Faculty & Staff Resources

Know who is eligible to receive accommodations so early arrangements can be made. If you are unsure, it is appropriate to email the whole class, asking any student who is approved for accommodations to follow up with you. Honor current accommodations for students with disabilities, and encourage students to contact their ADS specialist if different accommodations are needed.

ADS will issue an updated accommodation memo if new accommodations are approved. ADS can email you digital copies of accommodation memos.

Each student works with an assigned ADS Specialist who is listed on the accommodation memo. The specialist will be able to answer questions about student accommodations. If you are unsure who the student’s specialist is, you can email TUADS AT_TOWSON.

In a recent survey of students registered with ADS, 65% said their disability symptoms impacted them more in an online environment as compared to the traditional classroom. The barriers cited most often included difficulty sustaining attention and staying organized in a online environment, reduced access to instructors to answer questions, taking longer to complete tasks/assignments, and greater difficulty understanding course information than in a face-to-face setting.

Recording class lectures promotes accessibility for students with disabilities and can enhance the educational experience for all students (e.g., students with different learning styles, non-native speakers of English and students struggling with the course material). A recorded lecture allows students to refer back to the recording while studying, fill in gaps in their notes, and revisit complex information to grasp challenging concepts.  Additionally, captioning recorded lectures ensures accessibility for students with disabilities and fosters greater engagement and focus for all students through both hearing and seeing the verbal information presented. Here is an additional resource from the DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center with more suggestions for teaching accessible online courses.

Students who are approved for testing accommodations should take their tests online as administered by the instructor. Timed online tests will require the instructor to adjust the student’s testing time in Blackboard prior to the test date.   

For hybrid courses that offer some in-person instruction, as well as the opportunity to take tests in the classroom, ADS students may take their tests in the Testing Center. Students should submit an Online Test Accommodation Request Form to schedule a test with the Testing Center at least five business days in advance of the test date. 

For further information, please call the Testing Services Center line at 410-704-2304 or contact Patrick Chachulski, Testing Coordinator, at pchachulski AT_TOWSON.  

• Students with disabilities often need additional time, and some may take longer to complete assignments when learning online. Being flexible with requests for a reasonable extension on an assignment can be helpful. 
• Keep the structure of your Blackboard page simple and organized.
• When changing course requirements, such as due dates, make them directly on the syllabus in Blackboard rather than only communicating changes by email.
• Chat rooms can present challenges for some students, so offer an alternative or make them optional.
• Being available to answer questions is particularly important for students with disabilities. Holding virtual office hours is very helpful, as is responding to questions in a timely way.