Barbara Woodhead found a passion advocating for the rights of students with disabilities, ensuring their right to equal access to education is upheld. That passion has guided her through her decades serving those students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Woodhead, director of Services for Students with Disabilities, recently received the Honor for Meritorious Contribution from the national Association on Higher Education and Disability, one of the organization’s highest honors. Through her work, Woodhead collaborates with faculty and staff to protect students’ rights to an equitable university experience.
“Accommodations don’t lower expectations — all students are capable of contributing and participating, some need the institutional barriers removed,” she said. “The intent is for them to have a university experience like their peers, where they can participate in and out of the classroom. My department is dedicated to facilitating equitable and integrated access so that no qualified student is denied the benefits of university programming and activities.”
Her years of serving students and helping others do the same are among the reasons Woodhead received AHEAD’s Honor for Meritorious Contribution. The nomination letter for Woodhead said she cultivated “a culture of belonging, trust and connection within our network” and she “serves as a vital resource to our WINAHEAD membership, regularly sharing expertise, best practices and encouragement.” Woodhead has been an active member of the Western Iowa and Nebraska AHEAD regional affiliate for 19 years and has served in various leadership roles, including president.
“Barbara Woodhead is a shining example of leadership, vision and dedication in the field of disability services,” the nomination letter said. “Her contributions have had a lasting and meaningful impact on both individuals and institutions, making her highly deserving of this prestigious recognition.”
“There are so many people doing the same work I do here, and they do it very well,” Woodhead said. “This is a very supportive field where colleagues from other schools will reach out with questions and resources.”
Woodhead’s path to disabilities work began when her husband suggested they both take classes in American Sign Language. Through that early experience, Woodhead met many members of the Deaf community and was encouraged to become an ASL interpreter.
“I learned about this community that has a shared language, cultural norms and fascinating contributions in history,” she said. “I quickly realized that my perspectives and experiences were limited and uninformed. The Deaf community taught me the importance of accessible communication.”
About 30 years ago, she started work at the university in the Services for Students with Disabilities office as an ASL interpreter. She later became the assistant director and was named director of the office in 2023.
The office connects students with resources and services that mitigate institutional barriers. Through documentation review and detailed conversations, disability specialists determine a student’s eligibility for accommodations.
“The university is interested in what they’re capable of doing, not how they perform under the impact of their disability, not how they’re restricted by their disability,” she said.
Staff in the office ensure students’ equal access to education through services such as note-taking software, extended time on exams or adaptive equipment. The office serves students with more than 170 different disabilities.
Woodhead values collaborating with faculty on methods of making their courses and materials more accessible. She is often impressed, she said, by instructors who develop their own creative solutions to barriers that students encounter.
“It’s very important for us to be available to faculty to guide that process or provide clarification,” Woodhead said.
Woodhead said students living with disabilities can bring unique perspectives to campus. She said having their point of view present on campus benefits everyone.
“That’s one of the big pluses of higher ed,” she said. “You get to interact with individuals with and without disabilities who are different than you.”
The heart of Woodhead’s work, both locally and nationwide, is for everyone to understand that accommodations level the playing field so all students have access to a positive university experience.
“The work is becoming more complex, but it is extremely exciting to see individuals with disabilities realize that higher education is an option for their aspirations,” Woodhead said. “The university is a better place with their contributions and experiences.”
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Editor’s Note — “One of U” is a Nebraska Today series that shines a light on the inspiring work and unwavering dedication of staff members at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. These stories honor those who go above and beyond to support student success and strengthen our Husker community. To nominate someone for the series, please contact Troy Fedderson at tfedderson2@unl.edu.
