Strategies for Working With Students With Disabilities
Students with disabilities may have specific needs or have a condition that requires extra consideration when planning for class.
On this page
- Accessibility statements for syllabi.
- Teaching strategies.
- Tips for working with students with specific conditions, like autism or vision loss.
- Guidelines for suggesting CAR to students.
First, check out a brief video about the social model.
Accessibility statement
The statement below is to appear on every class syllabus and may be posted in department offices or classrooms:
Accessibility and accommodations:
To request assistance or accommodations related to disability, contact the Center for Accessible Resources at (541) 463-5150 (voice), 711 (TTY), AccessibleResources@lanecc.edu (email), or stop by Building 19, Room 231.
Please be aware that any accessible tables and chairs in this room should remain available for authorized students who find that standard classroom seating is not usable.
Font should be 12 point or larger and easy to read. For other accessibility statements, please see Syllabus Statement for Accessibility.
Teaching Strategies
Universal design
Using universal design principles, instructors are able to design highly inclusive classrooms by taking into consideration the wide variety of learning styles, abilities, and disabilities of students from the start.
Tips for working with Autism or Asperger's students
Faculty members may encounter students who appear to have characteristics or behaviors that look like autism or Asperger's Syndrome. The above PDF has common behaviors as well as strategies for instructors that may be useful in the classroom.
Please see this video on working with students with Autism or Aspergers.
Strategies for working with students with vision loss
The above PDF has tips for working with a student with low vision so they are aware of what's happening in the classroom.
Tips for advisors
When working with students in an advising capacity, it's important to be aware that students with disabilities may experience increased risks related to academic performance. Please see more information in the above PDF.
Tips for suggesting CAR to students
When students seem to be having difficulties, but it's unclear whether they have a disability, it's important that staff and faculty do not assume or ask directly if they have a disability. The above PDF provides examples of how to suggest CAR to students.
Tips for field trips and field work
Students may have disabilities that affect participation in field trips (mobility, vision, hearing, etc.) It is the responsibility of the faculty member to plan field work/trips to be as accessible as possible. This PDF contains some basic guidelines.
Strategies for temporary medical conditions
Contact CAR to develop strategies for those with temporary medical conditions.
To request this information in an alternate format (Braille, digital, audio, or large print), please contact Center for Accessible Resources: (541) 463-5150 (voice); 711 (relay); Building 19, 231; or AccessibleResources@lanecc.edu.