CSU develops new Accessibility Center, names inaugural senior director

Changes to Colorado State University’s accessibility services are coming. In a soon-to-be one-stop shop, CSU will be combining its services in the new Accessibility Center, which will be directed by Amy Taylor. Taylor will start the role as the inaugural senior director Oct. 13.

The center aims to connect services such as the Student Disability Center, the Assistive Technology Resource Center and aspects of the Institute for Learning and Teaching. Taylor will work to develop the center.

“I’m super excited because I feel like this is a wonderful opportunity for me professionally,” Taylor said. “I get to be an inaugural senior director to help start the Accessibility Center and bring that vision that’s been in the works for a couple of years.”

Susan James, vice provost for faculty affairs, announced Taylor’s hiring to the faculty and staff Aug. 27. The center will operate under the offices of the vice provost and executive vice president.

“If you’re somebody who, for instance, has some kind of disability and has accessibility needs, we want you to think of CSU as the No. 1 place to go,” James said.

Although the center is new, the idea has been in the works for several years; it was partially sparked by changes in both federal and state laws, specifically Colorado House Bill 21-1110. The bill adds language to strengthen protections for persons with disabilities and requires CSU to update its policies to fully comply with state accessibility guidelines.

CSU Libraries Dean Karen Estlund played a central role in the idea development phase of the center.

“We ended up taking a task force … just to work on what would happen if we had one place for students to go,” Estlund said. “It really came out with identifying how we could make this easier for folks that both benefit from the accessibility and are also responsible for trying to provide accessible materials.”

Taylor will lead the center with years of experience working in higher education with students with disabilities. Taylor previously worked in accessibility offices at the University of Idaho and North Idaho College.

“Amy will bring to CSU a passion for advancing accessibility initiatives paired with an impressive record navigating oversight of independent but interrelated programs,” James wrote in her announcement of Taylor’s hiring. “We are excited to develop the new center under Amy’s grounded and inspired vision.”

Associate Vice Provost for Organizational Strategy and Academic Leadership Development Kimberly Miloch was appointed chair of the search committee by Provost and Executive Vice President Marion Underwood. Details of the search committee and process are confidential, Miloch said. However, James shared that advertising for the role was conducted nationwide.

Taylor first learned about the job opportunity through a colleague who emailed her the link for the job application. 

“I was really intrigued by what was going on at CSU and creating an accessibility center,” Taylor said. “(I) did a little more research about CSU in general and what the accessibility center looked like to see if that fit with my career goals as well.”

From there, Taylor underwent multiple sets of interviews. The first interview happened virtually. Once she made it to the later stages of the process, Taylor flew out to CSU and was eventually hired.

“(Amy) was by far the top choice of everybody, not only the search committee, but all the people who put input,” James said. “She just had such a great combination of skills because she has the experience in these various areas to do this type of work: student disabilities, health and management, leadership skills, and (she) demonstrates an understanding of the need to work on building a new team and getting everybody involved (and) kind of rowing in the same direction.”

Upon starting her role, one of Taylor’s first responsibilities is to find ways to promote and advertise the center to students, Estlund said. Taylor also shared that she met with representatives from campus resources that will be included in the center during her campus visit. Taylor said that her first tasks is to continue building on that experience and familiarize herself with the “good work that’s already being done.”

Reach Chloe Rios at news@collegian.com or on social media @rmcollegian.