Institute on Disability Awareness at Niagara University

08/28/2026

Heading to college with an IEP or 504 Plan?

One of the biggest changes for students with disabilities is that accommodations work differently after high school.

In K-12, schools have a responsibility to identify students who may need services and provide supports through an IEP or 504 Plan.

In college, IEPs and 504 Plans don't simply carry over. Students generally need to contact their college's disability or accessibility services office, provide the required documentation, and request accommodations.

That means self-advocacy becomes especially important.

If you or someone you support is starting college this month, don't wait to reach out. Connect with the disability services office early, find out what documentation they require, and learn how accommodations are communicated to professors.

08/27/2026

Miss our newsletter this week? 📬

We're talking back-to-school accessibility, with some practical ways to make classrooms and course materials more accessible, plus a quick accessibility check for your syllabus.

Catch up here:
https://mailchi.mp/niagara.edu/back-to-school-means-back-to-accessibility

By Erica Rodman, Educational Program Developer As students head back to classrooms and college campuses, there is a lot to think about: new schedules, new professors, new classmates, and new routines. For disabled students, there may be another layer of work happening behind the scenes. Receiving an...

08/26/2026

Backpacks? Check.
School supplies? Check.
Accessibility? Add that to the list!

As students head back to classrooms and campuses, now is the time for schools and educators to think about accessibility before problems come up.

Are digital materials accessible? Are videos captioned? Can students navigate classrooms and school spaces? Are field trips, clubs, orientations, and other activities accessible too? Do students know who to contact if they need an accommodation?

A little planning at the start of the school year can make a big difference.

Educators, how are you making your classroom more accessible this year? Share your ideas in the comments!

08/21/2026

Back-to-school season is here!

Teachers, here are a few simple ways to make your lessons more accessible this school year:

1. Make it tactile. 3D models and tactile graphics, including resources available through the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), can make visual concepts accessible to students who are blind or have low vision. They can also give other students a hands-on way to explore and understand the same concept.

2. Describe what you're showing. If you point to something on the board, demonstrate an activity, or show an image, briefly put the important visual information into words too.

3. Caption your videos. Captions provide access for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing and can also support students processing unfamiliar vocabulary or learning in a noisy environment.

4. Give instructions in more than one format. Pair verbal directions with clear written instructions whenever possible.

5. Build in flexibility. Consider different ways students can demonstrate what they know, whether that's through writing, speaking, creating, or demonstrating.

Accessibility in the classroom often means designing a lesson with more than one way to access, understand, and engage with the information.

Share an accessibility strategy you use in your classroom in the comments below! We'd love to hear your ideas. And stay tuned for more back-to-school accessibility tips coming to our newsletter subscribers next week. Not signed up yet? Visit the link in the comments.

08/18/2026

Accessible pedestrian signals have more accessibility features built in than you might realize.

At the Erie County Fair, we stopped to talk with the New York State Department of Transportation about how accessible pedestrian signals, or APS, help make street crossings safer and more usable for people with disabilities.

Features can include adjustable audible signals, vibrating buttons for pedestrians who are DeafBlind, and push-button plates positioned to help indicate the direction of travel.

Small design details can make a big difference in creating safer, more accessible communities.



[VD: Erica stands beside an accessible pedestrian signal display in an indoor exhibition area at the Erie County Fair. A Department of Transportation booth with tables, displays, and informational materials is behind her.

Erica is a white woman with brunette hair wearing large black sunglasses. She speaks to the camera while her black guide dog, Fozzy, stands beside her. Fozzy is wearing colorful protective shoes that he uses to protect his paws from hot pavement outdoors. At the end of the video Fozzy pushes the button on the signal to activate it.]

08/12/2026

Today, August 12th, marks the anniversary of the first-ever federal accessibility law.

On August 12, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) into law. Before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there was the ABA. This legislation mandated that any building designed, built, altered, or leased using federal funds must be fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Think about your local post offices, federal courthouses, national parks, and VA hospitals. Because of the ABA, these essential public spaces opened their doors to everyone. It set the foundation for the civil rights laws that followed.

At the Institute on Disability Awareness, we believe that breaking down barriers starts with knowledge. When we understand the history of accessibility, we can better advocate for a fully inclusive future.

08/07/2026

Miss our newsletter this week? Read about International Assistance Dog Week and check out a link to a replay of our Assistance Animals webinar!
https://mailchi.mp/niagara.edu/assistance-animals-whats-changing-and-why-it-matters

By Erica Rodman, Educational Program Developer August 2nd through 8th is International Assistance Dog Week, a time to recognize the important role assistance animals play in the lives of many people with disabilities. It is also an opportunity to explore one of the most misunderstood areas of disabi...

08/06/2026

How should a service dog behave in public? What questions can a business ask about service dogs?

Today we're answering these questions by sharing a short clip from our Disability Awareness Training (DAT) 101 course! In this segment, you'll learn how to identify a service animal and the two questions businesses and organizations are legally permitted to ask under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Understanding the law helps create more welcoming, inclusive communities while ensuring the rights of people with disabilities are respected.

🐾 Want to learn more?

Explore our self-paced Disability Awareness Training (DAT) 101 course or watch the replay of our Assistance Animals Webinar to build your understanding of service animals, assistance animals, disability law, and common misconceptions.


[Video note: This clip is taken from our accessible audio-described version of the course. A standard version of the course is also available.]

08/04/2026

Today is Assistance Dog Day!

When many people think of assistance dogs, they tend to picture a guide dog helping someone who is blind. While guide dogs are one type of assistance dog, they're just one part of the picture.

Assistance dogs can be trained to perform a wide variety of tasks, including:

• Guiding people who are blind or have low vision
• Alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to important sounds
• Retrieving dropped items or opening doors for someone with a mobility disability
• Detecting changes in blood sugar or warning of an oncoming medical event
• Performing tasks that help people with psychiatric disabilities live more independently

These dogs are not pets while they're working. They are highly trained partners who help their handlers navigate daily life with greater safety, independence, and confidence.

If you see a working assistance dog:
- Give the team space.
- Don't pet, call to, or distract the dog.
- If you'd like to learn more, speak to the handler, not the dog, and respect their privacy if they prefer not to answer questions.

Pictured is Fozzy, a guide dog who helps his handler travel safely and independently every day. Leave him a like and follow our page to celebrate Assistance Dog Week.