Accommodations Are Not Equity: Examining Higher Education's Approach

Although colleges and universities work to create environments of equity, the current approach to accommodations and accessibility within higher education has led to greater inequity between students with disabilities and their peers. The following commentary essay examines legal, empirical, and journalistic literature on the application effectiveness of industry norms in accommodation practices. The article argues that the accommodations process both forces students with disabilities to compete with their peers for resources and fails to ensure the accommodations offered provide effective support for students’ long-term success inside and outside the classroom. This commentary suggests that focusing accessibility efforts on skill development and empowerment within education fosters a society of people who are better able to engage and include individuals with disabilities.