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Working Together: Faculty and Students with Disabilities at the University of Washington - Seattle
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Legal Issues
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Washington State laws prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
According to federal law, no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of a public entity.
"Qualified" with respect to postsecondary educational services, means "a person who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to admission or participation in the education program or activity, with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies or practices; the removal of architectural, communication or transportation barriers; or the provision of auxiliary aids and services."
"Person with a disability" means "any person who (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities [including walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working], (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.
Disabilities covered by legislation include (but are not limited to) AIDS, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Diabetes, Epilepsy, head injuries, hearing impairments, specific learning disabilities, loss of limbs, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, psychiatric disorders, speech impairments, spinal cord injuries, and vision impairments.
UW Identification and Accommodation Process
Faculty members and teaching assistants are encouraged to be responsive to the pedagogical needs of all students. However, students with disabilities may have some additional educational needs which they should discuss with each faculty member. Teaching assistants can also play an important role in making accommodations. It is helpful to include a statement on the class syllabus inviting students who have disabilities to discuss academic needs. An example of such a statement is "To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disability Resources for Students (DRS), 448 Schmitz, 206-543-8924 (voice) or 206-543-8925 (TTY). If you have a letter from DRS indicating that you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, please present the letter to me so we can discuss the accommodations you might need in this class."
A student with a disability needing accommodation should provide each instructor with a letter from DRS indicating possible accommodations. The faculty member can then work with the student to make the appropriate accommodation(s) for the specific class. Under no circumstances should the faculty member or teaching assistant refuse to make a requested accommodation; instead, if agreement is not reached on an accommodation, the faculty member should contact DRS for assistance. If, after working with DRS, a satisfactory accommodation is not obtained, the student can appeal to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at 206-543-1830 or eoaa@u.washington.edu.
If a student does not present a letter from DRS and does not have a visible disability, the faculty member should refer the student to DRS prior to making an accommodation for a disability.
UW faculty members are encouraged to apply universal design principles in their instruction to minimize needs for accommodations and to make their courses more accessible to all students. For more information about universal design of instruction, consult http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/equal_access_udi.html.
Useful Teaching Techniques
Below you will find examples of teaching techniques in the classroom, laboratory, examinations, and field work that benefit all students, but are especially useful for students who have disabilities.
Classroom
- Select course materials early so that students and DRS or the ATL staff have enough time to translate them to audiotape, Braille, and large print.
- Make syllabi, short assignment sheets, and reading lists available in electronic format (e.g., CD, email, online).
- Face the class when speaking. Repeat discussion questions.
- Write key phrases and lecture outlines on the blackboard or overhead projector.
Laboratory
- Take the student on a tour of the lab she or he will be working in. Discuss safety concerns.
- Assign group lab projects in which all students contribute according to their abilities.
- Arrange lab equipment so that it is accessible to and visible by everyone.
- Give oral and written lab instructions.
Examination and Fieldwork
- Ensure that exams test the essential skills or knowledge needed for the course or field of study.
- Some students will require extra time to transcribe or process test questions. Follow DRS recommendations regarding extra time on examinations.
- Consider allowing students to turn in exams via email or Collect It (http://catalyst.washington.edu/web_tools/collectit.html).
- Attempt to include student in field work opportunities, rather than automatically suggesting non-field work alternatives. Ask students how they might be able to do specific aspects of field work.
- Include special needs in requests for field trip vehicle reservations.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Resources
For most issues, Disability Resources for Students will be the first point of contact.
Disability Resources for Students (DRS)
206-543-8924 (voice), 206-543-8925 (TTY)
uwdss@u.washington.edu
Contact DRS for assistance with the provision of academic accommodations, e.g., audiotape, large print, and Braille class materials, test access, classroom relocation, and sign language interpreters.
Access Guide for Persons with Disabilities
http://www.washington.edu/admin/ada/
A guide to accessible UW campus routes and building entrances is available at all campus reference stations and online.
Access Technology Lab (ATL)
206-685-4144 (voice/TTY)
atl@u.washington.edu, Mary Gates Hall
http://www.washington.edu/computing/atl/
Students, faculty, and staff with disabilities have access to computing resources through specialized equipment and software in the ATL. Check the University of Washington Technology Services catalog for classes. Refer to the ATL website for additional information.
Braille Service
206-685-4144 (voice/TTY)
braille@u.washington.edu, Mary Gates Hall
You may contact the ATL to have syllabi and short class handouts Brailled. Requests for transcription can be sent to braille@u.washington.edu. For Braille textbooks and lengthy class materials, contact DRS (see above).
Electronic Resources
http://www.washington.edu/
Many UW departments and classes now have class information, notes, and resources available via the Internet. Electronic access to this information may be helpful for students with disabilities. Catalyst may be able to help instructors get started, visit http://catalyst.washington.edu/web_tools/ for more information.
The Faculty Room
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Faculty/
A DO-IT website where postsecondary faculty and administrators can learn how to maximize educational opportunities for students with disabilities.
206-221-5000, help@cac.washington.edu
Some students and instructors find email to be an effective communication tool. Direct students to University of Washington Technology Services to set up a new Internet account. Internet accounts are free to students, faculty, and staff.
Field Trip Transport
206-685-1566, mpreserv@u.washington.edu
If making field trip vehicle reservations through motor pool, be sure to mention any special transportation needs.
Non-course Related Disability Arrangements
Contact DRS (above) for general disability-related information or to request disability accommodations for a non-course related activity or employment.
Peer Support for Students with Disabilities
uwds@u.washington.edu
A peer support community is available to students with disabilities via the UWDS discussion list on the Internet. Subscribe at http://mailman.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/uwds
Physical Access Problems
206-685-8814
http://www.washington.edu/admin/facserv/fsworks/
Call Maintenance and Alterations or go online to FS-Works to report problems with the operation of University facilities such as automatic doors and elevators.
Study Skills
206-543-1240
http://depts.washington.edu/counsels/services/workshops/workshops.html
Students having academic difficulties may benefit from classes offered by the Counseling Center. Classes include information regarding academic skills, study skills, and test anxiety, among others.
Telephone Communication With Students Who Have Hearing or Speech Impairments
If you have regular communications with a student who uses a TTY (teletype), contact DRS for loan of a TTY or talk with the student about getting an email account. For infrequent mediated phone conversations call the Washington Relay Service (711), a free service.
About this Publication
This brochure is available online at http://www.washington.edu/doit/. The content of this brochure was developed by the following units at the University of Washington:
- Center for Change in Transition Services
- Disability Resources for Students
- Disabled Student Services
- DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology)
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Video
A 9-minute video, Working Together: Faculty and Students with Disabilities, may be freely viewed online at http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/, or purchased in DVD format.
About DO-IT
DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to increase the successful participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs such as those in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Primary funding for DO-IT is provided by the National Science Foundation, the State of Washington, and the U.S. Department of Education. DO-IT is a collaboration of UW Information Technology and the Colleges of Engineering and Education at the University of Washington.
To order free publications or newsletters use the DO-IT Publications Order Form; to order videos and training materials use the Videos, Books and Comprehensive Training Materials Order Form.
For further information, to be placed on the DO-IT mailing list, request materials in an alternate format, or to make comments or suggestions about DO-IT publications or web pages contact:
DO-ITUniversity of Washington
Box 354842
Seattle, WA 98195-4842
doit@uw.edu
www.uw.edu/doit/
206-685-DOIT (3648) (voice/TTY)
888-972-DOIT (3648) (voice/TTY)
206-221-4171 (fax)
509-328-9331 (voice/TTY) Spokane
Founder and Director: Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2001, University of Washington. Permission is granted to copy these materials for educational, noncommercial purposes provided the source is acknowledged.