After 18 years of service to Colorado College, Jan Edwards will retire on June 2. In January 2005, Jan established the Office of Disability Services, now named Accessibility Resources, to centralize services for students with disabilities—a population that has grown significantly over time. To meet the needs of students, Jan has increased the number of staff from one to a team of four and has adopted comprehensive accommodation and case management software to streamline the work of the office. In the field of higher education and disability, Accessibility Resources is recognized as a model program that uses best practices to successfully support students with disabilities.

In addition to her tenure as Director of Accessibility Resources, Jan has served as the college’s ADA/504 Coordinator. In this role, she has been the college’s central point of contact for disability-related matters and advises all sectors of the college community regarding disability compliance and access. A highlight of this work was the leadership Jan provided for the college’s settlement agreement with the Department of Justice that focused on ensuring that our physical campus and policies, practices, and procedures meet the requirements of the ADA. This work spanned seven years, resulting in a campus that is readily accessible to people with disabilities.

In approaching her retirement, Jan notes, “The success of Accessibility Resources is directly attributable to our strong staff, whom I can’t thank enough, and the many campus partners who contribute to ensuring that the college welcomes and supports students, employees, and guests of the college who experience disabilities. CC has been an amazing place to work. I value the wonderful students I’ve worked with and the friendships I’ve made over the years. Let’s stay in touch!”

The Office of Accessibility Resources will now be led by incoming Director Sara Rotunno. Please join me in congratulating Jan for everything she has done for Accessibility Resources and Colorado College. We wish her all the best in a very well-deserved retirement!

Sincerely,

Dean of the College