135 JUNIORS Disability Services and Educational Access was an office that had a particular mission involving students with disabilities at Harding. They helped students who were in need of accommodations due to a disability. This office wanted to make sure that all students were able to work at their full potential when enrolled at Harding. Bridget Smith, director of Disability Services and Educational Access, worked with students in her office on a daily basis. “The students that we serve are some of the hardest working individuals that I’ve ever been around,” Smith said. “They have a lot of odds against them and a lot of the things that they deal with aren’t visible. We work with students on a case-by-case basis, so there’s not a one-sizefits-all.” One of the students Smith worked with was junior Evelynn Foster. Foster had low vision and used disability services to help with academic accommodations. These included more time on exams, accommodated seating and having tests read aloud. “They do great working with different kinds of disabilities because mine’s almost purely physical, but I know there are a lot of people with learning disabilities,” Foster said. “They do well with different kinds of people, and I’ve always been treated very nice.” Disability services was devoted to helping students and creating a community with the students and workers at the same time. Senior Covington Crain was a student worker in the office for two years and was a recipient of the services herself. Crain wanted to be involved because she liked creating relationships and working with people with unique needs. “Every need that you have is going to be met on the minute,” Crain said. “They’re quick to respond. They’re helpful. They’re sweet. That’s just the relationships that you’re going to build.” Written by: Mattie Powers TOOLS FOR LEARNING The Office of Disabilities Services and Educational Access serves a student with specific needs. ALL SMILES Junior Evelynn Foster smiles for a photo. She was one of many students to utilize the helpful tools from the Office of Disability Services and Educational Access. Photo by: Julianne Baker
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