Presenter Bio - Desiree Klemm

Desiree Klemm Esq. is a licensed attorney and a Post-secondary ADA and Section 504 Consultant. She has worked in an ADA/504 compliance-based role, specifically, higher education disability services, for over nine years and is an active-duty military spouse that has worked closely with Veterans and their families while navigating post-secondary education and benefits.

During her years in higher education, she has served in multiple institutional settings including a public community college, mid-size public university, large public university, and mid-size private university. She worked in multiple capacities including accommodation decision maker and supervisor. Desiree is experienced and has trained colleagues in reviewing disability documentation and assessing and evaluating specific access barriers in the university environment that necessitate reasonable accommodations. This includes methodical approaches to objective accommodation determinations and how to articulate clear justifications for supported and unsupported requests. She regularly engaged in negotiations, the interactive process, and difficult conversations with varying campus constituents including students, parents, faculty, and staff. In addition, she has assisted in interpreting governing guidance and required standards when conducting analyses of complex ADA/504 issues as well as writing and advising on related policies, processes, and procedures. She is also an advocate of inclusive and accessible practice in higher ed and beyond to ensure an environment that promotes a sense of belonging. 

Desiree has presented at student affairs professional conferences on topics related to disability in higher education including assessing fundamental alteration, functional limitation and associated accommodation, practices/teaching methods that create inclusive and accessible educational environments, collaboration with campus colleagues, and professional law program accommodation determinations.

Desiree is also an active-duty military spouse that has worked closely with Veterans and their families while navigating post-secondary education and benefits. She has personal experience with handling institutional biases, creating a supportive environment, and identifying ways to train faculty and staff on how to work with Veterans and their families.