Honoring Richard W. Harris
On September, 25, 2026 the Board of Trustees of Ball State University approved the naming of the Office of Disability Services, the Richard W. Harris Office of Disability Services as a lasting tribute to his legacy, institutional impact, enduring influence, and great service to Ball State University as an advocate and friend.
Mr. Richard W. Harris is a pioneer in the field of Disability Services and dedicated his life to serving students with disabilities at Ball State University for 32 years including, as Director of Orientation and Coordinator of Handicap Services, and later as Director of Disabled Student Development a position he held until his retirement in 2005.
He was foundational to the development of disability services at Ball State University, serving as the University's Coordinator of Handicapped Services when the office was established in 1973 and ultimately making disability services his full-time professional responsibility as the population of students with disabilities grew.
He established an enduring philosophy of shared responsibility for accessibility, advancing the principle that providing access to students with disabilities is the responsibility of the entire University, not solely the responsibility of the disability services office.
Mr. Harris led the integration of disability access throughout the University, with accommodations and services embedded across Academic Affairs, Information Technology, Housing and Residence Life, Facilities Planning and Management, the Career Center, Financial Aid, and other areas of campus.
Instrumental in transforming the physical accessibility of Ball State's campus, Mr. Harris lead efforts that resulted in every academic building being retrofitted to provide access for students with physical disabilities and worked with Housing and Residence Life and Facilities Planning and Management to expand accessible residential options.
He championed technological accessibility well before it became a widespread institutional priority, helping ensure adaptive technology was available across campus and contributing to the creation of a dedicated Adapted Computer Technology Specialist position in 1992.
His efforts helped build the professional infrastructure necessary to serve a growing population of students with disabilities, including expanding the office's staffing and establishing specialized support such as a full-time caption writer, a resource that distinguished Ball State among universities nationally.
Mr. Harris established a model that positioned Ball State as a nationally recognized welcoming and accessible campus for students with disabilities, creating a legacy that subsequent leaders have continued through expanded services, programs, technology, and partnerships.
His greatest institutional legacy is a culture of access and opportunity, grounded in the conviction that students with disabilities should have access to the same programs, experiences, opportunities, and expectations as all Ball State students.
Ball State University is forever grateful to Mr. Harris for his commitment to the success of students with disabilities, his innovative approach to disability accommodations, extraordinary contributions to the University’s national reputation as a welcoming and accessible campus, loyal service, and lasting impact on the university.