Training
Access Services within the Division of Student Affairs at WSU Spokane has been charged by Washington State University with the responsibility of exploring possible coverage and reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities for purposes of Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.
Disability status and reasonable accommodation decisions are made by Access Services for students in the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy at the WSU Spokane campus.
Access Services provides and coordinates accommodations, support services and programs that enable students with disabilities to maximize the quality of their experience at WSU Spokane by preventing discrimination and providing equal access to campus programs, services, and activities.
The Access Services office serves the faculty and students. We assist students once they are admitted to WSU, facilitate their requests and approve services. For faculty we are your resource and collaborator in ensuring the academic accommodations are in place and effective. If you as faculty have questions, problems establishing an accommodation, or need help on where to start, Access Services is here for you. We provide a variety of services for faculty delivering instruction, including by not limited to:
- Troubleshooting/assisting with establishing classroom accommodations
- Facilitation of extended time and low-stimuli testing environments
- Providing consultation on working with various types of disabilities
- Assist faculty in ensuring they have accessible course materials
- Providing Faculty training & educational resources
UCSF Training
The UCSF Faculty Training
Series is an eight part
online, video training
series to guide faculty
who work with students
with disabilities.
The Faculty Room
The Faculty Room was
created in consultation
with more than 30
campuses nationwide.
It includes a Knowledge
Base, Case studies, and
Promising Practices.
Inclusive Learning
Faculty interested in
creating a more inclusive
learning environment for
all students will find
helpful tips in this
article on Universal
Design for Learning.
Disabilities
Another excellent resource for more detailed information, including classroom manifestations and teaching strategies may be found on Colorado State University’s Access website.
Disabilites may include, but are not limited to:
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD)
Neurologically-based medical condition which is distinguished by persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity and/or impulsivity.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior.
Chronic Health Conditions
Long-standing illness that may include unpleasant and painful symptoms on a continual or intermittent basis.
Learning Disabilities
Most common include reading (dyslexia), audio and visual processing disorders, math-related disorders (dyscalculia), executive functioning disorders.
Physical and Mobility Impairments
Inability to use one or more extremity, lack of strength to walk, grasp or lift.
Visual Impairments
No vision or low level of vision (20/70) or less that cannot be fully corrected.
Rights and Responsibilities
The University has a right to:
- Identify and establish core competencies and technical standards for their academic program.
- Maintain the rigor and the fundamental nature of their course content. Faculty should not lower course expectations or fundamentally alter the nature of the course at the request of a student with a disability. If a student makes such a request, related to an approved disability absence, faculty should consult with Access Services.
- Require students to demonstrate their knowledge of crucial course content.
- Negotiate an accommodation with the Access Services office if an accommodation seems unreasonable.
Faculty is primarily responsible to provide academic accommodations approved by the Access Services office on the Letter of Accommodation and to work with Access Services and students to make reasonable accommodations in a timely manner. Other responsibilities include:
- Faculty must let students know that accommodations are available to students with documented disabilities, including inputting the syllabus statement in every class syllabus.
- Provide only the adjustments on the Access Services Letter of Accommodation unless it is an accommodation that you are willing to offer all students in the class.
- Faculty are responsible to provide testing password or a pdf copy of the test to Access Services no later than 24 hours before the regularly scheduled test time.
- Contact Access Services if there are questions or concerns about requested adjustments and/or for assistance in identifying the best method for providing accommodations for students enrolled in classes.
- Refer any student to Access Services who is requesting adjustments but does not present a Letter of Accommodation.
- Ensure instructional materials are accessible. Access Services can collaborate with faculty to ensure access. This may include: video captioning, transcripts of audio lectures/podcasts, and accessible materials (i.e. course packs, lecture exhibits).
- Maintain confidentiality. Faculty should not ask students about the nature of their disability or to provide medical documentation.
- Implement best practices in teaching to reach a diversity of learners.
Accommodation Processes
Providing equal access is a university-wide responsibility in which Washington State faculty, staff, and students play important roles. The following guidelines help to clarify the different roles of those involved in the provision of accommodations and other services to students with disabilities.
Instructor Responsibilities
Include on your syllabus the most appropriate of the two disabilities statements below provided by the Student Affairs office:
Students with disabilities: Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and may need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please contact Jane Summers, Director, Student Affairs & Wellness, Academic Center 130A (spokane.access@wsu.edu or 509-358-7537).
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. All accommodations must be approved through your WSU Disability Services office. If you have a disability and need accommodations, we recommend that you begin the process as soon as possible. For more information, contact a Disability Specialist on your home campus.
Additional responsibilities include:
- Work collaboratively with the student and the Student Success Center to provide the approved accommodations, consistent with the Accommodations Form.
- Contact the Access Coordinator if you feel additional accommodations may be needed, if you have questions about how to provide certain accommodations within your course format, or with any concerns you may have related to the process.
- Know the essential elements of a course or program, so that accommodations can be provided consistent with academic standards.
Access Services Responsibilities
- Provide clear information about what documentation is needed to ensure that each student is eligible for accommodations and that the documentation is complete.
- Help students identify and obtain reasonable accommodations.
- Update Accommodation Forms each semester for each student who receives accommodations and other services from Access Services.
- Maintain student information confidentially and sensitively, according to State and Federal privacy laws.
- Inform students when additional documentation is needed or has become outdated.
- Explore with students the impact of the disability and provide further information and/or referrals to other student services that might provide further assistance.
- Demonstrate professional respect, clear and timely communication, and courtesy in the provision of services to students, faculty and staff.
- Work collaboratively and positively with students and instructors to resolve questions, concerns and needs for accommodations in an expedient manner.
