Health Science Center and Health-Related Disciplines Learning Specialist
Lisa Diekow serves as the health science center disability liaison who works with DRC student and representatives from each college to address access barriers within didactic and clinical settings.
We are available to assist students in navigating barriers, caused by disability, which they encounter in Health Sciences and Medical Education programs. While some disabilities are pre-existing, some are recognized during their time at UF. We are here to support students through the pre-registration process and initial meeting/interactive process to discuss the disability documentation and to determine reasonable accommodations.
Students in health science center programs or health-related disciplines who are not yet registered with the DRC, should visit our Get Started with the DRC page. For general inquiries, please email accommodations@ufsa.ufl.edu.
Lisa Diekow, M.S.Ed.
Learning Specialist
Disability Resource Center
Email:accomodations@ufsa.ufl.edu
We strive to proactively improve the student experience by addressing the access needs of DRC students in health science and medical education programs. The example below illustrates the need for proactively planning to ensure accommodations meet the technical standards of the program while addressing the student’s access needs.
While by no means an exhaustive list, accommodations for the didactic setting may include:
- Preferential seating
- Audio recording of lectures
- Speech-to-text software program
- Note taking software program
- Closed captioning for course materials
- Additional time on exams
- Low distraction or separate testing environment
While by no means an exhaustive list, accommodations for the clinical/experiential setting may include:
- Ability to take time off to attend medical appointments
- Periodic breaks to support medical condition (monitor glucose, access to nutrition, take medication, use of restroom)
- Consideration to reduce barriers through scheduling location and sequence of clinical rotations or experiential settings
- Smartpen
- Amplified or digital stethoscopes
- Use of listening or communication devices
DRC Health Sciences Liaison Network
The DRC Health Science Liaison Network is chaired by Lisa Diekow, DRC HSC Learning Specialist and is comprised of representatives from the professional schools/programs within the Health Science Center and health-related disciplines.
We strive to support access and inclusion for students with disabilities in health science education. The Network meets quarterly to discuss current DRC growth trends, forecasting access issues for health science students with disabilities and to share knowledge about specific program trends, admissions criteria, and technical standards.
Dr. Mark Bishop, PT, Ph.D. FAPTA
Associate Professor
College of Public Health and Health Professions
Department of Physical Therapy
Email:bish@phhp.ufl.edu
Dr. Teresa Cavanaugh, Pharm.D., BCPS
Assistant Dean and Clinical Associate Professor
College of Pharmacy
Email:tcavanaugh@cop.ufl.edu
Dr. Amanda House, DVM, DACVIM
Interim Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs
College of Veterinary Medicine
Email:housea@ufl.edu
Dr. Versie Johnson-Mallard, Ph.D, ARNP, FAAN
Associate Dean of Student Affairs &
Director of Student Success
College of Nursing
Email:vjmallard@ufl.edu
Dr. Consuelo Kreider, Ph.D., OTR/L
Clinical Assistant Professor
College of Public Health and Health Professions
Department of Occupational Therapy
Email:ckreider@phhp.ufl.edu
Dr. Patty Probert, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Student Advocacy & Inclusion
Clinical Assistant Professor, Community Dentistry & Behavioral Science
College of Dentistry
Email:pprobert@dental.ufl.edu
Resources
The Disability Resource Center is committed to continued education, engagement and involvement in the professional organizations that shape the vision of equity for students with disabilities. We encourage staff, faculty and students to have an awareness of the professional spaces that move access forward for equal opportunities in health education.