Most disabilities are invisible: learning disabilities, medical conditions, psychological impairments, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many times you may not know whether you are working with a student with a disability unless they disclose their disability to you.
Students will typically disclose their disability in one of two ways:
- You receive from the student an accommodation letter prepared by our office; or
- The student will inform you directly that s/he has a disability.
Students are not required to tell you what their disability is and they are not required to show you any documentation of their disability. What they need to provide you is an accommodation form from our office detailing the student’s accommodations.
The University of Washington’s Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) center has also put together a great list of faculty resources for working with students with disabilities including:
- Resources from DO-IT - Web-based publications to be printed and video presentations from DO-IT that are useful to postsecondary educators
- Specific Disability Resources - resources related to teaching students with specific disabilities.
- Specific Academic Activity Resources - resources for helping instructors accommodate students with disabilities in specific academic activities.
- Knowledge Base - search the Knowledge Base for question and answers, case studies, and promising practices regarding the education and employment of students with disabilities.
In reference to Universal Design and creating access for all, California State University's Universal Design Center has created a valuable website with guides on making instructional materials accessible, web accessibility, creating math content for the web and more. To access this resource click here.