Faculty Working with Students with Disabilities
The University is committed to, and federal law mandates, the provision of reasonable accommodations that afford equal opportunity for all students. Achieving reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, however, involves shared responsibility between the students, faculty, and staff.
Each student with a disability will have different strengths and weaknesses even within the same type of disability. Compensation skills will also vary from one student to another and in the same student across time.
Consequently, while the information here can be used as a general guide, specific knowledge of a student's needs should come to you via a "Letter of Accommodation" from the Office of Academic Services, or the relevant Disability Coordinator in other areas of the University, and through your discussion of that letter with the student.
Disability Statement for Course Syllabi
Please include the following statement, in bold type, in the syllabus for each course offered at Brandeis:
If you are a student who needs academic accommodations because of a documented disability you should contact me, and present your letter of accommodation, as soon as possible. If you have questions about documenting a disability or requesting academic accommodations you should contact Beth Rodgers-Kay in Academic Services at 6-3470. Letters of accommodations should be presented at the start of the semester to ensure provision of accommodations. Accommodations cannot be granted retroactively.
Listing of Disability Coordinators
The Disability Coordinators in each of the schools of the University are happy to talk with faculty about assisting students with disabilities. Instructors who are concerned that a learning or physical disability may be interfering significantly with a student's academic performance or would like to discuss any disability-related concern, are encouraged to contact the student’s disability coordinator.
Beth Rodgers-Kay
Director, Disabilities Services and Support.
Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
(x63470), brodgers@brandeis.edu
Alwina Bennett
Assistant Provost for Graduate Student Affairs
Office of the Provost
(x63546), alwina@brandeis.edu
Kate Goldfield
Assistant Dean
International Business School
(x62260), goldfiel@brandeis.edu.
Beth Mann
Office of the Assosciate Dean, Academic Programs
Heller School for Social Policy and Management
(x62737), bmann@brandeis.edu
Gwen Smaxwell
Director
Summer and Continuing Education Academic Accommodations
(x63424), smaxwill@brandeis.edu
For undergraduate and graduate level assistive technology:
Jason Bernard
Reference Librarian
Libraries
(x64740), jbernard@brandeis.edu
Additional questions can be directed to:
Beth Rodgers-Kay
Director, Disabilities Services and Support.
Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
(x63470), brodgers@brandeis.edu
Alwina Bennett
Assistant Provost for Graduate Student Affairs
Office of the Provost
(x63600), alwina@brandeis.edu
Resources and Links
The following are some helpful websites that other universities have created to better inform faculty of issues of teaching and support for students with disabilities:
University of Washington - The Faculty Room
UC-Berkeley - Teaching Students With Disabilities
