Universal Design for Online Courses

Exemplars of Learning Activites using Web Tools

This easier to navigate player can be used with a screenreader.

Universal design for learning is a concept that is quite popular within the disability field right now because it emphasizes usability for all. Many feel that this leads to universal accessibility for students with disabilities. CAST is one of the leader's in the field, helping educators to apply the principles to their teaching.

Universal design is a concept that you may want to consider when building your online courses. It will not eliminate the need for some students with disabilities to use accommodations but it does offer greater usability by all learners.

The page for our conference pre-conference workshop.

DO-IT is a federally funded grant program from the University of Washington that provides many resources for faculty and staff working with students with disabilities. This particular page takes you to the page on their site with information and resources regarding technology for individuals with disabilities.

The Center for Universal Design in North Carolina have done some of the seminal work in the field of architecture. They have developed seven principles of universal design, as well as included some guidelines for their use in the design of universally usable spaces. These principles can be adapted and applied to learning environments to meet the same goal of opening more spaces up to the most users. When clicking on the link, you may be asked to answer a few questions regarding where you live so the center may gather statistics regarding where their audience is.

WebAIM has many resources available for those interested in web accessibility. This screen reader simulation will provide insight into what it might be like to experience a website through the use of a screen reader. Screen readers are software programs that narrate the text of the desktop and any applications used for those who have visual impairments.

The Easy YouTube Player is an alternative way of watching YouTube videos. Instead of simulating YouTube we wanted to make sure that everybody who wants to see videos on-line can do so - regardless of age, ability and web proficiency.

This grant program provides many tutorials on how to make common documents and program files accessible for individuals with disabilities.  Particularly useful may be the PDF, Word and power point tutorials I have highlighted.

The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia has been created by AbilityNet, the UK's largest provider of advice and information on all aspects of Access technology. Its' purpose is to provide live and up to date information on everything to do with Assistive Technology. It's a showcase of both products and useful sources of information.

You may find this information helpful as you are doing the final preparations on your own courses.  There is a tutorial that allows for a user to manually check a website for accessibility as well as detailed information about common accessibility checker programs and how they work.  

I intend to post this page in the resources section of my online course to provide participants with information regarding how to check web spaces for accessibility.  This information may be helpful to them in the accessibility review activities of the course, particularly those that involve reviewing other web spaces or tools.

Update to earlier posted resource

Quick facts and resources for UDL in the classroom.