色界吧

Professors are key to engaging with all students, including those with disabilities. Here is a guide on how to better teach and better communicate to those with disabilities.

Disability: An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as 鈥榓 person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.鈥

Title III of the ADA specifically addresses educational institutions, as well as Section 504 (of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973), which prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs or activities receiving federal assistance.

What Should/Can you ask?:

Feel free to say:

  • 鈥淚 notice you鈥檝e been struggling (with exams, speaking participating in class, taking notes, etc.)鈥
  • 鈥淗ave you struggled with this in the past?鈥
  • 鈥淲hat aspects of the course might be challenging for you?鈥

What should you not say:

  • 鈥淒o you have a disability?鈥
  • 鈥淚 can鈥檛 help you鈥
  • 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 look like you have a disability鈥
    • Most students at 色界吧 have invisible disabilities, don鈥檛 make assumptions.

  • Having a disability does not automatically qualify a student for accommodations.
  • Having a disability does not mean students can engage in inappropriate and disruptive behavior, conduct violations will be addressed.
  • Accommodations are not meant to fundamentally alter the curriculum and learning objectives.
  • Accommodations are not meant to be retroactive. A student should make their professor aware in advance, as much as possible.
  • Disability information is protected by FERPA. Only those with an 鈥榚ducational need to know鈥 will have access to a student鈥檚 information, in certain circumstances, that may be the faculty member.

  • Academic Success Coach (academiccoaching@oxy.edu)
    • 鈥業鈥檇 like to connect you with the Academic Success Coach, they can work with you on study strategies, time management, and organizing your schedule, would you be open to that support?鈥.
  • Disability Services (accessibility@oxy.edu)
    • If a student says they have a disability, you suspect they may have an underlying disability, or they mentioned they鈥檝e had accommodations in high school, you can refer them to DS office hours or make an email introduction to discuss support.
  • Dean of Students Office (deanofstudents@oxy.edu)
    • If a student is experiencing an acute crisis, or family/personal emergency, you should refer them to the DOS office to discuss support (i.e., short-term academic flexibility).

Contact Disability Services
Academic Commons

Fall 2024 Walk-in Office Hours

  • Mondays: 2鈥3 pm
  • Tuesdays: 1鈥2 pm
  • Wednesdays: 2鈥3 pm
  • Thursdays: 1鈥2 pm

 

Virtual and in-person meetings available
by appointment only