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K-State Today

February 4, 2014

Students, faculty share importance of Student Access Center

Submitted by Patrice Scott

Student Access Center video

The College of Education has produced two new videos — one from students’ perspectives and one from faculty members’ — focusing on student need and support services on campus  in collaboration with the Student Access Center.

The Student Access Center serves more than 600 students with a wide range of disabilities including learning, physical, sensory, medical and psychological.

“We are privileged to have the opportunity to work and intersect with some of the brightest and most courageous students at K-State,” said Andrea Blair, director of the Student Access Center.

The first video tells the stories of Rutherford Sanford IV, a recent graduate in hotel and restaurant management who has dyslexia; and Allison Olive, a business administration major who was paralyzed in a car accident. 

“Like Allison, any one of us could become a member of this group at any time,” Blair said. “It’s comforting for many students to know that we are here if and when they should need us. We also work with faculty to ensure their students’ needs are being met.”

The second video focuses on three faculty members’ viewpoints. Brian Neihoff, associate provost for institutional effectiveness, reveals the important role faculty can play in student’s lives. Then, Ann Knackendoffel, assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs, and Jim Teagarden, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs, explain there are many strategies available to accommodate students’ needs to help ensure their academic success. .

“This is such an important topic because K-State is committed to providing access to all of our students, including information resources and technology,” Blair said. “We used to think of accessibility in terms of curb cuts and elevators. But as we solved those issues, our attention has shifted to accessible technology. For example, faculty are using technology more than ever to deliver course content so it becomes necessary to ensure that webpages are accessible, closed captioning appears on videos, and word documents, PDF’s and PowerPoints are saved in accessible formats.”

The Student Access Center is located in 202 Holton Hall. For more information, call the center at 532-6441 or visit the website at