Accessibility

CARF-accredited organizations embrace and promote accessibility and the removal of barriers for persons served and other stakeholders. Accessibility planning is a multistep approach that begins with barrier identification and then actions to remove or minimize those barriers. Various approaches toward barrier identification will be discussed, and ways to develop an ongoing approach to ensure that persons served and other stakeholders are able to fully and effectively participate will be explored.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize components of an accessibility plan.
• Discuss benefits of a team approach to ensure access.
• Develop a process to identify barriers and action planning that remove and/or minimize barriers.
• Identify team perceptions/biases that may impact service delivery.
• Integrate accessibility into ongoing program development.

Presenter Information: 

Sue Christensen obtained her bachelor of science degree in recreation therapy and a master of science degree in organizational leadership from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota. She is the director of therapy and rehabilitation for Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Sue currently serves as a board of trustee on the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Watchdog Education Foundation, and served on the Beresford School District Board of Education from 2001-2013. Sue and her husband, Dave, established the Shanna Rae Christensen Memorial Scholarship Fund with Sanford Health Foundation in 2007. Expendable dollars are designated to further the education of healthcare professionals providing care and treatment for children with special needs. Sue is an active CARF surveyor.