What I Wish My Professors knew about my Disability: An Informal Survey of Disabled University Students and Graduates

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“People with disabilities are earning degrees at about half the rate of non-disabled people…”

“…disabled students have accredited compassionate and empathetic professors as the reason they were able to complete a class and earn their degrees...”

According to a survey done in 2014, among people 25 and older, 16.4 percent of people with a disability had completed a bachelor’s degree. By comparison, 34.6 percent of people with no disability had completed a bachelor’s degree. People with disabilities are earning degrees at just over half the rate of non-disabled people (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015.) Those who do earn degrees often face significant additional challenges compared to their peers. The challenges are not necessarily a result of their disability, but more due to inaccessibility and ableism. Ableism is discrimination against individuals with disabilities and can range from outright refusal to provide reasonable accommodations to more subtle instances such well-meaning people moving a person’s wheelchair without permission. Fortunately, education is becoming increasingly accessible, but it is an uphill battle. There are some things that professors and administrators can do to help ensure the success of disabled students and serve as allies to the disabled population.

MAKE YOURSELF ACCESSIBLE! EACH PERSON’S DISABILITY AND NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT.

First and foremost, MAKE YOURSELF ACCESSIBLE! One simple way to do this is to make an announcement a few times throughout the semester that you understand disability requires accommodations and that you are happy to meet with or communicate students individually to discuss their needs.

Second, remember that EACH PERSON’S DISABILITY AND NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT. Never assume you know what a person’s needs are, instead ask the students about their experience, their needs, and what you can do to help them.

These are two of the most universal best practices for helping any disabled student be successful, and you are likely to benefit from these relationships and connections as well.

The following are some suggestions from students. Some are specific to disabilities, others are broader.

Disability is unpredictable. Just like you can’t predict the flu, disability, flares and illness are unpredictable. We try to give advanced notice of when we may need extra time or help, but it’s not always possible. Please be patient with us.

Ensure that assignments are accessible. Is there a required field trip? Labs? Office Hours? Can these extras accommodate a wheelchair, a deaf student? Do the best you can and talk with individual students about their needs for accessibility on specific assignments.

Hearing loss/Deafness is a more common disability. Always include closed captions/subtitles for all videos, many professors will ask if anyone needs them immediately before playing a clip. This puts disabled students in the uncomfortable position of having to disclose their needs in front of everyone. If you have a microphone, use it. Again, do not ask if everyone can hear you without it as that forces disabled students to disclose or miss out on important lectures.

Often students with hearing losses will have transcribers who type what’s being said in real time so the student can read it off their laptop or phone. Electronics bans single out these students.

Ensure that all changes to the syllabus or assignments are explained in both written and verbal form.

Recorded lectures, PDFs, handouts, and PowerPoints are life savers for disabled students of varying disabilities.

For some people with disabilities such as ADD or ADHD, something like doodling and fidgeting is how they stay engaged and pay attention. We understand that this can be distracting, but please try to have patience with these students. If you need to bring it up, do so privately.

Lastly, and possibly most importantly, remember that many disabilities are invisible. This goes back to ensuring that you never assume anyone’s ability/or disability.

Repeatedly, disabled students have accredited compassionate and empathetic professors as the reason they were able to complete a class and earn their degrees. Your support is vital and incredibly appreciated, thank you. You are on the front lines of providing accommodations and accessibility for disabled students. We’d like to support you in that.

We welcome any questions, feedback, or further discussions. You can reach us at equalaccesscommission@gmail.com

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, People with a disability less likely to have completed a bachelor's degree on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2015/peoplewith-a-disability-less-likely-to-have-completed-a-bachelors-degree.htm (visited November 05, 2019).