Disability Access Checklist for Faculty
UW-L
The
Fundamentals:
ü An Access Accommodations Resource Coordinator-serve as a department/unit advocate for students with disabilities. They act as a liaison with the Disability Resource Services office. They can assist you with information about services/programs for students with disabilities.
ü
Course training for faculty and Teaching
Academic Staff is located at http://www.aa.psu.edu/intheirshoes,
you can log on with the following ID.
College ID-ACCESSUWL, then you can proceed with a short on line training
session to inform you of the law as it affects students with disabilities and
what your responsibly are in providing equal access.
ü
Hold
students with disabilities accountable to the same standards you hold every
other student.
ü
Treat
disablity-related information with the strictest confidentiality. Refrain from
identifying students with disabilities unnecessarily to their peers or other
colleagues.
Pre-Semester
Tasks
All
students who are entitled by law to accommodation have gone through a
carefully designed, multi-step process at the Disability Resource Services
office (DRS).
ü They will present a signed accommodation form, signed by them and their DRS adviser
ü These students will talk with you directly to arrange for accommodation.
This checklist is provided to assist
faculty in creating an accessible learning environment in their courses.
ü
Provide
notice to your students of your willingness to accommodate. This can be done
verbally or within your course syllabus
as in the following example:
ü
Grant
reasonable accommodations as long as course standards are not fundamentally
altered and there is a logical link between the student’ limitations and the
accommodation.
ü
Please publish quiz/exam dates and project
expectations. The clearer the syllabus,
the less room there is for misinterpretation of course expectations.
Select course texts early. Blind and other students with print disabilities
must begin early to obtain their texts in alternative formats
Interactions with
students Seeking Accommodations
ü
Permit
the students to use auxiliary aids and technology that ensure access. Depending
on the disability, students may use notetakers, sign language interpreters,
readers, scribes, and lab assistants. Others may use tape recorder/players,
computers, assistive listening devices and other technologies for the same
purpose.
ü Grant testing accommodations as recommended by DRS. Testing accommodations include but are not limited to extended time, alternative format, distraction-reduced environment, readers, and scribes.
Ø
Testing
may occur in the classroom with extended time before or after the standard
class time IF both the student and the instructor are available,
Or
Ø
Testing
may occur in a secure, extra departmental office space if a distraction reduced
environment is required (at the discretion of the instructor).
Or
Ø Testing may occur in the testing room of the Disability Resource Services Office if the student reserves the room at least one week prior to the exam date, (Refer to the example)
Terminology:
a. Extended time implies giving a student anywhere from 1.5x to 2.0x time. Example: If one hour is allowed for an exam, a disabled student is entitled to 1.5 hrs to 2.0 hrs.
b. Distraction reduced testing environment refers to a separate room. This can include an instructor’s office or available space within a department. Arrangements can be made for a student to take tests in the Disability Resource Services Office.
c. The Disability Resource Services Office will proctor
exams if the faculty member
is unable to accommodate a student for any reason. In such cases, the DRS office must be
notified by the student one week in advance of the test. A test must
be sent via e-mail or delivered with clear directions as to the method of
administering (open book/closed book, calculator/no calculator, etc.) and for
returning the test.
ü
Tardiness
is NOT an accommodation. Absenteeism is NOT an accommodation unless in extreme
cases that, in advance, has been discussed and approved by the instructor.
Obviously, a published attendance policy lends clarity and accountability to
the process.
ü
If
a student requests an accommodation not listed on the notification form, please
direct the student to the Disability Resource Services Office. (165 Murphy
Library)
ü Notified Absence. A Notified Absence informs a faculty member that a student (any student) has notified the Office of Student Life that he/or she has missed school due to illness, death in the family, etc. The e-mail’s only purpose is to notify you. It does not, in any way, serve to excuse the student from academic obligations.
Other tips which may enhance access to your courses:
1.
Select course texts early.
Blind and other students with print disabilities must begin early to obtain
their texts in alternative formats.
2.
When requested, provide
alternatives to printed information such as class handouts or reserve materials
in the library. Alternatives to print include Braille, computer electronic
text, large print, and tape cassettes. If Internet resources or other
technologies are used, then they must be accessible. DRS will assist with and
coordinate provision of alternative formats.
3.
Make academic adjustments in
instruction. For students with hearing impairments, face the audience while
speaking or use an FM receiver if requested. For students with visual
impairments, read aloud or describe written or graphic information.
4. Consult with the student and/or DRS (785-6900) for more helpful information on making your courses accessible.
Disability Resource
Services
165 Murphy Library
608-785-6900
e-mail: ability@uwlax.edu