Students with Disabilities that Limit
Mobility and Dexterity

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Tips for Teaching Students with Disabilities that
Limit Mobility and Dexterity

For students who use a wheelchair or who have other mobility limitations:

• If a classroom or faculty office is inaccessible, it will be necessary to find an accessible location or an alternate class section that is held in an accessible room.

• Theater-type classrooms with raised seating may present difficulties unless there is a large enough level floor space in the front or rear of the room for a person to position a wheelchair. There must also be an entrance to and from that level.

• Classrooms with adjustable, movable tables and chairs are more accessible to students in wheelchairs than rooms with standard classroom desks.

• A table may need to be placed in a classroom that normally has only desks. Ask the student where he or she would like the table placed. Ideally, the table would be placed prior to the beginning of classes or soon after classes begin and would remain in that location throughout the semester. Some students with back injuries also require a table and chair.

• Keep in mind that students may need to wait for an elevator, take a circuitous route, wait for assistance in opening doors and maneuver along crowded paths and corridors. Most students will be aware of time restrictions and will schedule their classes accordingly. Some physical barriers, however, are unpredictable. An elevator may not operate. Construction may begin on a sidewalk mid-semester. These barriers may result in tardiness on the student's part.

• If a course involves fieldwork or field trips, evaluate whether the destination is accessible, and work out transportation. Since students who use wheelchairs may not have the same ability to car-pool that other students without transportation have, providing an accessible van is a good alternative.

• Classes taught in laboratory settings (i.e., science, wood and metal workshops, language labs, art studios) will usually involve some modification of the workstation. Considerations include: under-counter knee clearance, working counter-top height, horizontal working reach, and aisle widths. Working directly with students is the best way to provide modifications to the workstation. However, if a station is modified in accordance with established accessibility standards it will be usable by most students in wheelchairs.