[Athen] Technical Standards for Engineering program

[Hunziker, Dawn A - (hunziker)]

Hi all,

I’m intrigued by this topic as well - we have a similar situation in our cybersecurity degree program. At this time, we’ve solved some of the barriers by hiring a technical assistant/academic aide to work with the student.

I’m going to throw this out there as a thought. In the past, when we encounter areas that are near impossible to accommodate, we step back to the drawing board. Is knowing 3D CAD and how to use that program an essential function for the degree? Is it essential that the student interact with that element in order to complete learning objectives and degree requirements? Or, are there other ways the student can acquire the learning objectives present for this course, perhaps by taking a different course or having an independent study opportunity?

I know we have worked through this in both the academic and work environments - there are very few occasions where we have had to determine accommodations are not reasonable due to the essential function requirements of the degree/work programs.

~Dawn

Dawn Hunziker
IT Accessibility Consultant, Sr. | Disability Resources
The University of Arizona | hunziker at arizona.edu<mailto:hunziker at arizona.edu>
drc.arizona.edu<http://drc.arizona.edu/> | itaccessibility.arizona.edu<http://itaccessibility.arizona.edu/>
520-626-9409

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Normajean.Brand
Sent: Wednesday, February 3, 2021 9:25 AM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [EXT]Re: [Athen] Technical Standards for Engineering program


External Email
We have a similar situation here - completely blind student wanting/demanding to take engineering courses and of course the 3D CAD course is in his plan. We’ve exhausted our ideas of accommodations as well. Even the Dean of the program has tried to be accommodating and trying “think outside the box but there is only so much he can do.” So I’m following this thread in hopes that clearer answers/suggestions come up.
NJ Brand

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From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Loyal Truong
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2021 9:58 AM
To: athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Athen] Technical Standards for Engineering program

Hello all,
Are there technical standard requirements for engineering courses? For example, a completely blind student takes a 3D CAD course requiring the use of software that requires visual manipulation and creation of on-screen 3D models, accommodations have been exhausted. Should there be technical requirements to let these students know beforehand what types of vision or physical skills are required to complete a course? I see UNC has technical standard for medical/clinical programs that address this.

Thank you

Loyal Truong
Accessibility Technologist
Colorado School of Mines
Information and Technology Solutions (ITS)
loyaltruong at mines.edu<mailto:loyaltruong at mines.edu>
Our values: Trust | Integrity | Respect | Responsibility

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