This post was written by the CITL’s Eric Brinkman (they/them) and guest author MarChé TiShaun Daughtry (they/them)
We often think about how to accommodate the needs of students, but instructors can also need accommodations. With so many offices on campus, it can be particularly difficult for graduate instructors—in their dual roles as both students and instructors—to know which resources to use and when to do so. We can help you unpack which offices will be helpful in accessing classroom accommodations.
This week I asked one of our distinguished graduate associate instructors, MarChé TiShaun Daughtry, about their experiences getting access to the services they need.
MarChé:
One of the primary offices that you will have contact with is the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs (VPFAA) as it is through this office that you will receive a majority of your teaching accommodations. Due to my disabilities, in order to teach I require a chair that has an adjustable height and arms, and the office of the VPFAA helped obtain this chair for my classroom.
If you are someone who uses adaptive equipment, Assistive Technology and Accessibility Centers (ATAC) can also assist you. Responding to messages from students, grading assignments, and providing feedback are all important aspects of teaching. As a person with multiple disabilities, I found it difficult to keep up with the amount of typing that I needed to do. I was able to reach out to ATAC for an evaluation, and they taught me how to use Microsoft’s dictation feature alongside my screen reading software.
While these previous examples were quite straightforward, there are times when your position, for example, as a graduate student can complicate which office you should contact. For instance, the building where I attend classes and teach did not have Braille signage throughout. In order to have the signs installed, I reached out to the building representative, the Office of the VPFAA, and Accessible Educational Services (AES), and they were able to install Braille signage.
So, why did I contact all of these offices? Well, you should contact your building representative if there are any access issues related to the building. Since Lindley Hall is the building where I take and teach classes, I reached out to both AES and the office of the VPFAA because I was unsure which coordinator I should speak with. So, when in doubt, it is good to reach out to both offices (particularly if you are still in coursework), and they will let you know which office would be in the best position to support you.
Supporting Graduate Student Instruction
Thank you MarChé! We here at the CITL want to assist in any way we can to improve graduate student teaching. If you a need and are unsure of where to go, contact us and we would be happy to direct you. We also offer workshops on teaching and graduate student professionalization, so check out our Events page, or for help now contact the CITL with your any questions about improving your teaching or for a one-on-one consultation.
References:
“Access and Accommodation.” IU Graduate School Bloomington.
“Are you reaching all your learners?” Assistive Technology & Accessibility Centers.
“Employment Accommodation Requests.” Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty & Academic Affairs.
“Help for students with qualifying medical conditions.” Office of Student Life.
Resources. Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.
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