Off-campus visitors with disabilities are welcome at Western

Western Washington University has made a commitment to providing accommodations to those of its students, faculty and staff who are qualified individuals with disabilities. Staff members at disAbility Resources for Students Office work with students, and Disability Services in Human Resources works with employees to document they are a “qualified individual with a disability” to receive an appropriate accommodation.

Western also has a legal requirement and is philosophically committed to ensuring that off-campus visitors with disabilities have access to all of the university's programs, events and activities on campus that are open to the public. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act extends to all activities of state and local governments, including those of public higher education. Visitors with disabilities do not need to document their disabilities.

Here are some examples of ensuring access and providing accommodation to Western visitors with disabilities:

• admitting visitors with guide dogs and service animals to buildings/activities that otherwise would prohibit them
• furnishing auxiliary aids and services when necessary to ensure effective communication
• operating programs to ensure they are readily accessible by individuals with disabilities

Parking for disabled visitors is accommodated through Parking Services.

For more information or answers to questions on accommodating visitors with disabilities, contact Sue Guenter-Schlesinger, Western's vice provost for equal opportunity and employment diversity and the school's ADA coordinator, at (360) 650-3307 or sue.guenter-schlesinger@wwu.edu.