Announcing the Accessibility Task Force

Oct. 3, 2025

Dear URI Community Members,

Last month—Sept. 26, 2025—marked the 52nd anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a landmark civil rights law introduced to promote greater opportunities for individuals with disabilities in service delivery and employment, which laid the groundwork for the introduction of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. One of every four adults in the United States has an apparent or non-apparent disability, and 44% of adults with intellectual developmental disabilities, ages 21-64, are in the labor force. Disability rights are civil rights, and now more than ever, public entities, such as the University of Rhode Island, must continue making efforts to enhance access to programs, services, and activities.

As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month throughout October, I am pleased to share that the University of Rhode Island has convened an Accessibility Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to provide an overarching structure to coordinate support for disability access and inclusion initiatives across the University in alignment with our Focus URI Strategic Plan. The Accessibility Task Force is designed to provide community voice to help prioritize and address concerns, offer feedback on the effectiveness of proposed policies, and communicate and champion access and inclusion initiatives at the University. 

Joining me as task force executive co-sponsors are Vice President for Administration and Finance Abby Benson and Vice President for Student Affairs Ellen Reynolds. Task force members were selected by the executive co-sponsors and reflect University representatives from the following areas: Office of Human Resources; Information Technology Services; Office of Enrollment Management; Office of Capital Projects; Office of Community, Equity, and Diversity; Office of Disability Access and Inclusion; Office of Equal Opportunity; the faculty; an undergraduate student selected in consultation with Student Senate; and a graduate student selected in consultation with the Graduate Student Association. Andrew Davies, professor of biological sciences, and Dorca P. Smalley, director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, serve as task force co-chairs. Although the task force is not an internal review board and is not charged with reviewing the actions or work of any of the responsible campus offices, the task force welcomes input at accessibility-task-force-group@uri.edu regarding educational programs and guest speakers, as well as information that would be helpful to the University community regarding accessibility initiatives and compliance efforts underway.

The task force generally meets monthly during the academic year from September through May. The first meeting was held in October 2024 to coincide with Disability Employment Awareness Month. Going forward, the task force will report to the University Diversity Council. The task force has launched a website, drafted a University-wide definition of accessibility, and partnered with the Office of Equal Opportunity to host an event to raise awareness of accessibility compliance, initiatives, and resources at URI.

I am grateful to the task force members who agreed to serve in addition to their duties as faculty, staff, and students to advance the University’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, people-centered culture.

Accessibility Task Force

In community,

Markeisha J. Miner
Vice President for Community, Equity, and Diversity