Meet new Americans With Disabilities Act compliance officer

September 6, 2012 | News, UToday
By Samantha Watson



Wiitala

Wendy Wiitala is The University of Toledo’s new Americans With Disabilities Act/504 compliance officer. She will bring her knowledge of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and work experience as a former ADA compliance/advocate to her new role.

The position of ADA/504 compliance officer is different this year; it is a part of the Internal Audit Department.

“The biggest change I’ve seen at UT is what’s happening right now,” Wiitala said. “To put an ADA compliance officer in the position where they’re putting me can be more impactful.”

Now that the position is within the Internal Audit Department, Wiitala said she will have better access to the University’s officials. She also wishes to work with different areas of the University to make things happen, rather than oversee what others are doing.

“Through getting people together to talk to each other and coordinate, we can create positive change in the University,” Wiitala said. “We can be very proactive in making this University accessible and accommodating for all of our students, employees and patients who have disabilities.”

She received her graduate and undergraduate degrees from UT and was a faculty member in the Disability Studies Program from 2006 to 2009, and has seen the University grow firsthand over the last few years. She has watched the University become more accessible and knows how important these changes are for UT.

“This will be a challenging role, but I look forward to the challenge,” Wiitala said. “I look forward to seeing our efforts move forward in a positive way.”

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