Faculty Best Practices

• Place your book orders early, according to the Bookstore's deadlines.
  SDRC provides books in alternate formats (e-text, audio, Braille) for eligible students. It can take four to six weeks to secure or produce a textbook in alternate format. Once students enroll in classes during the first day of registration, it is crucial for SDRC to be able to access the book information from the Bookstore. Course readers and handouts can be especially difficult to produce in alternate format if they have underlining, hand-written notes, highlighting, cut-off margins, or poor-quality copies.
• Put a statement in your syllabus to initiate dialogue with students.
  SDRC suggests the following statement: "If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss your SDRC-approved academic accommodations, or if you would need assistance in the event of an emergency, please make an appointment to meet with me as soon as possible."
• Verify the student's eligibility for disability-related accommodations.
  When a student advises you that he or she will be using accommodations in your class, verify that the student is registered with SDRC and specifically approved for the requested accommodations. Ask to view the student's Determination of Accommodations form. Respect the confidentiality of students with disabilities by discussing their accommodations in a private setting.
• Complete Requests for Alternative Testing and return them to student promptly.
  Students who are eligible for testing accommodations will give you a Request for Alternative Testing form for each exam for which he or she will require accommodations. If SDRC will be administering the exam, please complete all portions of section B and sign the form. Keep the bottom goldenrod copy to serve as a reminder to send the exam to SDRC, and return the form to the student as soon as possible. The student must submit the completed and signed test request form to SDRC a minimum of one week before a quiz or midterm, and a minimum of two weeks prior to the beginning of Finals Week.
• Ensure that material on Blackboard is accessible.
  Material posted on Blackboard should be in .doc, .txt, .rtf, or .htm format, to ensure compatibility with Assistive Technology. Most PDFs cannot be read by a screen reader. Whenever possible, post handouts and assignments on Blackboard in addition to or instead of handing out a paper copy. Online format allows students with vision impairments and learning disabilities to use screen reading software to read the document aloud.
• Assist students with note-taker recruitment when requested.
  Some students who are eligible to receive a copy of a classmate's notes (as specified in the Determination of Accommodations) may need the professor's assistance in recruiting a suitable note-taker from the class. When requested, please assist with this process by recommending a competent student or by making the following announcement: "A student in this class is eligible to receive a copy of a classmate's notes. The note-taker receives a stipend from the Student Disability Resource Center. If you are willing to provide this service, please see me after class and I will introduce you to the eligible student."

If you have any questions, contact SDRC at 510-885-3868 (phone/TTY), in Library Complex 2400, or email us at sdrc@csueastbay.edu.

For Concord Campus courses, contact our Concord counselor at 925-602-6716, in the Academic Services Building, or email leslie.duncan@csueastbay.edu.