Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Students Planning for Success (SPS) held an award ceremony on Thursday, May 11 to recognize faculty and staff who demonstrate exemplary service to students with disabilities. This is the first year that the organization has officially awarded the honors.

The instructional staff honors were given to Rea Kirk, Platteville, professor of education and Michael Mee, Platteville, professor of animal science. Ed Deneen, UWP registrar also from Platteville, was awarded the non-instructional staff honor. In their letters of support, students and staff pointed out that flexibility in note-taking, testing accommodations, hands-on learning and general accessibility outside of class were important factors in their choices. Some pointed out that even relatively common things, like snow build up, could be major obstacles for students and that faculty and staff willingness to allow more time to get to class, or make extra efforts to get sidewalks cleared, enhanced the quality of their academic lives greatly. "We felt it was important to let the staff and faculty know that they're efforts aren't going unnoticed. I feel great about doing this and I enjoyed being part of putting it all together," said Brent Waller, vice president of SPS and a UWP senior majoring in elementary education.

One student pointed to Mee's help with transportation to the Pioneer Farm and efforts to get a wheelchair accessible bus to the research center. Another letter summarized Kirk's efforts in promoting disability awareness and empowerment for people struggling to manage academics and their disabilities at the same time. Deneen was recognized for his assistance in helping students work out scheduling conflicts, transcript glitches and generally being sensitive to the needs of students. Priscilla Hahn, advisor to Students Planning for Success and a learning specialist at UWP, said the students felt it was important to formally acknowledge faculty and staff who have been particularly instrumental in helping students achieve academic success. "In the world of disability learning, we talk about a concept called 'universal design,' which means that when something - a process, an item, a service, or just about anything - is designed so that it can be used by everyone, then that benefits all students. So, when faculty and staff make efforts to help students with disabilities achieve success, those efforts actually help all students," Hahn explained.

Anyone interested in learning more about Students Planning for Success or the concept of universal design may contact Hahn at (608) 342-1814. The Office of Services for Students also has a comprehensive website including information on laws and policies, accommodation information, definitions and terminology, the adaptive technology room, frequently asked questions and other links and resources. Anyone interested in reviewing that information may go to.http://www.uwplatt.edu/disability/

Contact: Priscilla Hahn, learning specialist, UWP Student Support Services, (608) 342-1814, hahnp@uwplatt.edu

Prepared By: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,martense@uwplatt.edu