Resources for Faculty and Staff

This informational guide from Indiana University of Pennsylvania provides helpful tips for how to respectfully engage with people with various types of disabilities.

For assistance with implementing accommodations in your class, please review the Faculty Disability Handbook on the MyWestmoreland portal. The handbook includes an overview of faculty rights and responsibilities, procedures for implementing specific accommodations, Tutoring and Learning Services testing procedures, and a listing of campus resources. 

Westmoreland’s Center for Teaching and Learning supports faculty in providing online content to students that is valuable, relevant, and accessible. The Center for Teaching and Learning can assist you with making your online course content accessible and compliant with students’ approved accommodations.  

For step-by-step guidance on how to set up testing accommodations for students in D2L, please check out this resource from Depaul University.

The Faculty Room is a space for faculty and administrators to collaborate and learn how to design courses that are accessible for all students, including those with disabilities. This site includes featured articles, videos, and community discussion boards for resource sharing.

If you are planning an event, here are some things to consider to ensure your event is accessible for all participants. 

Accessible Entrance

Consider the following questions when planning the location of your event:

• Is there sufficient ADA parking available close to the entrance?
• Is there a path of travel from the parking lot that does not include stairs or uneven terrain?
• If there are stairs to navigate, is there an alternate route (elevator, ramp, etc.) close by?
• Are there accessible restrooms close to the event?

If any answers to these questions are no, please consider moving your event to another location.

Publicity and Invitations

All publicity and invitations for the event should include a statement about accessibility and accommodation needs. A good statement to include is, “Please contact us in advance if you have accessibility needs for this event.” It’s important to extend this same statement to all presenters for the event.

If you receive accommodation requests from participants, you may contact the disability counselor at eicherlaFREEWESTMORELAND for recommendations and support in implementing the accommodations. 

Audio/Visual Materials

Make sure all videos being used include closed captioning. Provide handouts in an alternative format, such as sending them electronically ahead of time. Make sure electronic documents include image captioning for any photos, diagrams, charts, etc. 

Event Seating

Provide seating that is compatible for participants who may be using a wheelchair and adjacent seating for participants to bring a companion if needed. 

Tips for Presenters

Consider the following guidelines to ensure presentations are accessible for all participants.

• When presenting to an audience which may include people with visual, learning, and cognitive impairments, all visuals presented need to be described verbally. This not only helps people with disabilities, but also helps those who are seated at the back of the room.
• Ensure that all visual aids are printed in as large a font as possible. To maximize readability, slides should not have more than 8 lines of text. 
• Use the amplification system provided. Do not assume that your voice is loud enough to be heard without a microphone.
• Face the audience when you speak and avoid putting your hands over your mouth so that those who are reading lips can understand.
• If a microphone is not available to the audience, repeat all audience questions into the microphone before answering them.
• Ensure that only one audience member speaks at a time.
• If you are presenting with a sign language interpreter: 
  • Ensure that the interpreter can be seen, even when the lights are dimmed.
  • Do not walk in front of interpreters when they are signing.
  • If you are a rapid speaker, slow your speaking rate.
  • Speak directly to the person, not to the interpreter, when talking to a person using an interpreter.
  • When using slides or handouts, allow extra time for participants to look at each item before moving on. People using interpreters cannot view the item and watch the interpreter at the same time.
  • If you plan to divide the participants into smaller groups for an activity, notify the event organizers ahead of time so they can have additional interpreters available if needed. 

Excerpted from Accessible Event Planning FAQ at Duke University.