Faculty Resources

We’ve created this page as a resource for Whitman College faculty members. If you have any further questions, please contact Disability Access Services (DAS) at das@whitman.edu. 

Syllabus Statement
Guidelines for Interaction with Students Who Have Disabilities
Information for Faculty Regarding Privacy
Working With Students
Accommodations Guidelines
Field Trips and Out-of-Class Activities
Learning Disability Information
Emergencies

Syllabus Statement

We encourage faculty to include on their syllabi a statement such as the following that makes explicit the process for obtaining accommodations for any kind of disability:

Your experience in this class is important to me. It is the policy and practice of Whitman College to create inclusive and accessible learning environments in accordance with federal and state law.

If you have already established accommodations with Disability Access Services (DAS), please submit your Letter of Accommodation via Accommodate and schedule a time to meet with me so we can discuss how your accommodations will be implemented in this course.

If you have not yet arranged accommodations but have a temporary health condition or a permanent disability that may require support (including, but not limited to: mental health, learning, attention, vision, hearing, physical, or chronic health conditions), please contact DAS to begin the interactive process of developing an Access Plan.

You can reach DAS at das@whitman.edu or visit Olin Hall 334. More information is available at Disability Access Services.

Guidelines for Interaction with Students Who Have Disabilities

Disabilities are not protected under ADA law; however, individuals with disabilities are. Because students with the same type of impairment vary in their level of functioning, it is better to focus on how the student performs in your class than on their disability. It is the student’s responsibility to request services from Disability Access Services (DAS). After DAS and the student meet and agree on reasonable accommodations, you will receive verification that the student has registered with DAS as having a disability and an outline of approved accommodations. Students with disabilities are advised to approach their instructors to discuss the approved accommodations.

Information for Faculty Regarding Privacy

Instructors are not given specific information or a diagnosis of the student’s disability. In most cases, they will be told that a disability exists, and they will be given an outline of the approved accommodations. All information about your students’ disabilities must be kept confidential. The provision of accommodations should be done without drawing undue attention to the students or disclosing their identities to the rest of the class. Faculty can learn how to provide the recommended adjustments discreetly by speaking privately with the student.

Working With Students

The following documents contain specific suggestions for working with students who have various disabilities.

• Students Who Have Visual Impairments
• Students Who Have Hearing Impairments
• Students Who Have Mobility Impairments
• Students Who Have Learning Disabilities
• Students Who Have Psychological Disabilities

 Accommodations Guidelines

We've supplied the following documents to give more context and structure to some commonly-approved accommodations here at Whitman College as well as the accommodations process as a whole:

• Access to Instructors’ Notes (Word format)
• Access to Instructors’ Notes (PDF fomat)

Field Trips and Out-of-Class Activities

Students who have disabilities have a right to participate in all the educational activities associated with a course, including any activities planned for outside the classroom. Thus, it is necessary for faculty members to consider the specific needs and limitations of students as they plan required field trips or other out-of-the-classroom activities. Issues to consider are accessible transportation; steps, curb cuts, and elevators at the off-campus site; service animals; and sign language interpreters. The Academic Resource Center will be able to assist faculty in planning appropriate adjustments.

Occasionally, it will be impossible for a student to engage in a regular course activity; for instance, a blind student cannot use a telescope or microscope. In such cases, an alternative activity should be devised to achieve the same educational goals.

Emergencies

In case of medical emergencies, contact the Welty Health and Counseling Center or call 911 immediately. Notify the health center as soon as possible after phoning 911. They may have some health information about the student that could be of critical importance to the emergency response team. Students who are blind or deaf may not be able to identify warning signs or alarms in the event of a fire, earthquake or other disaster. Communicate directly with them to ensure they can safely exit from the building along with the rest of the class. Students with mobility limitations should consult with the Director of Academic Resources, the college’s Safety Officer and the Director of Security to form a plan for assistance in the case of an emergency.

Last updated: 8/26/2024