How can faculty members be supportive of students with disabilities in the classroom?

Thinking of faculty, disabled students, and disability services staff as three points of a communications triangle is a useful strategy for dealing with classroom and/or test accommodations. Each of us has unique roles and responsibilities, and the key to effective accommodations is to ensure communication amongst us all. All faculty members at Barnard receive the A Faculty Guide to Barnard College which is published by the Provost's Office. The Guide provides a comprehensive array of useful information, including a section on Administering Course Work for Disabled Students.

In addition, all faculty receive the Dear Colleague Letter at the beginning of the academic year, written by Provost Elizabeth Boylan and Disability Services Director Susan Quinby. The letter encourages faculty to reach out to students with disabilities and discuss disability-related classroom and/or test accommodations with them. All ODS students are expected to self-identify their disabilities at the earliest part of the semester and are given a copy of our ODS Forms, Policies and Tipsheets which includes the ODS Early Self-Identification Policy.