1. Establish learning outcomes.
2. Establish a mission statement.
3. Learn about language and how it can reflect a social model or a medical model.
4. Implement that knowledge about language in your office title, procedures, publications, and materials.
Truly these goals should be considered in every office in student affairs. As we have learned time and time again, you need learning outcomes in order to complete successful and productive assessment. Personally I feel that mission statements are important so that students, parents, or anyone else trying to use or learn about your office can understand what resources come from your office and your values in creating and providing those resources. Language is imperative in all of this. Even when I’m not talking about the Office for Disability Services, I try not to use services or support, and instead opt for resources. If more people paid more attention to language and word choice, there would be less misunderstandings and it would produce a healthier environment for everyone. This is something that we, as student affairs professionals, should be working towards; a healthy campus environment for our students.