CWU Disability Services aims to provide equitable access to education

Access is at the core of Central Washington University’s vision, underpinning much of the important work we do every day on campus and in the community to deliver a world-class education to those who want one.

Once students are accepted to CWU, the Office of Disability Services becomes a key resource for improving access to educational resources by removing barriers related to temporary and permanent disabilities.

Disability Services Director Kendall Smart has been serving in her role since August 2025 after holding a variety of positions in the office since 2017. She and her team take a holistic approach to the services they provide, addressing the needs of students with disabilities who reach out for assistance.

“Our office is here to ensure equal access to education, and to reduce the stigma around disability,” Smart said. “We celebrate disability as diversity. I want students to know that if they’re struggling academically and don’t quite know where to start, we’re a great place to get connected. By registering with our office and providing documentation of their disability, students can discover accommodations they may be eligible to receive, and we can connect them with other resources within the CWU community as well.”

Smart’s tenure as director has thus far been marked by an enthusiasm for introspection and a willingness to examine each step of the process. “I see it as an opportunity to find out where our gaps are, and what opportunities we have to better serve our students,” she said. “I think we’ve done an amazing job, with past teams as well as the current one, and we’re always looking for ways to improve and get the word out about what our office offers.”

“If a student is interested in exploring options for receiving services through our office, it is important for them to know that we do need documentation to showcase a diagnosis.  However, we also understand that there can be barriers in getting that documentation or seeing a healthcare provider,” Smart said. “We’re happy to have those conversations to figure out what’s happening and how we can best provide support.”

As a 2016 CWU alumna, Smart has valuable first-hand knowledge of navigating CWU, which she relishes passing on to students who come to her for advice.

“As a person with a disability and having navigated college environments, working with students has always been a passion of mine,” she said. “I love having those check-in meetings over their time at Central to see how things are going and just catch up. I always tell students to please come to me if there are issues, but we also like to hear about all the good things happening as well.”

Students seeking to explore their options for accommodations through Disability Services can visit the CWU Disability Services website (Disability Services | Central Washington University) to complete the registration form, or stop by the office in Boullion 205 and ask any questions they may have.

“I’m really excited to be here,” she said. “I love working with students and our team. I think we’re really getting into the flow of meeting demand for services, because it’s important that we’re able to provide for anyone who needs it.”

Smart looks forward to a year of important conversations and growth as the overall work to provide educational access and opportunity to Wildcats from all walks of life continues.