College Accessibility Committee
Who We Are
The College Accessibility Committee is charged with creating an inclusive, accessible environment in support of equitable student success, with the primary charge of the College Accessibility Committee to review and address the accessibility needs and issues that arise at the College. Guided by the College’s statement to create and uphold a “community where everyone can participate fully in the life of the college and experience a genuine sense of belonging,” the College Accessibility Committee will engage in collaborative and informed practices to ensure equitable access to facilities and experiences at Whitman. With this commitment, the Committee assists in assuring compliance with all local, state, and federal laws regarding individuals with disabilities, including but not limited to Sections 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA).
2024-2025 Committee Members
- Cassandre Beccai, Director of Equity and Compliance/Title IX Coordinator
- Natasha Blake, Executive Assistant to the VP for Inclusive Excellence
- Juli Dunn, Senior Associate Dean of Students
- Grace Hardy, Disability and Difference Community (DISCO) Student Representative
- Tony Ichsan, Assistant Vice President for Facilities Services
- Dr. John Johnson (Chair), Vice President for Inclusive Excellence
- Cory Kiesz, Facilities Services Manager for Residence Housing and Operations
- Richard Middleton-Kaplan, Director of Academic Support Services
- Bradley Nelson, Internal Communications Strategist
- Cara Setchell, Associate Director of Human Resources
- Dan Terrio, Chief Information Officer
- Kassandra Vinton, Disability Support Services Specialist
What We Do
- Provide oversight and guidelines on initiatives to support equal and inclusive access to the College programs, services, and activities and maintain compliance with applicable regulations.
- Develop, implement, and maintain a College ADA Transition Plan.
- Review potential barriers and support College policies and procedures on accessibility for students, staff, faculty, and workplace accommodations.
- Assess and analyze the potential problems and recommend viable and cost-effective solutions to meet reasonable accommodations.
- Prepare and propose an annual 5-year priority list of projects to address College access.
- Monitor and report to the Cabinet the College’s progress towards removal of identified barriers.
- Educate the College community on ableism, accessibility and promote the benefits of being an inclusive learning, working, and living environment used by all people.
- Advocate for academic and administrative services that are effective and usable to all users and provide notification to the appropriate area Cabinet Officer when these services are not in compliance.