How to communicate your access needs to your WA

Students are not required to be formally accommodated by Student Disability Services to request access needs for their work with Writing Associates. We want writers to request what would assist them during conferences; and we will work in good faith to support writers as best we can. You are welcome to disclose any information about your learning abilities, disabilities, identities, or session preferences prior to the conference in your Writing Center appointment form, Course WA access needs form, or verbally during conferences.

Conferencing in the Writing Center

  1. Scheduled appointments:

    1. Our Intake Form asks if there is anything you would like the WA to know prior to your conference. We encourage you to share your access preferences here—don’t hesitate to ask for specific things! We want to understand what you need.
    2. Intake forms are reviewed by the Writing Center host. They will communicate your access needs to the WA prior to your conference. The host and WA will work together to make sure you are comfortable during your conference. If, for any reason, the WA and the host are unable to accommodate your specific request during the shift, the host will email you about alternatives before your conference.

  2. With a walk-in

    1. You may talk to the host (at the big desk when you walk in) about your access needs before beginning your conference with your WA. Alternatively, you can talk to your WA as the conference is beginning about how they can accommodate you during the conference. Please note that given the lack of prep-time before your conference for the host and your WA, the ways they can accommodate you within your conference time may be limited.

Working at Write-Ins

  1. What to know about Write-ins

    1. The WA Program hosts two-to-three Write-ins each semester for students to write together. Writers may come to Write-ins strictly to work on a writing assignment, or some come to seek out spontaneous feedback from WAs at any point in their writing. WAs often answer writers’ questions off-the-cuff or read-aloud short sections of papers. The spontaneous nature of WA conferences during Write-ins may make it difficult to support certain in-conference access needs.
      1. During Write-ins, we are located in two rooms in Trotter—a quiet room for working, and a cafe room for discussion with WAs and other writers. While WAs can conference with you in other spaces in the building, there are limited impromptu workspace adjustments within Trotter that best accommodate you.

    2. Before the Write-in

      1. Given that many WAs work short shifts during Write-ins and that conferencing is spontaneous, it is best to communicate your access needs beforehand—ideally with a few days' notice. Please reach out to share your access preferences with Program staff at writing@swarthmore.edu. After, Program staff will inform the appropriate WA prior to the Write-in to prepare to the best of their abilities.
      2. The Writing Center is usually also open during Write-ins. If you know you would like to converse with a WA during a Write-in, scheduling a Writing Center conference may offer more flexibility in supporting you given the aforementioned restrictions of Write-ins.

    3. During the Write-in

      1. When you enter the Write-in, there will be a sign-up Google form at the front desk. In the form, you may share any information about you that you would like WAs on staff to know during the Write-in. If you are interested in working with a WA, the WA at the sign-in desk will inform the WA paired with you once you request a discussion. If you prefer to communicate your access needs verbally, we invite you to speak to the WA working at the sign-in desk or, if requested, to your WA before your conversation.

Working with Course WAs

  1. Before meeting with your Course WA

    1. Before your first conference with your Course WA, they will send out a form where you can share any information about yourself that you feel will better inform your Course WA in your partnership. The form contains space to write what you would like to share, as well as checkboxes for certain ways your Course WA can accommodate you. Your responses to the form will only be seen by your Course WA. They will coordinate with Program staff and Lead Fellows to ensure they can best accommodate you. If they have any questions or hesitations, they will reach out to you before your first conference.
      1. You may ask your professor or Program staff to coordinate accessibility-related concerns with your Course WA.

    2. Over the course of the semester

      1. We encourage you to maintain an open dialogue with your Course WA about how they can make your conferences comfortable. WAs will not take this feedback personally—they want to give you the best conference experience they can. You may reach them by email before and after conferences throughout the semester, and you are more than welcome to discuss any conference concerns with your Course WA during your conferences.
      2. If you’d prefer, you can talk about Course WA concerns with your professor or Program staff.

    3. At the end of the semester

      1. You will be asked to complete a feedback form about your Course WA. We encourage you to articulate any ways you feel your WA could improve there. WAs will not take this feedback personally; any constructed feedback given can help WAs improve over the course of their Fellowship.