Advocacy

With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1998, legal mandates were established to guarantee equal opportunities in education and employment. The laws also provide architectural guidelines to ensure accessible buildings. The university and Services to Students with Disabilities (SSD) is committed to upholding legal mandates. The department's role as advocate for students with disabilities is to encourage and/or bring attention to the need to comply with the mandates. Disability awareness activities, meetings with faculty, and consultations with administrators responsible for physical planning have been effective in promoting the spirit of the laws and in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.

The CSUSB community and SSD have teamed up to form an advocacy group, the Campus Accessibility Advisory Board Committee (CAAB). It is composed of faculty, students, senior administrators, staff members and others who meet quarterly to address issues specific to access and accommodations for persons with disabilities. Subcommittees provide focus on assistive technology, architectural barriers, disability awareness, fund-raising, and health and safety. Additionally, quarterly forums are held with administrators to gain updates on campus architectural barrier removal projects.