Frequently Asked Questions
1. “I’ve received an accommodation letter that involves accessible course materials. How do I know if my materials are accessible? What should I do if I suspect there’s an issue?”
What this means is that all course materials need to be in a format that can work with screen reading software or other technology. We will take care of the textbooks for your course, if there is one, but if you're posting PDFs to Canvas or using individual readings, you'll need to ensure that they are accessible in advance. If you're using a lot of individual readings/PDFs, we're happy to look over your materials in advance to ensure that they are accessible, but please note that we will need time to do so.
If you need any assistance throughout the semester, please contact our Assistive Technology Coordinator at drsat@temple.edu. They would also have a consultation with you to make sure you know how to make your materials accessible going forward.
The Center for Advancements in Teaching also has additional resources, including consultations, information about which can be found here: https://www.temple.edu/accessibility/how-materials/accessible-materials.
Adobe also has a short guide for checking accessibility with just a few clicks. It can be found here: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/create-verify-pdf-accessibility.html.
2. “I’m concerned about one of the accommodations and whether or not it will work with my course. Or, I don’t understand what this accommodation may mean or how to implement it in my classroom.”
If you have a question about a specific accommodation, the best course of action is to contact the student’s coordinator. This information will be listed at the bottom of the accommodation letter, which you can always access via the MyDRS portal.
If the question is in regard to testing, it may be best to contact our Testing Coordinator directly by emailing drstest@temple.edu.
For more general inquiries, or if you’re not sure where to start, you can email [click-for-email], or call us at (215) 204-1280. Alternatively, you can stop by our Faculty Drop-in Hours!
3. “I have a student that has expressed to me that they need accommodations. How can I help them get started?”
Faculty are often the first to notice that a student may be facing a disability-related barrier. If a student mentions accommodations or disability related barriers, encourage them to fill out the preregistration form on our website. They can also upload their documentation on this page as well. Thank you for supporting our students!
4. “I’m a faculty member that needs accommodations. Is that something you can help with?”
Our office provides support for students, but there are other avenues for Faculty, Staff, and Visitors to campus to ensure access. Please visit https://www.temple.edu/accessibility for more information about requestion accommodations. They also have resources such as training videos, workshops, and web audits and other information about making spaces accessible.
5. “Our department has some general questions about how accommodations function in the classroom. Is it possible to set up a meeting or have someone come talk to a group of us?”
Absolutely! The DRS staff are eager to provide outreach through guest presentations and consultation services. Our mission is to assist our colleagues at the university in designing instruction, programs, services, and spaces that are fully accessible to all members of our learning community.
To request a presentation or consultation, please contact us at [click-for-email].