Founding goals…

In response to a request from NYU Provost Katherine E. Fleming, The Disabilities, Inclusion and Accessibility Working Group (DIA) was established in 2016 with the aim of coordinating initiatives to make New York University campuses inclusive and accessible for all people, regardless of physical, cognitive or sensory ability. The working group has over thirty voluntary members drawn from diverse departments and programs across NYU, including teaching faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students and professional staff, incorporating people with mobility, hearing, visual, sensory, and neurological impairments. The group is co-chaired by Kristie Patten, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy (Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development), Karen Jackson-Weaver, NYU Associate Vice President of Global Inclusive Faculty Engagement and Innovation Advancement, and Karen Nercessian, NYU Associate Vice Provost for Strategy and Chief of Staff to the Provost.

DIA was initially tasked with the following goals, which they achieved in 2019:

1. Development of a Policy and a statement of intent that reflects the University’s overall policy on and commitment to accessibility.
2. Provide recommendations to the University Senate Ad Hoc Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
3. Provide recommendations for a better integrated platform for the Disability Council and the Disabilities Student Union as well as OEO and Moses Center in all things relating with services for students and faculty with disabilities, both physical and non-physical.