The Accommodations Conversation:

A Faculty-to-Faculty Workshop

Faculty rarely have structured time to discuss accessibility approaches with peers. This kit aims to change that. Introducing a self-serve workshop designed to make those conversations practical, focused, and grounded in real experiences.

All assets are available as a single downloadable folder, making it easy to prepare, facilitate, and follow up without additional coordination.

Download Kit

Read Details

Several workshop materials from the Accommodations Conversation: Faculty to Faculty Workshop are arranged in a layered display against a bright purple background. At the center, a laptop shows a presentation slide with the workshop title on a dark blue screen, framed by curved graphic shapes in light blue, green, and pink. Surrounding the laptop are printed resources from the National Disability Center, including a booklet titled “The Accommodations Conversation: A Faculty to Faculty Workshop,” a guide titled “6 Simple Ways to Take Action at Your Campus,” a document labeled “Faculty Accessibility Survey,” and additional worksheet style pages with writing lines and colorful abstract graphics. The materials share a consistent visual style, featuring dark blue backgrounds, curved shapes, and bright accent colors such as green, pink, and light blue. The arrangement highlights multiple resources designed to support faculty discussions about accommodations and accessibility in higher education.

Why These Conversations Matter

Accessibility questions often surface in isolation, through individual student needs, urgent situations, or last-minute decisions. However, faculty report high confidence in their own practices while identifying gaps in institutional support and shared understanding.

This workshop creates a short, intentional space for faculty to reflect together, compare approaches, and identify strategies that can benefit students across courses and programs.

Three Conversation Approaches

Faculty Accessibility Conversations is organized into three flexible discussion formats. Each is designed to fit into a 10–15 minute segment of a faculty meeting. For groups larger than eight, the Center recommends breaking into pairs or small groups before sharing insights back to the full group.

Did You Know?

Short data points from national research and student experiences prompt reflection and shared interpretation. These questions help faculty pause and recalibrate assumptions about disclosure, support, and student decision-making.

Survey

Faculty review selected findings from the Faculty Accessibility Measure, including individual confidence and institutional support. This approach encourages comparison across roles, departments, and institution types.

Scenario

Realistic classroom situations invite faculty to explore options, trade strategies, and consider adjustments that may benefit the full class. Scenarios focus on mental health, course pacing, labs, flexibility, and communication.

”This should be in the hands of all faculty members who want to explore different ways to help students as well as challenge their own opinions!
Stephanie W. CawthonProfessor

Informed by Student Experiences

College Students Reported Having a Disability

Disabled College Students Reported a Mental Health Condition

College Students Disclosed to a Disability Service Office

What’s Included in the Workshop Toolkit

All materials are provided as a coordinated, ready-to-use set:

Presentation Deck

Intro, learning objectives, faculty perspectives, accessibility scenarios, discussion prompts, resources, and feedback opportunities.

Speaker Notes Handout

Notes to support facilitation during the presentation.

Blank Notes Handout

Space for participants to capture reflections and ideas.

Print Handout

Abridged Faculty Accessibility Survey for workshop use.

Next Steps Handout

A digital reminder of actions and resources following the session.

Download Kit

A laptop screen displays a PowerPoint presentation slide from the Accommodations Conversation: Faculty to Faculty Workshop. The slide titled “Research Findings” appears on a dark blue background and features a structured grid of colorful rectangular panels. Three large blocks across the top present key statistics: a green panel with “38%,” a light blue panel with “1/2,” and a purple panel with “47%.” Each block contains short explanatory text summarizing findings about disabled students in higher education, including disability identification after arriving on campus and patterns of disclosure. Beneath these panels, a wide beige rectangle highlights another statistic about mental health conditions among disabled students. The slide uses rounded shapes, soft spacing, and high contrast colors to organize the information clearly. On the left side of the presentation interface, a vertical column of slide thumbnails shows additional slides with circular and half circle graphic elements in green, blue, and pink, consistent with the workshop’s visual design.

What Faculty Gain

Participants leave with a clearer sense of where accessibility confidence is strong, where support may be uneven, and how peers approach similar challenges.

Reflecting on confidence and available support for accessibility strategies

Understanding faculty and student perspectives on accessibility

Exploring responses to real classroom scenarios with colleagues

Identifying next steps for courses and programs

Continue the Conversation

The workshop is one entry point into broader accessibility work. The Center offers additional research, tools, and learning opportunities to support ongoing exploration.

A blue background with a dotted illustration of a campus building with columns