In an effort to simplify its operation, Student Disabilities Services at Penn has combined three previously separate offices into one.
"We're all together now," Learning Resources Center Director Myrna Cohen said. "All disabilities services are here, in one place."
The new integrated disabilities office, which provides services for psychological, physical and learning disabilities, opened its doors early last month. All services are now located in Suite 110 of Harnwell College House.
But prior to this semester, disabilities services had been situated in three separate offices -- Counseling and Psychological Services, Tutoring and Learning Resources and Student Health Service.
The idea of consolidating the three centers was broached early last September, when a 12-member student, faculty and staff review team -- commissioned by Provost Robert Barchi to evaluate disabilities services for students at Penn -- submitted a recommendation to create a centralized disabilities office.
"Differences in reporting structures, funding, program development, standards and physical location produce barriers to successful comprehensive services for students with disabilities," the team's report read.
Last month, the goal to eliminate those obstacles was finally achieved, and now the approximately 350 students who take advantage of Penn's various disabilities resources all come to the same spot for assistance.
While the office is completely functional and almost fully staffed, Cohen noted that the office has additional plans on its agenda.
"There are bells and whistles we'd like to add, like technical resources and educational programs," Cohen said.
Additionally, the disabilities office is in the process of creating a student advisory committee, which is expected to be formed in early March.
"The committee will be made up of students with and without disabilities who have expressed interest," Cohen said, explaining that the group would work as a liaison between students and staff as a vehicle for improving services offered by the newly-unified office.
Also in the works is a search for a new office director, led by Max King, the executive director of the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life.
While Learning Disabilities Coordinator Bill Sandberg did not specify any prospective candidates for the position, he said that the selection process will be intensive if necessary.
"We're setting a pretty high standard," he said.
But in the mean time, the office has been running smoothly without an official figurehead.
"There's a more integrated feel to the services," Sandberg said. "Things happen a lot faster."
Student Disabilities Services Associate Director Alice Nagle said that because all key players now work within close proximity, the recent centralization has reduced coordination snags and should help to expedite new plans for development.
"For programming and outreach, this makes it easier to facilitate the process," said Nagle, who is also the director of the Office of Affirmative Action.
But above all, the new office has made it simpler for students to get help, especially those with multiple disabilities who previously had to visit more than one office to receive comprehensive aid.
"From the students' perspective, it's easier to navigate," Cohen said.
And coordinators said they hope that the recent centralization will encourage students who before had been overwhelmed by the system to finally seek out Penn's disabilities resources.
"We're a warm, inviting, welcoming place," Nagle said.
