Barnard’s Student Government Association meets again this week, this time with Holly Tedder, the Director of the Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services. Catch all the updates here!

As you might have heard, Barnard’s Office of Disability Services has rebranded itself as the Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services, or CARDS, this academic year — a rebranding opportunity just as dynamic as a Barnard first-year deciding to shave their head after discovering King Princess. With the change in the office name have come a number of changes, which Holly Tedder, Director of CARDS, spoke with SGA this Monday night.

So you may be thinking: why the name change? Essentially, CARDS aims to stress the availability and access of the office’s services through its new name rather than emphasizing “disabilities” themselves and the barriers that come with them. Among the change at CARDS, a few key differences exist in the new office. First off, the office is now in Altschul 101, which has a lot more space, a break room for testing, and all new distraction-free testing locations within the office. There are also new designated CARDS testing centers located in Barnard Hall. More dedicated staff have been added to the office, with specific year-based assignments that allow students to better get to know their respective point-person within the office.

An increase in programming has been a goal this year, with extra open houses, craft nights, and office events. Programming with office partnerships with Furman, Beyond Barnard, and others have been implemented already and are planned for the coming months. Ally-ship presentations have been active in several residence halls, including Cathedral Gardens and Plimpton.

The CARDS office offers many Among these offerings is academic coaching, with 45 minute once-a-week meetings about time management and organization offered to any student who comes to the office. Assisted technologies for testing and studying can also be provided to students who reach out to the office to help address any disabilities, whether they are visible or not. An expansion of peer mentor hours in the Writing and Speaking Centers has been provided this semester as well, allowing students more opportunities to get academic help.

Header via Bwog Archives