Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training

In developing teaching and learning strategies that are appropriate for students with disabilities the following steps are important:

• practice inclusive teaching strategies
• invite students to approach you if they have particular learning requirements that can be met through reasonable adjustments
• discuss with students their learning support needs
• assess the implications of their disability for your course or unit
• identify and remove barriers that limit their participation by reviewing physical access and using inclusive delivery and assessment practices
• make available study materials in ample time for their conversion to accessible formats eg. brailling of texts or transcription of audiotapes
• follow guidelines for making information accessible
• ensure that course materials available online are accessible (eg. Blackboard course materials, library catalogue, CD ROM; Internet)
• organise through your disability service access to appropriate assistive technology and services (eg. scanners, voice synthesisers, braille embossers and voice activated computers)
• anticipate such requirements in all aspects of the learning program (eg. ensuring access to field trips or laboratories)
• check with the student whether these adjustments are actually meeting their needs.