Accessibility Training for Faculty and Staff

• Disability as Diversity: Framing disability as part of campus diversity and inclusion efforts.
• Understanding Disability Laws: Overview of ADA, Section 504, and other relevant legislation.
• Disability Etiquette: Best practices for interacting respectfully with students with disabilities.

Information to Include in the Request

1. Provide the course ID, student name, and proposed accommodation(s) of concern.
2. Articulate the specific requirements of the course/program that are fundamental to meeting the essential academic standards or objectives.
3. Define the unique qualities of those specific requirements and their nexus to the essential academic standards or objectives.
4. Describe how the proposed accommodation would fundamentally alter essential academic standards or objectives of the course/program.

Additionally, instructors should submit a copy of the course syllabus and/or other documents relevant to the review (e.g., graduate student handbook, guidelines on technical skills and program requirements).

• Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Strategies to create inclusive syllabi, course materials, and assessments.
• Accessible Technology: How to ensure course technology, learning management system (LMS) platforms, and digital tools meet accessibility standards.
• Creating Accessible Documents: Formatting Word documents, PDFs, PowerPoints, and other course materials for accessibility.
• Captioning and Transcripts: Importance of captioning for videos and providing transcripts for audio content.

• Interactive Process for Accommodations: Collaborating with students and Accessibility and Testing to implement accommodations.
• Fundamental Alteration Reviews: Understanding when accommodations might fundamentally alter a course or program and how to navigate these situations.
• Proctoring Exams with Accommodations: Best practices for supporting extended time, reduced distraction environments, and assistive technology in testing.

• Inclusive Teaching Practices: Strategies to support students with disabilities in discussions, group work, and other collaborative settings.
• Handling Service Animals and Personal Assistants: Guidance on accommodating students who use service animals or personal assistants in class.
• Recognizing and Supporting Invisible Disabilities: Addressing the needs of students with ADHD, autism, mental health conditions, or chronic illnesses.

• Physical Accessibility on Campus: Best practices for maintaining accessible pathways, elevators, restrooms, and other facilities.
• Creating Accessible Campus Events: Ensuring meetings, workshops, and extracurricular activities are inclusive for everyone.

• Online Course Accessibility: Best practices for making online or hybrid courses accessible.
• Fieldwork and Study Abroad Accommodations: Supporting accessibility in experiential learning settings.
• Accessible Events and Campus Engagement: Ensuring department events are inclusive and accessible to all.