The current global coronavirus pandemic has increased the critical role technology and the web play in learning and instruction. Penn State’s Policy AD69 aims to ensure that people with disabilities have an opportunity equal to that of their nondisabled peers to participate in the University’s programs, instruction and services, including those delivered through electronic and information technology. Resources such as the site Accessibility and Usability at Penn State support making Web pages and online documents usable for users with disabilities. Additionally, individual departments such as the Penn State University Libraries have created internal policies like Policy UL-AD15 Web Accessibility to complement the University’s Policy AD69 to make their web site and resources accessible to all.

Furthermore, the University Access Committee was created in 1994 as an on-going committee whose goal is to continually monitor accessibility at Penn State and to recommend corrective actions when necessary.Policy HR09 outlines an employee’s rights and responsibilities in accordance with Penn State’s procedures for requesting a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. 

Student Disability Resources (SDR) is the designated office that provides reasonable accommodations and services to students with disabilities enrolled at the University Park campus. Access Club at Penn State is a space for people of all abilities to form both friendships and alliances on issues that affect persons with disabilities. Every Penn State campus has an office designated to provide services for students with disabilities. The Libraries’ Accessibility Community of Advocacy (ACOA) is a group of librarians and staff from across the Libraries that focuses on education, awareness, and advocacy around issues related to accessibility. 

Americans with Disabilities Parking Accommodations, both regular and van accessible parking spaces, exist on campus to meet the needs of visitors, students and faculty/staff members. CATA provides acessible campus transit service, as does the Campus Shuttle operated by Transportation Services.

Additional resources available here.

Image: Penn State University Libraries 2020