The ACCESS Project at CSU

Funder: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education

Website: http://accessproject.colostate.edu

Email: ACCESSproject@colostate.edu

Key Personnel:

• Cathy Schelly, M.Ed., OTR, Principal Investigator (PI) (CCP Director)
• Patti Davies, PhD., OTR, Co-PI and Director of Research
• Marla Roll, MS, OTR, Co-PI (ATRC Director)
• Craig Spooner, MA, Project Coordinator
• Julia Kothe, M.Ed., Self-Advocacy Program Coordinator (CCP Asst. Director)
• Cynthia Spang-Tate, MA, Self-Advocacy Specialist
• Pat Burns, PhD., Institutional Liaison

Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs):

• Wendy Colgan, OTS
• Jayne Gonda, OTS

The ACCESS project at Colorado State University implements and disseminates Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and strategies that create inclusive classroom instruction and accessible course materials, along with Self-Advocacy (SA) strategies that empower students to take an active role in their postsecondary education. The ACCESS is also providing compelling new evidence about the effectiveness of UDL and SA as methodologies for improving the learning experience, persistence, and retention of college students with disabilities. Focus areas and activities include far-reaching expansion of UDL dissemination and implementation, comprehensive integration of self-advocacy principles and strategies, and measurement of faculty commitment and student outcomes.