Before joining SSD as a disability counselor in 2019, he was an independent living counselor and disability advocate for New River Valley Disability Resource Center and now serves on their board of directors. He obtained his master's degree in counseling and human development with a concentration in student affairs from Radford University, while also serving as student body president. Matt Shelor works with students in the College of Engineering (last names H-Z) and students in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.

She earned a bachelor's degree in animal and poultry sciences from Virginia Tech and completed an internship with a local therapeutic riding program where she helped facilitate equine assisted activities for individuals with disabilities. In 2021, Simpkins began her new role in the department as an access specialist. She works with students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (last names A-M) and with students in the Pamplin College of Business. Haylee Simpkins joined SSD in 2018 working with the front office and the Werth Testing Center. Glass Smith has served as a counselor at SSD since 2014. She's previously worked as an accommodations specialist at The University of Alabama and as an associate professor and counselor in the Virginia’s Community College System. She is a certified rehabilitation counselor and earned her master's degree in rehabilitation counseling in 2008, and her education specialist degree in counselor education in 2016, both from The University of Alabama. SSD currently has five access specialists that assist students with accommodations in specific departments throughout campus.ĭonna Glass Smith works with students in the College of Engineering (last names A-G), and with students in both university studies, as well as the graduate population at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

The staff at SSD offer students a number of services and accommodations, including the SSD testing center, note takers, alternate text, accommodations for deaf and hard of hearing students, among numerous other accommodations.

Disabilities can alter the way a student takes notes, understands or interprets lectures, or the ability to attend class. Although some disabilities are not overtly obvious, such as ADHD, deafness, depression, or cystic fibrosis, they are just as impactful to a person and can still limit major life activity. Visible disabilities can include wheelchair users, amputees, individuals with service animals or white cane users, while emergent disabilities include broken limbs, concussions, and acute illnesses. Disabilities present in three ways: hidden, visible, and emergent. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual. In a joint effort to raise awareness and advocate for those with disabilities, both Student Affairs and SSD aim to remove attitudinal and informational barriers surrounding disabilities by highlighting SSD’s services and their continued support for students as they increase academic, classroom, and on-campus housing accessibility. As part of Virginia Tech Student Affairs, SSD serves undergraduate and graduate students at all Viriginia Tech campuses, as well as distance and online learners, international students, veterans, and students who attend the veterinary medicine and medical schools. SSD is vital for students who need classroom and academic accommodations. The role that we play has a lot to do with finding systemic barriers that students encounter in the classroom and finding accommodations that will remove those barriers for them So the classes remain just as challenging and not a challenge that wouldn't exist if they didn't have a disability,” said Associate Director Christa Miller, who joined the SSD team this year. “SSD is critical to the success of many students. The access specialists team members of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) ensure that the disability community at Virginia Tech is provided with the necessary accommodations to advance in their academic journey.

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