Accessibility & Disability Services records

Record Group — Box: 1

Identifier: UA-007-008

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These records contain departmental correspondence and planning, material related to acquiring a Kurzweil reading machine in the 1970s, campus guides, handbooks for faculty and staff, and departmental brochures.

Dates

Creation: 1981 - 2001

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access. This collection is open to the public.

Conditions Governing Use

Towson University Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) is the owner of the original materials and digitized images in our collections; however, the collection may contain materials for which copyright is not held. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials. Consult with SCUA to determine if we can provide permission for use.

Biographical / Historical

The first blind student was admitted to the Maryland State Teachers College at Towson in 1949. The increased admittance of students with disabilities brought positive change in the accessibility of the university. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was established in 1973, and mandated that those with disabilities would not be excluded from any programs receiving federal funding, including universities. This made higher education more accessible to those with disabilities. Mr. Lonnie McNew was the first staff member for disabled needs, appointed to this position in 1976. In Fall 1981, the AIDS office, Assistance and Information for Disabled Students was established. Its name was changed to the Office of Special Needs in 1983, and in 1990, it was changed to Handicapped Student Services. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, which worked to prevent discrimination on the basis of a disability. In 1992, it was changed to Office for Students with Disabilities, and Disability Support Services was added. The final name change was in Fall 2021, to Accessibility and Disability Services, which is within the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity. Their goal is to “provide disability-related assistance, support, consultation, and advocacy.”