Tips for Communicating With Your Professors About Accommodations

The final step in putting your accommodations in place occurs when you meet with your professors to implement your accommodations, after they have been electronically sent through Accommodate.

The tips below will help you successfully prepare for and conduct this meeting with your professors.

1. Schedule an appointment with your professors to talk about your accommodations after your letters have been sent though Accommodate, ideally during the first couple weeks of classes.
   • Check your syllabi for your professors’ office hours. If they conflict with your classes, email, call or ask them in person if you can come by at a particular time to discuss your accommodations. A pre-arranged appointment in a private setting eliminates the feeling of being rushed, increases privacy, minimizes distractions and allows you to begin building a rapport with your professor.
2. Plan in advance how you will explain your learning needs (not diagnosis) and why the accommodations you have been granted will help you be a successful learner in class. Some ideas:
   • Share your strengths, classroom accommodations and strategies which have been most helpful to you in the past.
   • Think of specific examples showing how your disability interferes with your learning in and out of class. These examples show your professors you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses and comfortable advocating for yourself.
3. Adopt the attitude that your professors want to help you.
   • Your success in college will be determined in great part by the type and quality of interactions you have with faculty. Try to eliminate negative thoughts or memories of past classroom issues. View your meeting as a way to begin building positive interactions with those who are important to your education and academic success.

1. If you make an appointment, show up on time!
   • If you show up and the professor is late, wait at least 5 to 10 minutes, and then leave a note. If you must reschedule your appointment, contact the professor with as much advance notice as possible. If you miss an appointment, apologize in person and reschedule.
2. Do’s and Don’ts:
   • Do:
     • Be friendly, greet your instructors and maintain eye contact. 
     • Show interest in them and the class they teach. 
     • Maintain a courteous and professional demeanor. 
     • Project yourself as a serious, motivated student who wants to be successful in their class.
     • Be assertive about your needs and assume you are working together to plan for your needs.
     • Remember to thank your instructors for their time.
   • Don’t:
     • Don’t be aggressive. Don’t get mad. 
     • Don’t take up unreasonable amounts of their time. 
     • Don’t interrupt.

If you are unsure about what to say in your meeting, use the following script as a guideline.

After your meeting, make the most of your accommodations by maintaining dialogue with your professors.

Communicate

Talk with your professors throughout the semester to inform them of challenges you are facing in the class.  Frequent communication between the professor and student helps accommodations work well.

Always react positively and communicate openly with your professors.

Ask questions to clarify statements from your professor. Repeat what you heard to make sure you both understand the issue.

Email etiquette: Only send emails that contain language you would feel comfortable saying in person.  Do not send emails in ALL CAPS or use text-speak, and always include a subject line.

Remind your professor about your agreed-upon arrangement for testing one week prior to each test. If you do not do so, faculty may assume you are not planning to use your accommodations. Last-minute requests create tension between you and your professors.

Class Work

Remember the basics.  Be dependable.  Attend all classes, arrive on time, complete work by due dates.  Your positive work ethic will continue to promote you as a responsible student.

Troubleshooting

If it appears your professor has questions about your accommodations or the process, contact OAS for an appointment.  You may also suggest the professor contact OAS directly for clarification.