Disability Outreach Center

Disability Outreach Center logo with DOC acronym in shades of blue

DOC Office Hours Winter 2024

Day Hours
Monday 12PM - 5PM
Tuesday 12PM - 5PM
Wednesday 12PM - 5PM
Thursday 12PM - 5PM
Friday 12PM - 5PM

 

About the DOC

The Disability Outreach Center (DOC) is a resource for disabled students and allies. The DOC connects students with community resources, raises awareness, and advocates for disabled students’ human and civil rights by:

  • Promoting community building and pride for students with disabilities and
  • Providing educational programming, referrals, and information about disability topics for students.

The DOC is a program of the Disability Access Center.

Come visit the DOC! We are open Monday through Friday noon to 5pm. The DOC is a great place to study, find friends, have a snack (yes, we have snacks!) and hang out.
Wilson Library -165
DOC.Community@wwu.edu
DOC.Education@wwu.edu

 

DOC Events

For information about upcoming events, visit the Centers events page!

Meet our DOC Student Staff

Augden Hayes Headshot

Augden Hayes

They/She
DOC Education Team
DOC.Education@wwu.edu

Hello! This is my second year at Western as an intended Behavioral Neuroscience major, as well as my second year with the DOC. I love working with the DOC and the Centers on campus accessibility, student resources, and building community connections. Reach out or stop by my office hours to get to know me, talk about collaborating, and ask any questions!

Ella Newborn Headshot

Ella Newborn

They/He/She
DOC Education Team
DOC.Education@wwu.edu

Hello! I’m a third year pursuing a theater degree with a concentration in performance and I am a member of the educational team at the DOC. This is my second year in this position and I’m super excited to get to work. Feel free to ask me any questions about student resources and accessibility, or just stop by our office if you want to chat!

Lynna Hall Headshot

Lynna Hall

She/They
DOC Community Building Team
DOC.Community@wwu.edu

Hi! I am a senior working on a double major in anthropology and an interdisciplinary concentration at Fairhaven college, researching critical disability studies and gender theory. I am a queer and neurodivergent musician and love coffee, writing, and connecting with friends. Feel free to stop by if you want to talk about anything!

Sebastian Smith Headshot

Sebastian Smith

He/She
DOC Community Building Team
DOC.Community@wwu.edu

Hello! I'm a Sophomore interested in biology and veterinary science. As part of the DOC community building team, I'm hoping to build a welcoming and inclusive space. I'm queer and disabled, with interests in writing, music, video games, and accessible sports. I'm happy to chat, answer questions, or just chill. If you're curious about the DOC space, I highly recommend checking us out sometime.

Our Work

The DOC is led by student staff working on a Community Building Team and an Education Team. All team members hold regular office hours to provide peer-to-peer support and referrals.

The Community Building Team focuses on building community between disabled students at Western. The team also builds intergenerational community between students, staff, and faculty. Priorities include:

  • Planning and hosting events that build community amongst disabled students, for example study sessions, discussion groups, social events, and care and decompression spaces.
  • Collaboratively with the Education Team, club leaders, and supervisor, building a structure for collaboration and information sharing between clubs that center disability.
  • Establishing regular communication with other Centers student staff and Residence Hall Association to share resources and upcoming events, and to collaborate.
  • Serving on University Residences Pride Housing Advisory Committee.
  • With the Education Team, maintaining DOC’s social media to help build community.

The Education Team focuses on creating programming and digital materials that educate Western students about disability and access, equity, and inclusion for diverse people with disabilities. The Education Team also provides occasional education for faculty and staff about access, equity, and inclusion for disabled students. Priorities include:

  • Planning and delivering educational programming and digital materials, including education connected to disability awareness days and months.
  • With the Community Building Team, maintaining DOC’s social media to help build community.
  • Informing students about resources at Western and beyond, including DAC services, scholarship opportunities, opportunities for club involvement, Off-Campus Living, the Learning Commons, and Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services.
  • Collaboratively with the Community Building Team, club leaders, and supervisor, building a structure for collaboration and information sharing between clubs that center disability.
  • Serving on the Work Group for LGBTQ+ Student Health and Wellness.
  • Working with the Centers colleagues on educational heritage and awareness programs.
  • With the Community Building Team, maintaining DOC’s social media to help educate students about access, diversity, equity, and inclusion as they pertain to disability.

Disability Resources

Disability Access Center (DAC) - Wilson Library 170

Western students can apply for DAC services at their Student Services Application page. The application process is brief and DAC staff are eager to support you!

Disability Access Center (DAC) - Wilson Library 170

Through services, programming, and advocacy centering disabled Western students, the DAC advances holistic student development and inclusive achievement. Focusing on disability outreach services, DAC helps ensure institutional legal compliance and fosters a justice-oriented campus community that centers disability-positive identity formation. DAC increases access, equity, and inclusion for disabled Western students through collaborative transformation of structures, policies, and practices.

Western students can work with the DAC obtain accommodations. If you are unsure if you would qualify for DAC services, reach out to ask and they will do their best to help you. If you would like to talk with a peer about getting accommodations or to join you for a meeting with a DAC access manager, reach out to a DOC staff member.

Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance - Old Main 126

The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (CRTC) is responsible for ensuring that Western complies with federal and state civil rights laws, including the ADA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you have a concern about your civil rights, contact CRTC. The Director of CRTC is also Western's ADA Coordinator.

Structural Equity and Bias Response Team (SEBRT)

Western's Bias Response Team supports students, staff, and faculty who experience bias incidents. You can Report a Bias Incident on their website. Reports may be made anonymously.

Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic - Academic Instruction Center 394

The department of communication sciences and disorders offers a variety of clinics and services for different types of communications disorders; they also have a hearing aid bank available for people with financial need. There are treatment options available for people of all ages. They are funded based on donations; donating is not required to receive services. The clinic accepts referrals from “physicians, educators, other speech-language-hearing professionals, allied health service providers, and directly from clients, as well.”

Counseling and Wellness Center - Old Main 540

The Counseling and Wellness Center offers a variety of services including short term individual counseling, couples counseling, group counseling, workshops, and crisis services. Their groups include Divergent Minds, Build Your Social Confidence, Anxiety Group, and Depression Group. If you have paid the health service fee, you are eligible to receive services.

Academic Technology and User Services (ATUS) - Haggard Hall 123

ATUS has services to facilitate Digital Accessibility at Western for members of the community. These services include accessible web design training, laptop loans, speech to text software, screen reader software. They can also help you set up accessibility features on your computer or mobile device.

Ershig Assistive Technology Resource Center (E-ATRC) - Miller Hall 250

The E-ATRC is a resource center that lends out various assistive technology tools. Their goal is to “increase awareness and use of assistive technologies in order to improve participation in life and increase access to learning for a wide range of individuals with diverse needs.

Student Health Center - Campus Services 2nd floor

The student health center offers basic medical care services, including same day appointments for urgent visits. Their services include primary care, reproductive health, and psychiatric health services. They also can refer you to medical specialists in the greater Whatcom area. Any student who has paid the health and wellness fee is eligible for services.

Veteran Services -  Viking Commons 525

Veteran Services offers up-to-date services and resources to support veterans, reservists, and their dependents who are using their GI Bill educational benefit. They have step by step guides, links to forms, and various other resources.  If you have questions about your benefits, reach out to Veteran Services.

Western Hub of Living Essentials (WHOLE) - Viking Union 435

The goal of WHOLE is to provide students experiencing food insecurity with living essentials including non-perishable food and personal care products.

Disability Studies and Action Collaborative (DSAC)

The purpose of this collaborative is to create more disability studies experiences along the West Coast. This includes beginning the process of creating a disability studies minor and institute at Western Washington University, as well as hosting open collaborative events like the UnConference.

Accessible Parking Spaces on Campus

This website will direct you toward information about accessible parking spaces on campus, as well as how to obtain an accessible parking pass.

For comments or concerns related to physical or digital barriers and accessibility please fill out the Western Accessibility Barrier Form.