MEd Shelby Acteson

MEd Shelby Acteson served as the Associate Director of University Disability Resources (UDR) at Harvard University from October 2017 to May 2021.3 In this role, she focused primarily on the experience of students with disabilities, providing guidance, resources, and training to disability coordinators, faculty, and administrators at Harvard College and the University's professional schools.1

Acteson's work at Harvard involved:

1. Increasing awareness of accessibility issues
2. Working towards the acceptance of disability as part of diversity, inclusion, and belonging
3. Developing partnerships and conducting outreach University-wide1

Her background includes experience in curriculum development, instructional design, and student learning support, which provided an academic foundation for her work with students.1 Acteson emphasized the importance of shifting thinking around disability to embrace and include people with all types of conditions, including invisible disabilities such as learning disabilities, mental health conditions, and chronic health conditions.1

In addition to her work at Harvard, Acteson has been involved in other roles and activities:

• She participated as a moderator in a panel discussion on "Inclusive Content Creation and Delivery" hosted by the Harvard Initiative for Learning and Teaching.24
• Prior to her position at Harvard, she worked as the Director of the Office for Student Access at Oregon Health & Science University.5
• Currently, Acteson is associated with Raven Sky Consulting.3

Acteson's work in disability services stems from her background in higher education, and she has contributed to efforts in making educational environments more accessible and inclusive for individuals with disabilities.