Navigating College with Confidence: Support for Students with Disabilities at Miami University

The Miller Center for Student Disability Services (SDS) is passionate about fostering an inclusive and accessible experience for more than 3,000 Miami University students with disabilities. Serving students at their campus in Oxford and campuses across the state, SDS works with students to develop individualized support plans, promote career readiness, and implementinitiatives that promote greater awareness and understanding of disabilities.

To learn more about how SDS empowers Miami University students for success, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) spoke with Dan Darkow, Director of the Miller Center for Student Disability Services.

How does the Miller Center for Student Disability Services support incoming and current students?

Darkow: "For incoming first-year students affiliated with the Miller Center, they have a pre-semester program called Miami Bound: Jumpstarting Disability Access at Miami, which invites students to campus a few days early to better connect students with Miller Center staff, cultivate community amongst students, enhance familiarity with disability accommodations in college, and learn about campus resources.

To support current students, our team offers general consultations available to students interested in learning more. Each student affiliated with our office is assigned an access coordinator who is available to provide ongoing support during their time at Miami. For students on campus, we have a sensory room within our office available to any student who may need a space to decompress."

What kinds of support help students with developmental disabilities the most, and how do you adjust that support for each student?

Darkow: "The most effective accommodations that are provided to students with developmental disabilities are those that specifically ease a barrier to equal access due to a student's individual disability impact. For example, a student who experiences difficulty with fine motor skills and physically writing with a pencil may find an accommodation for the ability to use an electronic device and speech to text software appropriately mitigate the impact of their disability in an exam setting. Accommodations related to testing, notetaking, accessible course material, housing, dining, and more may all play a role in facilitating access for a student with a developmental disability.

We tailor accommodations by engaging in the interactive process - meeting with students to discuss their specific needs, reviewing documentation, and collaborating with faculty and campus partners to ensure that the recommended accommodation is reasonable and effective."

What is an "access-first" philosophy?

Darkow: "An "access-first" philosophy means from inception designing with accessibility in mind. When we are thinking about learning spaces, programs, and services, rather than making changes only when an accommodation is needed, an access-first philosophy embeds accessibility from the ground up. In daily practice, this means faculty are creating accessible course materials, events being planned with digital, physical, and sensory access in mind, ensuring that all those who play a role in making the Miami experience special understand the value Disability brings to our campus community."

Can you give an example of a time the Miller Center worked with teachers, staff, or students to make something more accessible?

Darkow: "Our team is constantly expanding our reach and building collaborations to improve our campus accessibility. This past summer, we partnered with our Orientation and Transition Programs Office to facilitate live captioning for all large group sessions providing a more inclusive and accessible experience for all incoming students and their families.

In collaboration with our Physical Facilities department, we have been able to add enhanced elevator button access which includes horizontal and floor panel buttons in addition to the standard panel. This allows anyone with a developmental disability, someone who may just have their hands full, or would prefer not to physically touch the button to use another part of their body to activate the elevator. This example of universal design is at the heart of our thinking as we continue to innovate and create accessible spaces on our campus."

What programs, clubs, or services on campus help students feel included or get ready for life after college?

Darkow: "The Student Disability Advocacy and Allies student organization works to build a bridge between students with and without developmental disabilities thrive on campus. We also partner with offices such as the Rinella Learning Center and the Center for Career Exploration and Success to connect students with academic and career readiness skill-building opportunities.

Miami, alongside many other Ohio public institutions, is fortunate to be a part of Ohio College2Careers program which aims for students with disabilities to have the support they need to complete their degree and meet the demands of tomorrow's labor market. Our team works very closely with our dedicated College2Careers Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to assist our students with career exploration, résumé and interview preparation, and finding internship and permanent employment opportunities."

What is a Disability Cultural Center, and how does it help students, teachers, and staff connect?

Darkow: "A Disability Cultural Center (DCC) is a space that fosters community, identity, and advocacy for students with disabilities, faculty, and staff. Unlike traditional disability services offices, which focus on accommodations, DCCs promote disability culture and pride through events, workshops, and community-building activities. They often serve as a hub where students and employees can connect over shared experiences and celebrate disability identity. Due to the generous gift from our donors, Scott and Susan Miller, we are fortunate to be able to fund educational programming and community building experiences which support the disability experience at Miami."

How did your path from student to director help you decide to support students with developmental disabilities?

Darkow: "During my graduate education experience, I was deeply challenged to think differently about disability in a way that made me unlearn and rethink what I thought I knew about disability in our world. I was exposed to a framework which situated the lack of access as the problem needing to be fixed, not the disability. This understanding, known as the social model of disability, alongside myself learning more about disability history in the United States, laid the groundwork for my passion to create a culture of access.

This culture recognizes disability is not inherently a problem that needs to be fixed or cured, but the work that we do can act as a key to unlock higher education where students with developmental disabilities are not only met with the accommodations they need for access, but are met enthusiastically with a campus environment that proactively supports all of who they are.

I've seen firsthand the power of proactive access and the importance of building a culture that values students with disabilities not just for their resilience, but for the perspectives and talents they bring. This experience fuels my commitment to positioning the Miller Center as an advocate, partner, and innovator in accessibility."

What advice would you give students who want to go to college?

Darkow: "Start early, build your team, and practice problem solving. Starting early is incredibly important to evaluate all the various academic and student support services available within each higher education institution. When visiting the campus for a tour, reach out beforehand and schedule a general consultation with the Disability Services office to learn more while you're there.

Don't wait until barriers are faced to ask for help. Higher education institutions can be overwhelming for students with developmental disabilities, and building a team of support early can help when bumps happen along the way. Lastly, practice problem-solving starting now. College will present new challenges and experiences that don't always go as anticipated, and knowing how to approach them with creativity, flexibility, and persistence will help develop the skills needed to achieve at the highest level."

Through inclusive programming, individualized support, and an "access-first" mindset, SDS continues to break down barriers and build up a stronger, more connected Miami University community.

Visit their website to learn more about the Miller Center's services and programs Miller Center's services and programs.