10/15 Annual Conversation Between DNA and The SDAO

This week, the Duke Neurodiversity Advocates (DNA) are teaming up with the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) for an open conversation about accessibility on campus — what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can build a more neurodivergent-friendly Duke together.

Too often, accessibility is talked about rather than with the people it affects. This meeting flips that script. SDAO staff will begin by briefly outlining what services and accommodations they provide — testing support, housing adjustments, assistive technology, faculty coordination, and more.

Then, we’ll shift the focus to you — the students. We’ll have an open (but respectful) dialogue about:

• What accommodations have actually worked — and where they’ve fallen short

• How policies sometimes fail to capture the lived realities of neurodivergent and chronically ill students

• The emotional and logistical barriers to asking for help

• Ways DNA and SDAO can partner to make access feel proactive, not bureaucratic

• Real ideas for improving communication between students and staff