Accessibility & UDL
Designing an online course that incorporates the principles of universal design for Learning (UDL) will benefit all students. In the animation video “Universal Design & Online Accessibility” there was a good quote that said “UDL changes the emphasis from “special features for a few” to “good design for many.” Accessibility is the right, smart and legal thing to do. By law, educational institutions are required to provide accessibility to all students regardless of their disabilities. It’s also recommended that instructors include an accessibility statement on their course syllabus.
Adaptive computer technologies give students with disabilities more independence, the ability to express their ideas and are an important link to success in learning. A student in the Assistive Technology video, eloquently stated that, “On the electronic field, we’re all equal.”
Three things I learned concerning accessibility are:
Adaptive computer technologies give students with disabilities more independence, the ability to express their ideas and are an important link to success in learning. A student in the Assistive Technology video, eloquently stated that, “On the electronic field, we’re all equal.”
Three things I learned concerning accessibility are:
- Enlisting people with disabilities to test your course and provide feedback.
- The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) links that the instructor provided are helpful when checking the accessibility of a website.
- The variety of adaptive computer technologies that are available. For example:
a. The Morse code translator that registers the dot with a sip and dash with a puff and types out the words on the screen.
b. Vertical keyboard and screen to allow the use of both hands, if confined to lying in a hospital bed.
c. The availability of different types of keyboards.