About Us
College of Charleston is committed to providing educational opportunities for all students and assisting them in making their college experience fully accessible and positive.
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008 College of Charleston recognizes a student with a disability as anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. CDS coordinates the provision of reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and students experiencing barriers due to inaccessibility. All reasonable accommodations are individualized, flexible and confidential based on the nature of the disability.
Who We Are & What We Do
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Responsibilities
College Responsibilities
College of Charleston is responsible for:- Providing equal access to postsecondary education for students with disabilities.
- Ensuring all programs and extracurricular activities are accessible to students with disabilities.
- Assessing reported barriers to equal access and determining reasonable accommodations to address those barriers.
Faculty Responsibilities
Faculty members are responsible for:- Communicating with students and Center for Disability Services throughout the semester if they have questions regarding access needs.
- Ensuring accommodations are effectively implemented in a timely manner.
- Maintaining confidentiality of student information
- Including a syllabus statement from Center for Disability Services.
- Creating course materials in accessible formats.
Student Responsibilities
Students are responsible for:- Initiating the process to request accommodations.
- Requesting accommodations in a tiimely manner.
- Providing proper and adequate documentation.
- Sharing Professor Notification Letters in a timely manner.
- Communicating ongoing access needs with Center for Disability Services and/or instructors throughout the semester.
- Providing equal access to postsecondary education for students with disabilities.
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Meet the Staff
Anne Osowski, M.Ed.
DirectorAnne provides strategic leadership for the Center for Disability Services and regularly engages with faculty and campus partners to further disability inclusion on campus. Anne has worked in disability services in higher education for over 15 years, and her approach is student-centered and social model oriented. She enjoys presenting on various topics relevant to higher education at local and national conferences. Anne serves on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability (JPED). In 2019, Anne was fortunate to be part of a group of colleagues and students at CofC who helped to bring about the Neurodiversity Initiative on our campus; over time the initiative has transformed into a successful student-led organization whose goal is to make a more inclusive and supportive campus for those who are neurodiverse.
In her free time, Anne enjoys travels, attending music or cultural events, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Cat Edler, M.A.
Assistant DirectorCat strives to increase disability inclusion on campus. She worked in K-12 public education as a special education administrator for 37 years before entering disability services in higher education in 2023. She focuses on student needs and is student oriented. Cat is a College of Charleston alumna. She earned a Master’s degree at Hampton University and a Certificate of Advanced Studies at George Washington University.
In her free time, Cat enjoys reading, spending time with family and traveling.
Victoria Drohan, M.S.W.
Access SpecialistVictoria Drohan is the Access Specialist in the Center for Disability Services at the College of Charleston. Victoria has dedicated her career to working with children, youth, and college students in schools, hospitals, and higher education settings, particularly those with disabilities. As a proud College of Charleston alumna who utilized the Center for Disability Services all four years, as she was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy at the age of three, she knows what students face firsthand. Prior to her current position, she worked with AccessAbility as a transition specialist. Currently, she is on the SCAHEAD board as the co-programming chair. Other community highlights include giving a TEDx talk in 2017 titled “How to Interact with Disabled People.” Victoria graduated the College of Charleston in 2014 with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and from Boston College in 2019 with her Master of Social Work. She enjoys what Charleston has to offer with her husband in her free time.
Yvette Lambright
Student Services CoordinatorYvette Lambright is the Student Service Coordinator for the Center for Disability Services. Yvette has been employed with the College for 19 years, serving five of those years with the Higdon Student Leadership Center. Before joining the College of Charleston family, she was the program coordinator for MUSC Alzheimer’s Research and Clinical Programs. Her career has been predicated on helping those who are neurodiverse believe in their potential and possibilities.
Redina Alston
Administrative Assistant
Redina Alston is the Administrative Assistant for the Center for Disability Services. Redina has served in this position for 6 years. She manages the diverse needs of our students and faculty. Redina serves as a primary point of contact for the Alternative Testing Site (ATS), (processing testing forms submitted by students; checking students in and out; implementing testing accommodations).In her free time, Redina enjoys spending time with her family.