1. Tom L Thompson – Higher Education Consultant
Multi-campus comm. college Perspectives - Effective Practices AHEAD 2014 Sacramento
Tom L Thompson – Higher Education Consultant
Sandi Patton – Lone Star College System
Deborah Larew – Valencia College System

2. INtroduction
Tom Thompson – Higher Education Consultant and retired Director, Disability Services and ADA Coordinator – Harper College (IL) Sandra Patton – Director, Disability Services – Lone Star College System (TX) Deborah Larew – Director, Disability Services – Valencia College System (FL)

3. Lone Star College

4. Valencia Community College

5. Multi-campus systems Community College Facts (from AACC)
50% located in or near a large city
33% located in or near a mid-sized city
Multi-Campus Systems
US has many multi-campus systems – most in large cities such as:
Chicago, New York, Phoenix, Houston, Baltimore, Miami, Cleveland
DS Systems Director – systems approach to work: focus on institutional needs and not on individual students
Goal: Improve operations, student impact and accessibility overall

6. System Director’s role
Institutional Access
- Managing Interpreting, Captioning
Assistive Technology and E-Text Resources
Digital Accessibility – Course Management System, Student Portal, ERP
- Budget, Space & Personnel
Policy, Practices & Training
- DS policies: grievance, documentation review, service animals
- DS practices: production and delivery of accessible materials
- Training: promotion of UDL, new issues for DS providers

7. Lone star & Valencia’s specific roles
When started and background prior to current role?
Why did your campus move to a system Director? What existed prior?
Specific examples from each college system (past 2-3 years)
1. Key areas of focus
2. Relationship with DS staff, faculty & others
Policy, procedures & practices
4. Training for DS and campus

8. Three Accomplishments
Lone Star System System-wide model for interpreting and transcribing Standardizing forms and departmental practices System-wide professional development; Expanding Horizons annual conference
Valencia College System Centralized model for interpreting and transcribing dollars Adequate staffing college wide with a system of team building and professional development Faculty relationships and collaborative, systemic training

9. Transferable practices
Gaining an “institutional focus” of DS work – allocating time apart from direct support/services
Facilitating change on campus
Dealing with budgetary/space needs
Managing complex services such as interpreting or e-text
Providing important training and education
Collaboration with administrators and allies
Other?

10. Responding on your campus
How can you advance access and support for students with disabilities? Network with city or state colleageus to enhance services, find good contractors? Create partnerships on campus, which increase access – with whom? Encourage your campus to do an external evaluation – determine what needs to be addressed!

11. Discussion and Application
Issues on your campus? Planning for an external review Hiring, training and supervising others Presenters Contact Information Tom L Thompson: Sandi Patton: Deborah Larew: