Guidance for Inclusive Pedagogy
Additional Resources
- Creating an accessible Word document (PDF)
- Host effective and accessible online meetings with deaf participants (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Disability Services do?
Functions of the Disability Services department include (but are not limited to):
- Meeting with students who identify as having a disability/learning need (whether based on disability status or in need of study skills support).
- Reviewing documentation provided by a student with a disability.
- Determining academic accommodations in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990; Amendments Act, 2008).
- Providing training, education, and consultation to faculty regarding various disabilities and learning needs.
- Advising departments, programs, and the administration regarding the College’s statutory obligations to students with disabilities.
How can Disability Services help faculty?
Disability Services can:
- Recommend inclusive instructional strategies.
- Discuss the appropriateness of requested academic adjustment and how to implement those adjustments for which a student is eligible.
- Offer educational consultation and training regarding various disabilities, associated barriers to access, and strategies for inclusion.
- Advise you as to whether a particular technology or other instructional tool is accessible and compliant with federal law.
How do I know if a student really needs an academic accommodation?
How are academic accommodations determined?
Should I ask a struggling student if they have been tested for or diagnosed with a disability?
How should I respond if a student tells me s/he has a disability?
What are my obligations regarding privacy and confidentiality about any disability-related information I received from a student or Disability Services?
I received a letter informing me a student has a disability and recommends specific accommodations, but it does not state the disability. Don’t I need to know?
Disability Services informed me of a students disability and the need for accommodations and the student has not talked with me about it. What should I do?
The semester is well underway and I have just received a student’s Letter of Accommodations. Is there a deadline by which students must request academic accommodations for a given semester?
Am I obligated to apply accommodations in a post-hoc fashion to a student’s performance and participation if I receive the Letter of Accommodation well into the semester? The student disclosed they were impacted by the condition addressed by the accommodations earlier in the semester, but were unable to get to Disability Services.
What should I do if a student hasn’t identified themselves as having a learning need, but I suspect there is a need?
I understand that all my course materials must be accessible, including syllabi, videos handouts, and assigned videos and readings posted on Canvas. How can I receive assistance in meeting this obligation?
- The Library can assist with the identification of captioned videos when choosing your content.
- The IT Knowledge Base has instructions for captioning video created with TechSmith Relay (formerly Camtasia).
- The IT Knowledge Base has multiple resources to guide the production of accessible documents, including, PDF and PowerPoint formats.
- Disability Services provides accessible textbooks to students with documented print disabilities.
- Disability Services can assist in the conversion of classroom handouts to an accessible format for students with print disabilities with 1-2 weeks’ notice, depending upon the nature and complexity of the material.
A student who has presented me with a Letter of Accommodation is behaving in a way that is disruptive (or disturbing) to the class. What should I do?
I have spoken with the student about disruptive behavior ...
- The student has told me this is due to disability and reminded me that she/he has accommodations from the Disability Services. Must I accommodate these behaviors if they are due to disability?
- The student agreed to modify his or her behavior, but does not seem able to do so in a sustained fashion. What happens now?
In both cases, you should contact the Disability Services Center to discuss the situation. While all students, regardless of disability status, must comply with the College code of conduct, students with disabilities that impact their ability to do so must be offered appropriate supports if these exist, to participate in College programs and activities. Frequently the need for this type of support will not have been known to Disability Services or the student when the original Letter of Accommodation was written.
A student has brought a dog to class and informs me that it is a service animal; however, I have not received any notification from Disability Services. Do I need to permit the animal in class?
How can I contact Disability Services?
The Disability Services Center on the Blue Bell campus is located in Parkhouse Hall in the BEI suite. We can be reached Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. disabilities@mc3.edu or 215-641-657. Please feel free to phone or email with questions, requests for support, etc. You can also contact the Director at aweiss@mc3.edu.
The Pottstown campus Disability Services office is located in the Student Success Center and can be reached at 610 718-1853 or westdisab@mc2.edu. Please feel free to phone or email with questions, requests for support, etc. You can also contact the Director at aweiss@mc3.edu or 215-641-6574.