Welcome to Disability Support Services
Our Mission
Disability Support Services (DSS) supports and enhances Lehigh University's educational mission and its commitment to maintaining an inclusive and equitable community by providing equal access and reasonable accommodations to disabled students.
Disability Support Services recognizes and appreciates disability as a valued facet of diversity and is dedicated to mitigating barriers in order to cultivate an equitable and inclusive environment that supports students and fosters intellectual exploration, individual growth, and leadership development so all students can live, learn, and lead at Lehigh.
At Disability Support Services, we work closely with students who self-identify in order to ensure equal access to University programs, activities, and services. Policies and procedures have been developed to help students become confident, successful, and independent self-advocates and learners.
We encourage students to learn more about DSS on our website where they can find information about the support services we provide as well as procedures for requesting accommodations. We also invite students to meet with our staff to address their specific needs.
Inclusive Language
We are excited to announce that the Office of Disability Support Services at Lehigh University is embracing the evolving language of disability by transitioning from person-first to identity-first language.
Since its introduction in the 1980s, the prevailing convention in the United States has been to employ person-first language, which places the individual before their disability or condition. This approach aims to emphasize the personhood of individuals and avoid reducing them to their disabilities; however, many disability advocacy groups argue that person-first language is stigmatizing-language that ignores the social construction of disability.
Identity-first language, on the other hand, emphasizes the disability as an integral aspect of an individual's identity. For instance, instead of saying "students with disabilities," identity-first language would use "disabled students." This approach acknowledges that disability is a significant part of who individuals are and respects their autonomy in defining their identities.
Since its inception, Disability Support Services has been committed to celebrating the diversity inherent in disability and fostering an inclusive and accessible campus community. This decision to embrace identity-first language has been made thoughtfully, following extensive deliberation and careful consideration of recommendations and guidance from disability studies research, disability advocacy groups, best practices in the field, and the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).
While our office is committed to employing identity-first language, we prioritize the autonomy of the students we serve in their choice of identification. We recognize and deeply respect the personal nature of language and identity. As such, our team will consistently honor the preferences expressed by the individuals with whom we work.
We believe that this transition is an important step forward in our ongoing commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all members of our community. We look forward to continuing our work together in fostering a campus culture that values and respects the diverse identities and experiences of every individual.
We encourage community members to read AHEAD’s Statement on Language, review additional resources available on that site, and reach out to DSS with any questions or concerns about this important topic.