Michelle Peters is impressed with the collaborative environment at UC San Diego. That’s one of the reasons she was excited to join the university as the new Executive Director for the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). She also has years of experience and education in disability services. Peters’ office ensures that all students have full access to educational and co-curricular opportunities on campus. Since she arrived here last July from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa., she has looked into ways to expand the resources offered by the OSD, and she’s overseen a reorganization of her office, including a transition from Student Affairs to Academic Affairs. Her favorite part of the job is working with faculty, staff and administrators across campus to ensure that all students have the opportunity to excel.

Peters: The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is responsible for the facilitation of accommodations and services for students with documented disabilities.  Although the definition of disability continues to change over time, it is a physical or mental health condition that presents a substantial impact for a student and meets specific criteria regarding an individual’s limitations.  The determination for eligibility for specific services is determined by the OSD, based on the reasonableness and appropriateness of the request, supporting medical documentation and the competencies of the academic major/program.  

An accommodation is, in essence, a modification that is provided to minimize the impact of functional limitations caused by a disability.  More than 90 percent of our services focus on the academic environment and fall into one of four categories.  Classroom modifications can include providing a note-taker, sign language interpreter or captioning, lab assistant or physical access to the classroom location.  It could also require that reading materials be provided in an alternative format from standard print.  Exam administration can also be modified to provide extended time, separate testing locations, large print or use of adaptive technology.   Program modifications may allow for priority registration, leave of absence or course substitutions.  And campus living may be modified to help with access to dining locations, and parking and transportation.

Peters: The OSD provides information to prospective and current students in the general catalog, as well as online.  We also participate in orientation and admission events on campus.   The OSD has departmental liaisons in the academic departments at UC San Diego and our goal is to have all campus units represented in our group.  The primary role of the liaison is to assist our faculty with accommodations in the classroom and exam environments, and refer students to the OSD.  We currently serve 700 students with disabilities in multiple capacities as they pursue their academic goals.

Peters: Historically, the OSD has served as a resource for students with disabilities and their families, and provided disability management counseling with a high degree of knowledge and expertise.  Now that our office is part of Academic Affairs, we’re very excited about building bridges and strengthening ties with our faculty and staff.  We have a unique opportunity to work with all academic areas on campus, since students with disabilities are everywhere, participating in all of the colleges and graduate-level work.  Since many faculty and staff may not be familiar with, or they’re unsure of, what to do when students request modifications due to a disability, the OSD wants to extend an open invitation to our faculty and staff to work with us. 

Peters: I knew this was a role that would draw upon my leadership experiences and one that I would enjoy.  San Diego has been a destination goal for me for many years.  Being a department head and administrator over the years with responsibilities in several areas, including compliance roles and service delivery involving diverse populations and students with unique needs, I knew I had a wide array of experiences that would complement the responsibilities of the position, and would also allow me an opportunity to continue to grow professionally.  Being the first Executive Director is exciting, and provides the campus with an opportunity to have a professional focus on the administrative needs of the OSD.  The transition of the OSD to Academic Affairs involves a review of many issues, with the overall goal of implementing a service delivery model that is reflective of current practices, developing policies and procedures to initiate best practices in the profession, while honoring the traditions of the UC system.  

Peters: The vision I have is to expand upon what the OSD has done well historically and to grow as a resource for the campus community.  My primary responsibility is to put together a plan for reorganizing the OSD, in order to create a service delivery model that encompasses accommodations and services for students with disabilities, and provides a host of resources for faculty and staff across campus.  Implementing the reorganization plan over the next five years will require thoughtful and engaging dialogue, as well as creative and collaborative partnerships.    

I have an opportunity to build partnerships with colleagues across the campus and engage in discussions with students, faculty, staff and administration.  The analysis that goes into developing a reorganization plan for the OSD is a unique chance to think “outside the box” in terms of how the OSD can serve the campus, as part of the larger role in retaining quality students.  Students with disabilities meet the same admissions standards as any other student at UC San Diego.  They are competing side-by-side with their colleagues without disabilities, and they are succeeding.

Fun Faves

Favorite place(s) on campus: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Calit2 and the Stuart Collection’s talking “Trees”

Favorite place on Earth: Rome, Italy

Favorite subject in college: Policy development, specifically developing policies that compliment the competencies of the curriculum

Favorite hobby:  Spending time in the ocean, going to museums and reading

Favorite food: Tie between Ethiopian, Indian and Italian

Favorite accomplishment: As an intern, I was given the opportunity to develop policies and procedures at a large research university. Also, I was accepted to present at the International Conference on Higher Education and Disability in Innsbruck, Austria.

Favorite words to live by: “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” -Abraham Lincoln

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