This was a great reminder to educators to be sensitive to all students’ request for accommodations. Despite there being difficulties CUNY seems to ahead of other schools as I am a bit surprised that the podcast was just made 1/2022. If a student has had an accommodation request I have always just accepted it without question. I’ve always looked at it that it is a great thing that they are brining it to my attention.
Covid has just added another layer of accommodations. I am teaching an in person class with only nine students. Three of them have separately approached me about their social anxiety and their hesitancy about coming back with their classmates. That’s a third of the class! Perhaps even more have not felt comfortable approaching me. I remind students that the classroom is a safe space. I had always encouraged group work but now it optional. I try to make the class a relaxing free place and students appreciate this. I am so touched by how kind and accepting the students are to each other.
As educators our main job is to encourage learning for all. Students have enough stress about their perceived shortcomings, the teacher should not add to it.
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Your experience resonates with mine, Patricia. I have also noticed that since COVID the need for accommodations for students has changed, becoming more complex. I also think part of the sensitivity to students who may need learning accommodations is noticing when they may not feel comfortable asking for them. If a student frequently turns in late work, i do not automatically assume that the issue is time management (although it often is!). I try to have a conversation with the student to open the communicative doors so they can let me know if they need more time to write, which quite a few students do.