Access York, York’s advisory committee on disability Issues, has introduced a newly revised guide for teaching students with disabilities. The Faculty Resource Guide for teaching students with disabilities has been updated and redesigned. The guide provides information to assist faculty and teaching assistants in supporting students with disabilities.
Research shows that many teaching strategies that support students with disabilities are very helpful to students without disabilities. The new guide is grounded in the principles of universal design for learning and the belief that, when course instructors provide accommodations to students with disabilities, they are often supporting the learning of all students.
The guide includes strategies that improve course accessibility for students both with and without disabilities; information about specific disabilities; procedures for arranging academic accommodations; services available on campus for students with disabilities; and, the legislation that frames York’s work with these individuals.
Originally developed in the early 1990s by York’s Disability Services offices, the current revision was the result of a joint project involving Access York and the Centre for the Support of Teaching, with input and support from the Office of the Assistant Vice-President, Student Community Development, the Office of the Ombudsperson & Centre for Human Rights, York’s Disability Support Service offices, the Office of the Counsel, the Office of the Associate Vice-President Academic and York students with disabilities.
The Faculty Resource Guide can be accessed online at www.yorku.ca/facultyawareness.