You can help students with mobility and dexterity issues by ensuring that facilities, activities, materials and equipment are accessible to and usable by all students — and that safety issues are taken into consideration.
Related Accommodations
- Classroom and lab assistants
- Accessible tables, chairs and rooms
- Assistive technology
- Notetaking
- Flexible attendance
- Transportation
- Housing
- Service animals
Suggested instructional strategies
- Use classrooms, labs and fieldwork sites that are accessible to students with a wide range of physical abilities.
- Assign partners for lab work. Students with hand and arm dexterity problems can have lab partners perform physical parts of the assignment at their direction.
- Arrange for adequate time for completion of class assignments.
- Allow adequate time for testing.
- Be realistic in seeking solutions when a student is late to class, and discuss chronic tardiness with the student.
- Allow for adequate break time during long classes so students can attend to physical needs such as stretching, medication and restroom use.
- Arrange seating to give each student a clear line of sight to the instructor and visual aids while allowing room for wheelchairs, assistants and assistive technology. Make the environment as inclusive as possible.
- Make sure everyone can use equipment and materials, and provide alternative options when necessary. Offer straightforward oral and printed directions for equipment operation and use.
- Develop safety procedures for all students, and consider the impact of disabilities on emergency procedures.