Online Teaching FAQS
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 accommodation for students with disabilities, and encourage students to contact their ADS specialist if different accommodations are needed.
ADS will issue a new accommodation memo if 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.
When a student is experiencing barriers, reasonable accommodations may need to change for that student. Additional flexibility on deadlines and alternative methods of assessment may be reasonable for some students due to additional barriers present in the new environment. Flexibility and using multiple methods for students to demonstrate their learning can be key to making the transition to alternative instruction more accessible.
Students with disabilities will generally benefit from asynchronous rather than synchronous learning. Keep the structure of your Blackboard page simple and organized. Untimed assessments are also helpful.
Chat rooms can present challenges, so offer an alternative or make them optional. Here is an additional resource from the DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center with great suggestions for teaching accessible online courses.
Many ADS students are approved for extended time for testing and will likely need this accommodation online. Extended time can be provided for individual students through, see Blackboard Guidance. Additionally, while the Testing Services Center is closed, Patrick Chachulski, ADS Testing Center Coordinator, is available for consultation and can be reached at pchachulski AT_TOWSON.
Yes. There are many students not yet registered with ADS who have developed their own strategies to compensate for their disabilities. While these strategies may work well in face-to-face classes, these students may struggle online. We are still conducting intakes with students so please continue to refer students to our office.