umich.edu.
For many years, Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) has been the cornerstone for student support in accessibility. Both the SSD staff and its website have been instrumental in providing guidance and resources to students, faculty, and staff across campus.
The evolution of student support services led to the establishment of SAAS in 2021, aiming to unify the university’s primary disability resources. The newly launched website now embodies SAAS’s comprehensive strategy for assisting students at the university.
“Our vision for SAAS is to create an academic experience, a campus and a world that values equity, accessibility, inclusion and belonging for all,” stated Oluwaferanmi Okanlami, the first director of SAAS, known as “Dr. O” on campus. “In partnership with faculty and staff, we aim to change perspectives around disability, dismantle systemic barriers and provide individualized support for disabled students at U-M.”
The website serves as a critical component of a larger initiative to enhance digital accessibility for everyone, including those teaching and supporting students. It provides instructors with easy access to resources such as a disability accommodations syllabus statement template and detailed guidance on the digital platform used for managing student accommodations, including exam arrangements.
SAAS is composed of four key departments, each addressing different aspects of student support:
- Academic Support & Access Partnerships provides workshops, coaching, and other initiatives to promote the academic success of disabled students.
- Adaptive Sports & Fitness focuses on raising awareness and ensuring access to adaptive sports and fitness for all, both within the university and the larger community.
- Services for Students with Disabilities ensures accessibility in classrooms and housing for disabled students.
- Testing Accommodation Centers offer a secure, supportive environment for students who need testing accommodations, ensuring equitable access to examinations.
For the next six months, any bookmarked pages to SSD resources will automatically redirect to the new SAAS site.
