Written by Dr. Christina Costa on May 8th, 2024

As an individual with an invisible disability, I am highly aware of the access needs that often go unmet in higher education. That is why it is a high priority of mine to make my classroom an accessible one by asking my students what their access needs are.

Access needs refer to the requirements necessary for individuals – in our world – students, to fully participate in class activities and coursework. These needs can encompass physical, sensory, cognitive, and other accommodations that ensure equal opportunity for all students, but often times they include needs that are not documented by accommodation forms. As a professor, I believe that being aware of and acknowledging these needs allow for more involvement in class.

Below is the question that I ask on all my introduction surveys—no matter the class size. I encourage you to think about what your access needs are, what requirements you need to fully participate in spaces, and how you can make the existing spaces that you are a part of accessible to a range of these needs.

Do you have any access needs that you'd like me to know about? (access needs are anything you need to access the material in class - these could relate to disability, your working status, family, etc.; e.g. "I take care of my kids and can't make it to in person office hours" or "I have test anxiety and would like to talk to you about strategies")

Dr. Christina Costa is a professor at Wayne State University. She received three degrees from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor in psychology, biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience. She specializes in positive psychology, resilience, wellness, and modern and accessible teaching methods in psychology. She began teaching at Wayne State in the Fall 2023 semester and serves as a dedicated ally to the SDS team and to her students.