Thank you for your interest in Accessibility. As our name implies, the Accessibility Services Office (ASO) works to support students with disabilities in the classroom and throughout their educational experience here at the Division of Continuing Education (DCE). Whether you teach for the Extension School or Summer School, we welcome the opportunity to work with you and equip you with the tools you need to create an accessible classroom experience. Our role not only involves supporting students, but also helping you meet institutional obligations related to accessibility. We do this by making sure you, as the instructor, have the knowledge and tools you need to implement academic accommodations. and work proactively with you to ensure that your course materials are accessible to all students.
In higher education, students are responsible for initiating requests for support for any disability related needs. Here at DCE, students make these requests to us, submit documentation, meet with a staff member to discuss their requests, and if qualified, receive accommodations. This process is outlined in detail on our website. If a student makes a request directly to you based on a disability, please refer them to our office.
Examples of accommodations might include extended time for an exam or assistance with notetaking. In some cases, students may need additional support such as a captioner, an American Sign Language Interpreter, or materials in a specific format. Regardless of the type of accommodation, we encourage collaboration and questions. We are aware that you may be concerned about saying the wrong thing or asking the wrong questions, but we can assure you that all of your questions are welcome and that we are here to support you as an instructor here at DCE.
We are also committed to providing you with pro-active resources that can assist you in thinking about accessibility and universal/inclusive design for learning. We hope you find the following how-to videos and information useful. We look forward to our partnership in supporting a meaningful and inclusive educational experience for all students. Thank you again for your interest in making your courses accessible to all.