Bobbi Mand
ETHICS & ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR
We asked a few faculty around campus about their barrier to learning and what they do to improve accessibility.
Our amazing faculty member, Bobbi Mand, had this to say…
From an instructor’s perspective, a barrier I have faced is understanding where to send students who are experiencing personal and mental challenges. Often students will divulge personal issues and I would like to be able to send them somewhere where they can seek the help they need. Learning to face and cope with internal pressures and mental health is a huge barrier to learning, and I have found that some students may not have found positive ways to cope. I do not want these students to slip through the cracks, so knowing the resources provided by the Justice Institute of British Columbia would be useful.
*Editor’s note: If you are an instructor and you notice that a student is struggling, contact Sam Matychuk at the Student Learning Support and Disability Services office. They can advise you on how you can talk to your student and what resources are available for you. Also, check out the Students Services webpage which contains information on wellness and mental health.
Accessibility is something that I had never considered until I came across students who revealed accessibility issues and until I received notices of accommodation. Both these experiences have informed my teaching and planning practices for my courses. In terms of teaching, I provide more feedback in class to ensure that students (especially students who have expressed accessibility issues) understand core concepts. In addition, I provide more time in class to work on assignments in order to walk around and provide verbal feedback. In terms of planning assignment guidelines and course materials, I try to ensure that I use font sizes and colours that will not interfere with readability. Overall, I have learned to be more aware and try to ensure that I do not ignore accessibility issues as some may not want to share this information.