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Accommodating Disabilities. Adam Meyer Disability Resource Center (DRC). Overview of DRC. The Basics: Located in 240 Student Center 734-487-2470 drc@emich.edu www.emich.edu/drc (web site under construction) The Staff: Dr. Silva Goncalves (Assistant Director)
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Accommodating Disabilities Adam Meyer Disability Resource Center (DRC)
Overview of DRC • The Basics: • Located in 240 Student Center • 734-487-2470 • drc@emich.edu • www.emich.edu/drc (web site under construction) • The Staff: • Dr. Silva Goncalves (Assistant Director) • Megan Zynda (Disability Advisor) • Jackie Wilson (Secretary)
The Numbers • 600 students • 60 – 70%: ADD/LD • Others: Health, psychological and physical • Most Common Accommodations • Extra time on exams • Taking test out of classroom • Student note-taker • Attendance accommodation considerations
The General Process • DRC Map • Student to DRC • Accommodation Letter to Student (PDF) • Student presents letter to Course Instructor • Student discusses with course instructor • Instructor not responsible until student requests accommodations • Course instructor works with student • Involve DRC as necessary
About the Accommodation Letter • Gives foundational need-to-know info • Identifies differences in accommodations • Timely Implementation (need to do on request) • Extra time for exams • Exam location • Student Note-taker • Warranting Discussion (“right” answer varies) • Attendance accommodation • Possible extended time on assignments
Student Responsibilities • Share the letter with course instructors and other relevant parties at least one week prior to the need for an accommodation in a course (may lose opportunity to use accommodation otherwise) • Initiate a meaningful conversation (beyond simply forwarding this letter in an email) with the course instructor • Lead conversations reasonably prior to the event (test, paper, attendance policy, campus program, etc.) in question where accommodations are sought – once an event occurs, opportunity to use accommodations is often forfeited if no previous conversation took place with prior arrangements made • Contact the DRC as necessary
Instructor Responsibilities • Coordinate reasonable accommodations when timely students requests made; • Assess appropriate action through discretion when students make accommodation requests less than one week prior to a course event; • Consult with DRC as necessary • Be respectful toward the student’s situation • Wait for the student to contact the course instructor • Be prudent with regard to whom you share student information
Ways to facilitate good experiences with students with disabilities… • Disability is natural • Advocacy varies • Respect conversations • Accommodations do not equal “wants”
Why do students need accommodations? • The designed environment (such as a classroom) is not compatible with the impairment • The root problem of a disability is often the environment and the subsequent interaction between environment and the impairment (environmental disconnect)
Inclusive Design within the Classroom • Present information and content in different ways • Differentiate the ways students can express what they know • Stimulate interest and motivation for learning