Delivering your Access Plan to your instructor is the best opportunity for you to discuss your academic and learning needs. Consider delivering your Access plan to your instructor during their office hours, early in the semester, where you can have a quiet and private conversation about your needs. If you are a distance learning student, you are still strongly encouraged to connect with your instructor to discuss the same, and to ensure your Access Plan has been received. You are not required to disclose your disability to the instructor, but many students find it helpful to discuss how they learn best or what aspects of learning might be difficult for them.

For example:

• “I learn best when I hear the information as I read from a textbook.”
• “Audio-recording your lectures allows me to focus more on what you are saying and less on getting everything you say in my notebook. I can then go back and listen to your lecture while I work on my notes and it’s very helpful.”
• “Do you have any ideas of how I can turn some of these written concepts into something visual?”
• “When I feel rushed to complete a test, I get very anxious and seem to go blank. The additional time on the test is very helpful for me.”
• “A private testing space is very calming for me and, at times, I do like to read the questions out loud to better understand what I am reading.”
• “I want to be sure my notes for your class are correct, would you mind reviewing them to be sure I have the correct information from your lecture?”

Letting your instructor know how you feel, how you learn best, and what areas of weakness concern you, offers them great insight into what type of learner you are. This information may be helpful in how your instructors encourage you to approach the more difficult course content and tests.