Disability Support Services becomes Rice Disability Resource Center

Rice’s Disability Support Services has changed its name to the Rice Disability Resource Center (DRC). This is to reflect its expanded scope of services offered to the community, including expertise and consultation on campus accessibility issues and universal design, which is the design of environments so that they can be used by the widest range of people possible.

Rice’s Disability Support Services has changed its name to the Rice Disability Resource Center.

“The DRC is committed to providing access to the educational environment for students,” said DRC Director Alan Russell. “The center also assists faculty, staff and visitors with accommodation requests to help ensure equal access and opportunity.”

The center’s role is to obtain and file disability-related documents, certify eligibility for accommodations, help to determine reasonable accommodations, develop plans for the provision of accommodations for students, faculty, staff and visitors and to advise Rice regarding the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The goal of the DRC is to achieve the standards of excellence established by the Association on Higher Education and Disability, Russell said.

“The DRC is committed to providing service that is accessible to all, accepting of differences, inclusive of diversity, respectful of needs and knowledgeable in implementation,” he said.

Students (including graduate students and postdoctoral trainees), faculty and staff members who may need accommodations should contact DRC to discuss their needs and begin the registration process.

For more information on the DRC, visit https://drc.rice.edu/.