Faculty

For assistance in implementing accommodations in an online course, contact Accommodation Services at accommodations@dbu.edu or profhelp@dbu.edu.

• Setting Up Exam Accommodations in Blackboard Ultra

All accommodation-related information, including documentation, accommodation letters, correspondence, and meetings, are considered confidential and will be managed in accordance with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations. This includes electronic, paper, verbal, and any other types of communication. In addition to fulfilling legal obligations, maintaining a high standard of confidentiality also serves to maintain an environment in which students with disabilities and accommodations feel respected, supported, and protected. At no time should a class be informed that a student utilizes accommodations or has a disability except at the request of a student.

• When talking with a person with a disability, speak directly to that person rather than through a companion or sign language interpreter.
• When introduced to a person with a disability, it is appropriate to offer to shake hands. People with limited hand use or who wear an artificial limb can usually shake hands. (Shaking hands with the left hand is an acceptable greeting.)
• When meeting a person who is visually impaired, always identify yourself and others who may be with you. When conversing in a group, remember to identify the person to whom you are speaking.
• If you offer assistance to a person, wait until the offer is accepted. Then listen to or ask for instructions.
• Treat adults as adults. Address people who have disabilities by their first names only when extending the same familiarity to all others. (Never patronize people who use wheelchairs by patting them on the head or shoulder.)
• Leaning on or hanging on to a person’s wheelchair is similar to leaning or hanging on to a person and is generally considered inappropriate. The chair is part of the personal body space of the person who uses it.
• Listen attentively when you’re talking with a person who has difficulty speaking. Be patient and wait for the person to finish, rather than correcting or speaking for the person. If necessary, ask short questions that require short answers, a nod or shake of the head. Never pretend to understand if you are having difficulty doing so. Instead, repeat what you have understood and allow the person to respond. The response will clue you in and guide your understanding.
• When speaking with a person who uses a wheelchair or a person who uses crutches, place yourself at eye level in front of the person to facilitate the conversation.
• To get the attention of a person who is deaf, tap the person on the shoulder or wave your hand. Look directly at the person and speak clearly, slowly, and expressively to determine if the person can read your lips. Not all people who are deaf can read lips. For those who do lip read, be sensitive to their needs by placing yourself so that you face the light source and keep hands and food away from your mouth when speaking.
• Relax. Don’t be embarrassed if you happen to use accepted, common expressions such as “See you later,” or “Did you hear about that?” that seem to relate to a person’s disability. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re unsure of what to do.
• Not all disabilities are visible, such as learning disabilities, ADHD, depression, or asthma. You should never question the validity of an individual’s disability.

Adapted from Office of Disability Employment Policy 

Dallas Baptist University recognizes the importance of Service Animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The University will permit the use of a Service Animal by an individual with a disability who satisfies the requirements of the ADA. Download this PDF for more information on service animals.