Instructors Role in Teaching Students w/Disabilities
Information for Instructors
The ADA & Disabilities Resource Center provides services for qualified students with disabilities. The Center works to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to pursue higher education, recreational, and social activities at Idaho State University.
- What does "accommodation" mean?
Accommodations are services supplied to students with disabilities, which fulfill the needs of those students according to all ADA recommendations and guidelines, in order to ensure "equal opportunity" to participate in all programs of the university. These services may include modifications to structures, changes in classroom procedure, or special assistive technology or furniture.
- Why are accommodations made?
According to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, "No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States... shall, solely by reason of... disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 guarantees persons with disabilities their civil rights. The ADA upholds and extends standards of compliance set forth in Section 504, and ensures that students with disabilities remain free from discrimination, and have equal opportunities in all areas of postsecondary education.
Both these civil rights statutes were designed to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities. In accordance with these guidelines, the ADA & Disabilities Resource Center ensures that ISU remains in compliance, and that students with disabilities are provided with the services they need. Students with disabilities, with appropriate accommodations, have the same right to succeed or fail as any other student.
- How will I, as an instructor, know if a student has a disability?
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When a student contacts the ADA Center for services, he/she is required to furnish official documentation of a disability from a qualified professional. This documentation is then evaluated by the ADA Center and the student is provided with accommodations according to the nature of the disability. A "Letter of Accommodation" outlining the suitable adaptations for the student is then given to the student. It is the student"s responsibility to make copies for each instructor. This letter should be presented to you as soon as possible, and the student should discuss the letter with you, so that both understand what is to occur throughout the semester.
Disabilities are not always visible to the eye. Some students may have hidden disabilities not apparent to the people around them. A student may choose to reveal his/her disability to you within the course of a discussion, but is in no way obligated to disclose this information. By self-identifying with the Center, and providing the required confidential documentation, the student has proven his/her eligibility for accommodation. The ADA Center maintains strict confidentiality, and will release no personal information on any student without that student's written permission.
- So, what are my responsibilities as an instructor?
Communication and compliance are important keys to accommodating students with disabilities.
According to ADA guidelines the letters of accommodation provided by the ADA Center list accommodations which are appropriate for an individual student"s particular disability. It is important that you take the time to read the letter carefully, and make sure you understand what each of the accommodations means. The student and instructor should discuss the accommodations in order to learn what the student feels he/she may need out of the class. Some accommodations may not be utilized but are there in case they are needed. Also, some accommodations may not be appropriate in clinical settings
By remaining in communication with the ADA student, you will gain a better understanding of what he/she may need, and how you can help meet those needs.
Some accommodations are provided by the Center, such as specialized equipment, transportation, readers/scribes, and seating requirements. Others may require permission, special arrangement, or specific adjustments on the part of the instructor. Some of these may include enlarged copies of handouts, extended testing times, and alternative testing areas. The student should be able to explain what action these requests entail.
For students taking tests in the ADA Center, please note:
Remembering to send the test to our office in a timely manner is critical to the success of your students with disabilities .
The student will be responsible for contacting you prior to taking the test to make sure you have a Testing Accommodation Form and to remind you to send the test and the form to the ADA office.
In order to more efficiently expedite the return of the test and the security of the test, PLEASE FILL OUT the Testing Accommodation Form. This form is your control for testing.
If you find that you have any specific questions, or suggestions, you may call the ADA Center at any time, and we will be glad to discuss explain them with you.
- What are some common accommodations, and what do they mean in terms of my responsibility?
One of the most frequently utilized of the accommodations is a "reduced distraction place for testing." This accommodation means that a student needs a reduced distraction place outside the classroom to take exams. This should be a room, as free as possible of noise and distraction. It is preferable that this be done within your department. However, if this is not feasible, there are two testing facilities on campus, the Counseling & Testing Center and the ADA & Disabilities Resource Center, both located in Graveley Hall. It is the student"s responsibility to contact his/her instructor prior to an exam, and if necessary, to make arrangements with one of the testing centers. It is the instructor"s responsibility to make sure the exam gets to that facility. We encourage the instructors to find a location within their facility for testing, as the Center has limited room for this accommodation.
More detailed instructions regarding this are included as an attached page to the student"s accommodation letter.
Another common accommodation is extended testing time. This accommodation is often paired with the "reduced distraction place" accommodation, and can be listed as "time and a half," "double time" or (less common) "unlimited testing time." In this circumstance, the instructor would simply need to be aware that this student was allowed more time to complete his/her exam, and then follow the instructions for "reduced distraction place", if that is an accommodation as well.
One accommodation that an instructor might see often is the "notetaker" accommodation. If a student has this accommodation, the Center provides the student with a "notetaker" - a loose-leaf notebook with carbonless paper to produce multiple copies. If the student chooses to utilize this accommodation within a particular class, he/she should give the "notetaker" to the instructor before class. It is then the instructor"s responsibility to make an announcement during class for a volunteer to take notes. No names or reasons should be given, just a simple request for a volunteer. The actual accommodation reads as follows: "Notetaker". I am requesting that you make a general announcement (without naming the student) in class for a volunteer to take notes on carbonless paper provided by the student. At the end of class, the notes should be given to the student."
- Who do I contact if I have questions, or problems in accommodating my students with disabilities?
There are numerous accommodations that students with disabilities may utilize in their pursuit of an equal education. Some are simple and straight-forward; others may require thought, effort and cooperation on the part of the student and instructor. Most accommodations do not require a major restructuring of procedure or teaching style. However, the small things that we do as educators can make a huge difference in the lives of students with disabilities.
For further information
If you have any questions, concerns or are simply curious, please call the ADA & Disabilities Resource Center anytime, and we will be glad to help.
Please Note: In an ongoing effort to preserve the credibility of the ADA & Disabilities Resource Center as a testing environment, cameras are installed in all testing areas for the purpose of monitoring examinations.