Over the last 10 years, Purdue has seen a steady rise in the number of students with disabilities requiring accommodations, reflecting a national trend. This growth highlights the importance of continuing to adapt our campus's support systems to meet the evolving needs of students.
That’s why Leslie Miller was recently hired as a faculty accessibility consultant for the Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE). In her new position, Miller will support instructors as they implement accessibility measures and uphold Purdue’s commitment to providing a transformative education.
The main goal of Miller's role will be to directly support the instructional community on meeting students’ required accommodations while maintaining the core elements of the course design and respecting the instructor's time . This position was endorsed by the DRC Faculty Advisory Committee and University Senate leaders; DRC course accessibility letters also now include a direct link where instructors can connect with Miller if they have questions.
Who is Leslie Miller?
Pictured: Leslie Miller, faculty accessibility consultant for the Center for Instructional Excellence (CIE)
After earning her doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 2021, Miller joined the CIE staff as an associate instructional developer and researcher, working with instructors on teaching and learning development programs.
In her new role as the CIE’s faculty accessibility consultant, Miller’s goal is to help instructors create accessible learning environments for students with disabilities.
“Creating accessible learning environments is a type of academic wellness,” Miller shares. “It works best when instructors and students work together. My role is to support instructors in those efforts.”
By gathering information from instructors, assessing their most pressing challenges and understanding different perspectives of spaces on campus, Miller hopes to gain better insight into where resources are needed most and the best way to implement accessibility measures.
What can instructors do moving forward?
Purdue is on an ongoing mission to create a more accessible campus, and given the national trend of rising demand for accommodations, new strategies are needed to keep up.
“Because of the increase in accommodations, instructors need more resources. They’re wondering what they can do to accommodate students while also meeting learning goals, and that’s why my role was created.”
Miller says examples of creating more accessible courses include recording lectures, providing e-reader textbooks, posting slides and notes, and providing flexibility to students.
“These are things that should be done because they help all students, not just students with disabilities,” Miller emphasizes.
In the near future, Miller will announce a module for instructors to learn more about accessibility through the Teaching@Purdue self-paced curriculum. This module will help instructors better understand the varying needs of students and how they can plan courses to be more inclusive. To stay in the know, please visit the Innovative Learning website.
Owen Hughes
Communication Assistant for Teaching and Learning, hughe357@purdue.edu