History

The Disability Resource Center History Timeline

Striving to ensure access to University employment, courses, programs, facilities, services and activities, the DRC works to secure the rights of people with disabilities.

Early Years

1943

Alice Christian hired to work with GIs
1973

Rehabilitation Act of 1973
1974

The Student Handicapped Input Team “the Unicorns” form
1978

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act coordinator appointed
1979 First DRS liaison hired
1980 Computer Accommodations initiated on campus
1985 Disability Services hires first permanent director

 

1990s

1990

Disability Services hosts AHEAD conference
1991
  • Formalized liaison relationships with financial aid etc…
  • Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Disability Services is awarded first of eight federally funded grants
1992

4D Implemented
1993
  • Disabled Student Cultural Center launched
  • First employees with disabilities served in Disability Services
1994 Disability Services hosts “Disabled and Proud”
1995 Outreach initiative to colleges begins
1998 OIT/DS CAP Partnership
1999
  • College model implemented with AHC
  • DS moves to McNamara

 

2000s

2001 Kurzweil piloted
2002 AIT Policy
2004
  • Provost’s Committee on Mental Health formed
  • DS Captioning initiated
2005 U Return begins serving all faculty and staff regardless of when, where, and how disability occurs
2006 Doc Con begins de-binding & high speed scanning
2008
  • Student Services launches electronic letters
  • ADA Amendments initiated
2009
  • Tactile Maps developed
  • Marcus Foundation Faculty Education Grant Funded to create more welcoming learning environments for medical trainees with invisible disabilities
2010
  • Advancing Access For Everyone Awards launched to celebrate the contributions of allies on campus
  • Accessibility.umn.edu launched
  • Click & Go Wayfinding System launched
2011
  • Disability Studies graduate minor to be housed in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
  • Talking ATMs advance universal design on campus
2014

Disability Services (DS) changes its name to the Disability Resource Center (DRC)