Washington State University Pullman senior Makinsey Mascali is graduating in May and credits the accommodations she receives from the Access Center for making it possible.
Mascali was diagnosed in high school with dyslexia, a learning disorder that makes reading difficult. The disorder impacts her ability to take good notes in class, focus on lectures, and take tests without experiencing extreme anxiety.
When she arrived at WSU four years ago, she met with an Access Center advisor to discuss her challenges with dyslexia. Together, they identified accommodations that helped level the playing field for her.
“My accommodations have made a drastic difference and my grades have never been higher,” Mascali said. “I am so passionate about the Access Center and what they have done for me.”
Mascali is one of about 1,400 students the Access Center helps every semester in Pullman, Everett and Bremerton as well as through Global Campus online classes. Similar centers exist on the Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Vancouver campuses, and they work together to provide consistent services across the system.
A team effort
Cassondra Yarlott, assistant director for operations in the Access Center, said accommodations look different for every student depending on their unique needs and they are not limited to classrooms. Many students request accommodations to enhance their overall student experience; for example, some students in residence halls seek a room near an elevator, others benefit from have an emotional support animal or a sign language interpreter.
Mascali’s accommodations allow her to take exams in a private room in the Access Center instead of in classrooms where she is easily distracted, and she receives extra time to complete them. Assistive technology also plays an important role, as cutting-edge software converts her instructors’ lectures into text and another type of software converts her textbooks into an audio format.
Implementing accommodations is a team effort that involves advisors, students, and faculty. In a typical year, the Access Center coordinates with several hundred faculty members to provide testing accommodations, provides training on removing barriers for students in classrooms, and consults with faculty seeking guidance on how to help particular students. Faculty play such a key role in providing accommodations that the Access Center created a faculty liaison group several years ago to help facilitate more communication and collaboration.
Judi McDonald, a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, said she finds the faculty liaison group invaluable when she has questions about how to implement an accommodation or wants to explore other options.
“The Access Center staff shares what they know to be successful in helping students in different situations,” McDonald said. “They are always willing to come to the table and have conversations with faculty.”
Mascali, a human development major, appreciates that faculty include the WSU Reasonable Accommodations Statement in their syllabi and would like to see more of them take an additional step toward accessibility by creating safe places for students to open up about their disabilities.
“I know that helping with accommodations can sometimes be an extra step for faculty, such as dropping off exams at the Access Center,” she said. “But those who have gone above and beyond to help me have made a big impact on my success.”
Everyone has a role
Rob Morales, assistant director of student services in the Access Center, said everyone who works at the university has a role in making sure students have access to everything they need.
“We all need to ask ourselves how we can make things inclusive for them,” he said. “How can we make our courses and programs universally designed so there are no barriers for students?”
Mascali said if she can provide inspiration for others to work toward building an inclusive learning environment, she is proud to play that role. After graduation, she will begin a job with a professional staffing and recruitment company in Seattle – something she never envisioned herself being able to do until now. “I’m a totally different person from four years ago, and I’m very happy with how much I have grown,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without the Access Center and my professors who listened to me, supported me, and guided me along the way.”
