L. Scott Lissner will bring his expertise on student disabilities to Ohio State as the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator, beginning Jan. 3. This will mark the first time that OSU has had an official coordinator for the federal legislation.The Americans with Disabilities Act became working legislation on July 26, 1990. The act was set forth to make society more accessible to people with disabilities in all realms of public life, including employment, public service, public accommodations and telecommunications.Vice Provost Nancy Rogers said that OSU has finally recognized the necessity of filling the coordinator position.”Only a few universities have a full-time coordinator. The appointment of Lissner places the university in a position to not only comply with the law but also to challenge itself to do the most that it can for students, staff, and faculty with disabilities,” she said.Of the many new jobs Lissner faces at OSU, the most important is to make sure OSU is in total compliance with the legislation. Lissner said that compliance with the act is changing with current technological trends. Also, adaptive technology and accessibility to computer software is of growing importance. “I believe that if we do what is right, compliance will take care of itself and everyone wins,” he said.Rogers said that Lissner will be bringing years of ADA coordination experience with him to OSU.”Scott Lissner brings to this position strong expertise in disabilities, and a career long dedication to providing access to education for persons with disabilities,” Rogers said. Lissner worked as the director of academic and disability support services at Longwood College in Farmville, Va. He also served as Longwood’s compliance officer for 11 years, according to a report in The Columbus Dispatch.To get the job, there is no standard credential or direct training, he said.”One obvious need is to be familiar with both the letter and spirit of the legislation,” Lissner said. “I believe the ability to communicate clearly, to look at things from multiple perspectives, critical analysis and creative problem solving are equally important skills.”The key to success at OSU will be balance, Lissner said.”Access is an ongoing process of balancing institutional responsibility with individual rights and institutional rights with individual responsibility,” he said.