Student Accessibility Support

The Brandeis Campus Accessibility Committee (CAC) is a campus-wide interdisciplinary group of students, staff, and faculty – both people with disabilities and allies – who collaboratively identify and address accessibility concerns and promote disability inclusion.

Membership is open to anyone from the Brandeis University community (students, faculty, and staff) who is interested in advocating for the disabled community, and to advance the Disability Rights Motto of “Nothing about us without us”.

All members are responsible for contributing ideas and suggestions on how to further advance the CAC mission and purpose. Additionally, members are encouraged to discuss CAC projects and goals within their university communities. When unable to attend, members are strongly advised to provide input in response to meeting minutes and/or action items.

For more information or to inquire about becoming a member of the CAC, contact the Director of Student Accessibility Support.

Although there are no term limits, members are encouraged to attend at least 70-75% of meetings in an academic year. Meeting attendance will be recorded and retained by CAC leadership.

The Chair and Co-Chair of CAC oversees the group by providing guidance regarding university systems/structures, logistical assistance, and solicits input from all members regarding future directions. Additionally, they will coordinate with non-CAC members of the university as accessibility topics arise and additional collaboration is needed.

Chair: Director of Student Accessibility Support (SAS)

Co-Chair: Professional Staff member of Student Accessibility Support (SAS)

Where accessibility challenges affect the university at large, employees are encouraged to join CAC. As the work of the CAC spans the university experience, representatives from the following offices are specifically invited to participate:

• Capital Projects
• Community Living
• Counseling Center
• Dean of Students Office
• Department of Student Engagement
• Facilities Services
• Office of Graduate Affairs
• Health Center
• Hospitality/Dining Vendor
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Library
• Office of Equal Opportunity
• Parking and Transportation
• Public Safety
• Staff-Faculty Accessibility Group
• University Ombuds (a neutral resource)

Faculty and staff members are tasked with promoting CAC initiatives and efforts within their departments and campus networks of influence. 

 Additionally, faculty and staff are urged to bring to CAC questions and concerns related to accessibility raised by personal experiences and colleagues. 

Student representation will span undergraduate and graduate schools.

Graduate Students: a minimum of 5 students

• Graduate Student Association (GSA) Representative
• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS)
• Heller School for Social Policy and Management 
• Brandeis International Business School (BIBS)
• Rabb School of Continuing Studies

In the event that a representative from a specific school is not identified, an at large member will be considered.

Undergraduate Students: a minimum of 5 students

• Student Union Representative
• At least four at large members

Each semester, student committee members of CAC will create opportunities for students to provide feedback in student-only spaces. This may include a community forum, anonymous survey, etc. These opportunities are designed to create avenues for students to raise accessibility questions and concerns to peer advocates, who will then bring them to the committee in an anonymous way. In this way, our work can always be grounded in the lived experiences and needs of our students. These opportunities will be posted through the Student Accessibility Support Instagram, @Brandeis_SAS, social media of community partners, and emailed to all students registered with SAS. 

Students are compensated for their time in attending meetings.

Assembled based on the group’s interests and needs with members taking an active role. This could include subcommittees for further research, connecting with campus partners who are not regular attendees, or new initiatives.

Anyone with a Brandeis email can access the CAC shared Google Drive folder to find detailed meeting agendas and notes.

Community members can submit accessibility issues to us at any time by filling out our Accessibility Issue Reporting Form.  Form submissions are read by the Chair of the Campus Accessibility Committee and then directed to the appropriate people/departments/groups for action or raised to the committee as appropriate. The form will be permanently posted on the SAS webpage.

The charter will be reviewed on a yearly basis and revisions will be made as Chair, Co-Chair, and membership deems necessary. Amendments to the charter would be approved with a two-thirds majority vote.