Oregon State University Commits to Accessibility Improvements for Blind and Low-Vision Students

Corvallis, OR – The National Federation of the Blind and Oregon State University announced today that they have agreed to a settlement involving accessibility enhancements to university services, programs, and activities.

Oregon State will pay $475,000 to resolve claims brought by the nationwide membership and advocacy organization and by one of its members who is a blind student at the university, involving concerns about the speed and accuracy with which course materials—particularly those needed for STEM courses—were made accessible by the university’s disability access services office in partnership with academic units.

The National Federation of the Blind made recommendations for additional staff positions to support accessibility work and OSU proactively established these positions. Additionally, in consultation with the NFB, OSU leaders have begun implementing changes including procuring tools to support the creation of accessible materials, expanding assistive technology and services that provide access to blind people, rewriting policies, and developing new procedures to ensure that accessibility will be better addressed in the future.

Moving forward, Oregon State faculty and staff will participate in additional training and be provided with information pertaining to accessible design and inclusive practices specific to blind and low-vision students, which will be included in new faculty orientations and departmental meetings.

“We are pleased to resolve this matter and collaborate with OSU to improve its services to blind students,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind.

“We appreciate the accountability and leadership that OSU is demonstrating by entering into this landmark agreement, recognizing that the experience and expertise of blind people are critical to advancing true accessibility,” he said. “It is long overdue for other institutions of higher education to follow OSU’s example and provide innovative approaches to equality and accessibility.”

OSU provides course materials through its disability access services department as an important part of its land-grant mission to serve students, but in this case, the complex technical materials required for some science courses exceeded the capacity of DAS to act in a timely manner.

“OSU is dedicated to a mission where every student succeeds, and we fell short of living up to those values in this instance,” said GL Estes Wallace, Oregon State’s new assistant dean and director for DAS, who joined the university in January.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the National Federation of the Blind to redesign our practices. OSU embraces the concept that accessibility is a shared responsibility institution-wide and is committed to creating an accessible experience that offers equal opportunity for all learners. Settlements such as this one drive the university to advance its practices, engage in the exploration of creative solutions and cultivate a culture of belonging where all have equal access to be able to participate independently and with dignity,” Estes Wallace said.

More information is available online at: https://communications.oregonstate.edu/faq-nfb-agreement

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About the National Federation of the Blind: The National Federation of the Blind, headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

About Oregon State University: As one of only three land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the nation, Oregon State serves Oregon and the world by working on today’s most pressing issues. Our nearly 38,000 students come from across the globe, and our programs operate in every Oregon county. Oregon State receives more research funding than all of the state’s comprehensive public universities combined. At our campuses in Corvallis and Bend, marine research center in Newport, OSU Portland Center and award-winning Ecampus, we excel at shaping today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders.

Media Contacts:

National Federation of the Blind

Stephanie Cascone, Director of Communications

410-659-9314, extension 2244, 
[email protected]

Oregon State University

Misty Edgecomb, Media Relations Director

484-343-3223,
[email protected]

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