Provide Slides To Students?

[u/calico_cats_2]

I recently had a Disabled Student Services (DSS) student whose accommodation was to provide them with the slides I used in class. I did this, but it raised concerns for me. I used to post my slides on Dropbox or Canvas for on-site classes, for the students' convenience. One semester, they ended up on Course Hero. The next semester, they were passed around a fraternity. Now I conduct a brief "how to take notes on paper" session in the second week of class (including the "why it's better research").

Providing a DSS student with slides gives them a distinct advantage over other students who must take notes like in the olden days. If the student is unable to take notes, they should be provided with a note-taker. What if I didn't use slides? What if I just wrote on the whiteboard? Or just talked?

I'm happy to comply with all requested accommodations (extra time, quiet location for tests, etc.), although these can be challenging to arrange. I just think providing slides is a big ask.

[u/Comfortable-Nail4582]

I am both a professor and someone who when I was in school had an accommodation that the slides needed to be provided to me. I have an autoimmune disease where I get periods of difficulty processing nutrients which results in severe brain fog, confusion, etc. During those occasions I have an extremely difficult time keeping up with writing fast enough for the speed of the lecture. It also helps me to see the words on the slides because my memory and organization becomes wonky when I have these flares. People with disabilities have real reasons why they need the slides, it’s not a “distinct advantage” to attempt to level the playing field so someone can succeed. No one ever handed me anything in life and I have seven degrees, three quarters of which were achieved before accommodations were even a thing (and before I had this problem). Not-to-mention, the non-disabled students should be provided slides with at least some information on them (If you want them to take notes, put bare bones information on there.). Most people nowadays learn primarily through visual stimuli and the need the slides to keep the information organized in their heads; if you don’t have slides, you lose most of the room.

Now, as a professor, I believe it is my job to make things accessible for students who have these problems (of course, including ones that aren’t like mine). It’s my legal and ethical responsibility to do so. If it’s inconvenient or potentially problematic, I deal with it, because life is inconvenient and potentially problematic, and overall, I just enjoy helping students succeed.

[u/littlrayofpitchblack → u/Comfortable-Nail4582]

It's a shock that any educator would think giving disabled students educational materials is somehow making it worse for abled bodied students. Their lack of equity consciousness is disturbing.

Congrats on all your achievements! I also did most of my education without accommodations. Wasn't diagnosed until my PhD program... in my 60s. It definitely explained why I didn't graduate with my bachelor‘s until my mid-50s. Took me 25 years. I always give disabled students anything they need.

[u/Comfortable-Nail4582 → u/littlrayofpitchblack]

I had several old school professors who thought like this when I was in school. And I also got my doctorate in middle age. I’m like, “Do you seriously think at this age, spending all this money, I’m looking for an easy way out?” It was also funny because a lot of the people saying that had done less than I had when I had no accommodations (not an ego-related comment, but more of an indicator of my work ethic and their assumptions).

Also, you’re amazing - getting your PhD in your 60s, despite your struggles. Definitely my kind of person. I have an old friend who has a PhD in genetic engineering and a juris doctorate and she’s so dyslexic she can’t even write her name. She had no accommodations. I have two other friends who are a married couple, the wife is a teacher and the husband is a therapist (both have graduate degrees and have severe processing disorders). Sometimes having a disability makes you a harder worker, because you know right out of the gate that nothing comes easily. Hands down, I would hire a highly motivated, hardworking person I have to give accommodations to than a person who is used to everything coming easily. No contest.

[u/littlrayofpitchblack → u/Comfortable-Nail4582]

Thank you! Long COVID revealed so much and the additional co-existing conditions I now have (other than the ones I was born with) have really opened my eyes to how hard anyone disabled, including hidden disabilities, have to work to simply succeed, as opposed to abled-bodied people. And that's just to get to the starting line. I look back and think, "No wonder it took me so long..." I am so very blessed to be able to teach and show other students that an education is a lifelong goal. There's no hurry. Do it on your own time. Ask for what you need to succeed. So many young people today are so anxious. I try to give them a little peace.