Review and discussion of employees with disability and the DRC

• Caryn Bill’s has been working to transfer OAE functions to the DRC.
• Until the DRC is appropriately staffed, OAE is still handling what they handled before, but are introducing Roxana Stupp to functions that will eventually transfer.
• OAE certifies non-apparent disabilities; they do not provide accommodations. Accommodations are provided by the employing unit or the DRC.
• Ultimately the plan is to move all accommodations to the DRC or the employing unit, but that depends on staffing.
• C. Gill – It’s concerning and it’s a problem. If we saw that there was more of a priority placed on the steps of the transition and what those steps are, we’d feel reassured.
• P. Gill – Employee accommodations are not large, students are; getting the DRC staffed to accommodate students is most important.
• C. Gill – Employee accommodations may increase if the DRC can realize its full potential.
• P. Gill – Difficulty is the HR, civil service unions, employment rules and areas that a DRC employee is not going to be an expert in, how it fits into the employment structure at UIC is the problem.
• A. Guzman - Keeping it separate makes it difficult for constituents to come together and build community. It’s confusing, costly, etc.
• P. Gill – For the most part, everyone will go to the DRC, and the DRC will determine if a verification process is needed by OAE, and if not, the employee does not have to see the DRC.
• J. Hammel –Consideration should be given now to new DRC staff, looking ahead to needs of employees as well as students
• We need to know the complete vision. How are we implementing the plan that was devised before the director was hired? What is the timeline?
• S. Manning – There is not a definite timeline and it is Roxana Stupp’s job to implement the plan using the expertise for which she was hired. We need her input.
• C. Gill – Roxana needs to hear what she can do, how the administration will support her, and what the timeline will be.
• L. Voss – Positions in other units (facilities, HR, etc.) related to disability should be housed in the DRC.
• C. Gill – Roxana needs to know what the paradigm is that she is working in. Will there be a transition team? What role does the CCSPD have? Will there be an advisory committee as the Task Force recommended?
• P. Gill – Timeline with Carole Snow on transition of OAE activities to the DRC has been developed. 
• Tanner – Roxana, working with Carole and Pat, should work on staffing needs and present her plan as part of the budget plan. Additional resources won’t be granted until the plan has been presented and reviewed. Resources may be shifted to the DRC from units that no longer perform the disability function.
• Manning – We agreed on the goal – we need to negotiate getting there. There’s the impatience of the constituents and the inertia of the institution, and between them we have reality.
• Produce the overall timeline and work on the intermediate steps.
• C. Gill – It would be helpful if there was a formal communication from the administration to DDDH about the transitions. Will there be an oversight committee?
• Manning – We’ll get a story into UIC News that illustrates the vision
• Tanner – Advisory group – Roxana and Carole can work with CCSPD on a proposal for an advisory committee, perhaps integrated into CCSPD as a subcommittee.

Other Issues

• Tanner – Also announced the Diversity Advisory Committee and the Special Assistant to the Provost on Diversity. Wants a CCSPD representative for the DAC.
• Berg and committee - Accessibility has to be a priority in the Global Campus design and other interfaces. President White didn’t include persons with disabilities in his list of communities that would be interested in the GC. Dr. Tanner will try to bring both matters to his intention.
• There is a lack of attention to accessibility in the IRB process. There is a broad need for disability education