The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1 - 139

Addressing the Needs of Residential Students with Disabilities

our efforts to attend to diversity in relation to
students with disabilities have not been entirely
successful. As described by the contributors,
there are benefits and positive outcomes for everyone when we do approach disability issues
in a successful way. It is not only the student
with the disability who is impacted; it is also
RLH staff members, various departments, and
the larger resident population whose awareness
and learning are positively affected.
We begin this issue with an exploration
of how disability law has evolved and how it
applies to the contemporary issue of animals
used for the purposes of service, comfort, and
assistance for residential students with disabilities. Mark Bauman, Denise Davidson,
Michael Sachs, and Tegan Kotarski advocate
for an integrated and thoughtful approach to
disability issues that views the law only as a
starting point to meet minimum requirements
and recognizes the need to move on from there
by providing more opportunities for all students and visitors to the residence halls.

University of Illinois to develop a residential
environment for students with severe physical
disabilities. Providing details related to access
and supportive services, Malik and Anton also
offer their recommendations for RLH practice.
Jo Hendrickson, Amy Vander Busard,
Derek Rodgers, and Bethany Scheidecker
further advance the success that collaboration
brings by highlighting efforts at the University
of Iowa. Their REACH (Realizing Educational
and Career Hopes) program focuses on students with intellectual disabilities as they fully
integrate into the residence hall alongside
other undergraduates. Based on the success of
the REACH program—both for the students
who participate and for the affiliated staff—
the authors advocate for an expansion of inclusive residential environments for students
with intellectual disabilities.

Regrettably, efforts to accommodate

Elizabeth Watson, Frank Bartlett, Casey
Sacks, and Denise Davidson describe the
thoughtful and comprehensive approach taken
by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
as the university took bold steps to integrate
the principles of Universal Design into new
residence hall construction. Drawing from the
talents of multiple partners and stakeholders,
UW-Whitewater has developed a standard for
new construction that is truly inclusive for all
residents and their guests.

and support students with

Further emphasizing collaborative efforts,
particularly between disability and housing
services personnel, Patricia Barrett Malik and
Trish Anton describe the process used by the

It is these environments, and the associated campus personnel, that most impact students on the autism spectrum. These students
are enrolling in postsecondary education at an

disabilities have sometimes
neglected the holistic student
development philosophy advocated
in the earliest documents related to
student affairs work.

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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1
