Office for Disability Services
Watch an interview with Krista Winger, Sean Miller, Kera McClaind, Mary Koeninger, and Ken Petri
Winger, Miller, McClain, Koeninger and Petri talk about the influences on the history and the environment of ODS
(4 minutes 17 seconds, captioned)
The Office for Disability Services has been through many changes over the 33 years it has been in existence. It was originally known as the Office for the Physically Impaired as a part of the Counseling Office and focused primarily on physical access for students with sensory and mobility impairments. Around 1984 the University had a growing population of students with learning disabilities; this is when the name of the office was changed to the Office for Disability Services. In 1985 the office implemented a grant it had received to get services to all of the regional campuses of Ohio State; after the grant ran out Student Affairs offered a salary to continue the program.
Along with many other changes in the mid-1980s, the office moved from the small office in the Baker Systems Engineering Building to Pomerene Hall. Up until the late 1990s the office had depended on volunteers to read books onto tape for students with visual impairments. Due to a high volume of complaints the office switched to all paid Alternative Media and Exam Assistants in 1999. In 2000, the Assistive Technology Training Center (ATTC) was opened. This was a computer lab built under the direction of Sean O’Briant in order to provide access to technology on campus for students with disabilities. In 1992 a full time sign language interpreter coordinator was hired and the office currently has 5 full time interpreters as well as 5 full time transcribers.
The number of counselors as well as support staff and student employees has grown dramatically since the office’s formation. It’s focus has transformed from just the physical access to buildings and course materials to counseling, exam accommodations, alternative media, sign language interpreting and transcribing, note taking assistance and assistive technology training. The Directors of the office over the years include Warren King, Anne Yurcisin and Patty Carlton, who will be retiring at the end of August.
More Information:
Office for Disability Services Web site
Related History:
Lydia Block, former Director of Office for Disability Services
Patty Carlton, Director of Office for Disability Services
Chris Keck, Counselor at Office for Disability Services
Mary Koeninger, Counselor at Office for Disability Services
Caitlyn McCandless, Counselor at Office for Disability Services
Kera McClain, Auxiliary Services Aid at Office for Disability Services
Sean Miller, Counselor and Director of Access Technology at Office for Disability Services
Sarah Terry, Auxiliary Services Coordinator at Office for Disability Services
Krista Winger, Exam Scheduling Coordinator at Office for Disability Services
Page last updated August 23, 2006
