By Kristal Kinloch-Taylor
Meet Ms. Courtney Gipson, the new Director of the Office of Educational Accessibility (OEA). Ms. Gipson joined Old Dominion University in July of 2022. As the Director of OEA, Ms. Gipson ensures students have equitable and reasonable accommodations. As a student advocate, Ms. Gipson collaborates with faculty and administrators on ways to improve the student experience.
Students seeking academic accommodations are required to submit documentation verifying their eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. All documentation is confidential and is never considered a part of the academic transcript and students register for services on the OEA website.
This fall, OEA assisted 1771 students, a drastic increase from the 1486 helped during fall 2021. Courtney credits the staff with doing a great job of recruiting and retaining current students. Ms. Gipson "is excited to work alongside these great experts."
"Part of accessibility is leveling the playing field for everyone." Ms. Gipson supports an inclusive pedagogy through universal design. Universal design is "the design of products and environments to be usable to the great extent possible by people of all ages and abilities (Story et al.,1998). Coined by architect Ron Mace, universal design pedagogy considers the needs of all students and different learning styles. Universal design strives to reach a diverse group of learners in the ever-evolving educational landscape.
Prior to joining ODU, Ms. Gipson served as the Center for Access Director at Southwest Tennessee Community College where she conducted staff trainings, streamlined the student accommodation process, conducted intakes, and helped faculty develop inclusive teaching practices. A Mississippi native, Ms. Gipson earned a bachelor's degree from Tennessee State University; a master's degree from the University of Arkansas, and she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education from the University of Memphis.
The Office of Educational Accessibility aims to assist all students with disabilities in the pursuit of their educational objectives. Office staff work with faculty, administrators, and students toward the goal of complying with legal mandates and integrating the student into a responsive campus community.
For more information on upcoming events and services visit the OEA website.
Reference
Story, M. F., Mueller, J. L., & Mace, R. L. (1998). The Universal Design File: Designing for People of All Ages and Abilities. Raleigh, NC: NC State University, the Center for Universal Design.