The following material will provide insight and tips on accommodating students with disabilities in your classroom and in online classes. You will also have a better understanding of the Disability Services process.
Syllabus
Include one of the following statements in your syllabus:
- Students who require academic adjustments in the classroom or by way of the web due to a disability must first register with ASU Disability Services. Following registration and within the first two weeks of class, please contact me to discuss appropriate academic accommodations, technology requirements, software and hardware specifics and requirements. Appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure equal access to this course.
- Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him/her from fully participating in this course should contact Disability Services (870-972-3964) as soon as possible so we can make the necessary accommodations to facilitate your educational opportunity.
- If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible. Students who require academic adjustments in the classroom due to a disability must register with ASU Disability Services.
Students with disabilities do not always disclose they have a disability to the instructors due to various reasons. The statement will indicate your willingness to accommodate students with disabilities.
Accommodation card
Students with disabilities who register with our office have an accommodation card that shows their accommodations. They are required to show this card to their instructor and discuss the accommodations they need from faculty. Disability Services may send an accommodation letter to the faculty as well for students enroll in an online program, Distance Education, or a sister campus.
Learn more about the Accommodation Card >>
Testing accommodation
Students who quality for testing accommodation may take their exams in Disability Services or with their faculty with approved accommodations. Students are required to schedule their exams 2 days in advance with Disability Services. Faculty will need to email their test to dstesting@astate.edu or fax it to Disability Services 870-972-3351. The completed exam will be delivered to the faculty's department office. Any questions about testing accommodations should be directed to Emerald Chauncey.
Use the testing scheduler >>
Setting up an exam with extended time on Blackboard >>
Accessible materials
Disability Services provides textbooks and material in an accessible format i.e. on audio and/or electronic text. Faculty are encouraged to provide their materials in accessible text format. Please note that students with visual disabilities will require an accessible text format and students with hearing impairments will require caption/text to audio materials. For more information or to request your materials to be converted into an accessible format, contact Christina Laurentia.
Learn about accessible format/alternate books here >>
Online learning
Students using accommodations in the regular classroom may also use the same accommodations for online learning. For example: students who use extended time for testing in regular classroom will also need extended testing time in their online class.
Instructions to set up extended time for exams on Blackboard Learn >>
Any course material provided online will need to be accessible. Disability Services offers courses periodically addressing accessible online learning environment. Web accessibility techniques.
View web accessibility infomation here >>
Teaching students with specific disabilities
(Source: Project Do-IT)
Examples of academic accommodations
Low Vision
Case Study
FAQ
Blindness
Case Study
FAQ
Hearing Impairments
Case Study
FAQ
Learning Disabilities
Case Study
FAQ
Mobility Impairments
Case Study
FAQ
Health Impairments
Case Study
FAQ
Psychiatric Impairments
Case Study
FAQ
Other Impairments
Accommodations
Universal Design
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as defined by CAST is "a framework for designing curricula that enable all individuals to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. UDL provides rich supports for learning and reduces barriers to the curriculum while maintaining high achievement standards for all." UDL calls for multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement.
Designing instruction to maximize the learning of all students
(Source: Project Do-IT).
Videos & Presentations
Seizure workshop
Amanda McMillon, RN, BSN, CDE. How to identify if a person is having a seizure and what to do if someone is having a seizure. (Disability Awareness Week 2010)
Attitudes started it all
Billy Altom. (Disability Awareness Week 2010)
Advocacy
Billy Altom. (Disability Awareness Week 2010)
Work ability and functioning as experienced by female patients with fibromyalgia
Merja Sallinen. (Disability Awareness Week 2010)
Study Skills & Tips for taking web classes
Jane Coburn, Tracy Coburn, Whitney Collins. (Disability Awareness Week 2010)
Project Do-IT videos
Faculty and Students with Disabilities
Faculty presentations to increase faculty awareness of how to work with students who have disabilities
Universal Design of Instruction
Demonstrates strategies for making instruction in a classroom or in a tutoring center accessible to all students.
Invisible Disabilities and Postsecondary Education
Effective accommodations for students with learning disabilities, attention deficits, autism spectrum disorders, and others that are not apparent.
