week four duty to accommodate

My own experience with accommodations is fairly limited although I have had some students who required accommodating. I currently have a student with learning disabilities who comes to class with a personal support worker and who will receive a modified credit for her work in my manicure and pedicure classes. Her worker will work with me to modify her assessments. This is the third student in seven years of running our program. I have also received instruction to accommodate students myself for a number of reasons, including obesity and mobility issues, inability to concentrate, difficulties with reading and writing and health issues.

I did do a course on teaching adults with disabilities through Humber College a few years back. It was extremely helpful in understanding my role. I am a college professor in my areas of expertise and not a psychologist who can determine disabilities nor am I a learning specialist for students with disabilities. Students must identify themselves to the college as they are adults and their learning plans from when they were in grade school does not follow them to the college level. Once they have identified themselves with the college, the learning specialists will make a plan and then let me know what the students need. I do not know what their diagnoses is and students do not need to divulge that to me as it is a matter of privacy.

We are required to accommodate to the best of our ability. The college has everything in place to help the students who need it. I have never had a semester without a student with an accommodation. Some write their tests outside of the classroom environment. Some need extra time to write. Some need extra time to get to class. They are all different. Once I am advised to accommodate, I do. 

We have had to make all written documents that are on the College Website accessible. We have devices available for note taking, Some students need to record the lectures. The list of potential accommodations could be lengthy.

As I develop my instruction, I do my best to appeal to the many learning styles and needs. I may use visual aids, written materials, videos, lectures, demonstrations and discussions all in one class as I did this morning. I figure that if I can mix it up them I will catch more attention from more learners. :)

The trick is not to be scattered and disjointed. The material should run smoothly and make sense.

I have not had a student with a visual impairment. It would be very difficult to teach them how to do the practical skills they need to succeed as an esthetician. However, I have had students with some hearing loss and I have made accommodations for them. Where they sit in the class, speaking directly to them, providing written materials and videos for them to review have all helped. 

C.