Randall Ward Email and Phone Number

An experienced Higher Education Disability Services professional, keenly aware of the role an institution's culture can play in impacting disability access. I have experienced four different environments, providing this unique perspective. Offering consulting services designed to nurture "new to the profession" professionals in establishing their understanding and "Practice" in Higher Education DS work. The profession draws people from a variety of backgrounds but many of us enter it with little or no actual education or training that prepares us for the work. If you would like to gain the support of someone who spent their first 5 years as an office of 1 in the community college setting and advanced to larger, more complex R-1 institutions please contact me so we can discuss how I might help you settle into this professional role.Additionally, offering an independent consulting service to enhance students' and families' understanding of the transition to higher education as a student with a disability. This service focuses on student development and how to navigate the socially complex higher education landscape. My focus is helping the student develop their own voice and setting goals and expectations that will serve students and parents as they experience higher education. This work is collaborative with both parties and not intended to influence college choice as disabled student college enrollment continues to grow nationally. It is really about learning to navigate and understand that higher ed offers many student support services. Sometimes it is about empowering the student to take advantage of those services. With over 16 years of higher education experience and thousands of conversations with students and parents, I offer an experienced perspective.

Experienced professional currently meeting with students and conducting the interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations and their implementation. My experience allows me to work through complex and detailed disability accommodation requests and situations in an effective, analytical and objective manner.

Led a team of 20 professional staff. The DRC is responsible for student accommodations providing access to the curricular and co-curricular university offerings. This includes the provision of auxiliary aids and services through contracts with outside vendors. A team of 9 Access Consultants conduct the interactive process and serves 3,700 registered students. Developed programming offered to the campus community designed to shift the disability paradigm in line with the social construct of disability. The DRC experienced a 163.5% growth in registered students since the 2015-16 academic year. Developed a COVID-19 protocol to manage anticipated requests from health-compromised students outside of our standard disability accommodation request process in support of our administration’s decision to return to in-person classes in the Fall of 2020. This was in anticipation of requests that were based on fear and did not rise to the level of disability. I managed 157 such requests successfully. We improved office culture over time resulting in faculty, students, and parents viewing the DRC as a more welcoming resource than it had been previously. I responded to student complaints and guided staff on problem-solving more complex requests. Managed recurring budget, gift account, and professional development funds. Liaison with legal counsel as needed as well as university residences and transportation. Consulted on new building plans related to accessibility. Relied on data to make recommendations related to service delivery.

Managed student affairs offices responsible for determining reasonable accommodations as defined by the ADAA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and case law to assure equal access. Met with students and parents to explain the higher education process as well as conducted the interactive process. Trained staff and supervised their work to ensure consistency in our practice. Consulted with faculty to assure proposed accommodations did not fundamentally alter a program of study. Developed a course substitution policy at each school. Tailored my approach to fit the culture of each institution. Lake Michigan College was an office of one, while EMU and NIU each had several professional staff. Each of these schools required all staff to conduct the interactive process and carry student rosters in the hundreds.

Provide vocational counseling and case management services to persons with physical and mental disabilities with the goal of maximum medical improvement and return to work. Skills utilized include: vocational guidance and counseling; testing/assessment of interests, aptitude temperament; arranging OJT and Classroom training; transferable skills analysis; job analysis; negotiating with private employers; coordination of services with doctors, attorneys, therapists, family members, and insurance adjusters. Performed marketing and public speaking on issues of Vocational Rehabilitation. Responsible for: making employer contacts; completing labor market surveys to reflect job requirements, wages, and openings; report writing. Taught employment-seeking and retention skills. Provided counseling on work adjustment factors. Was trained in the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and consulted with employers on compliance while developing job descriptions that addressed ADA concerns. Admitted by the Courts as a Vocational Expert and provide testimony. Previously with Crawford & Co. and Active Re-Employment.