The PCPD shall work to ensure an inclusive, universally designed, and welcoming community in terms of safety, well-being, and education for students, faculty and staff who have disabilities.

To accomplish the mission of the PCPD, in the context of social justice, the PCPD will identify issues of concern, best practices, and solutions related to accessibility of the entire community of people with disabilities at the University of Rhode Island.  Many issues will be based on state and federal laws of ADAAA (Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008) and Sections 504/508 of the Rehabilitation Act.  Issues, best practices, and solutions will be submitted to Naomi Thompson, Associate Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, for Community, Equity, and Diversity, who will advocate for these issues at the highest level of the senior leadership team.

Specifically:

1. Encourage a climate to celebrate differences and abilities among all people at URI, while affirming the many outstanding contributions of people with disabilities to the campus community;
2. Identify major topics of concern for people with disabilities;
3. Propose policies, programs and training so that URI’s ongoing dialogue of social justice and civil rights continues to include issues related to disability;
4. Collaborate with all areas of the university community to recommend accessibility, safety, and universal design of buildings, the curriculum, programs, and services;
5. Advise primary URI administrators on issues of disability;
6. Monitor the effectiveness of proposed/implemented policies and initiatives;
7. Communicate progress of these efforts to the administration and surrounding community; and
8. Submit to the senior leadership team and their designees, recommendations that would enhance inclusion and equal opportunity for people with disabilities.