Design is powerful in its ability to include some, and exclude others. When the design of a course is approached in a thoughtful and inclusive way, it creates an educational environment where all students have an opportunity to learn and demonstrate their mastery of the course content. Design that does not take into consideration the variety of ways students access online content differentially impacts certain students. If a course is not designed accessibly up front, some students with disabilities are immediately put at a disadvantage when compared to nondisabled students.

Intuitive: The layout of the course is simple, consistent and predictable.
Perceivable: The content is designed so that it can be perceived by a wide range of users, regardless of disability.
Navigable: Course navigation does not assume that the student is using a specific device, such as a mouse. A user can navigate the course using the keyboard alone or with the use of assistive technology in ways that are equally effective.

Designing in ways that consider these principles will go a long way toward inclusion and access for students with disabilities but will also benefit all students.

This video is an introduction to start think about accessibility and is focusing on visual and hearing impairments. Watch the video in fullscreen for best experience.

Remember that it is good to take notes while watching the video

Reflect

Watch this video and reflect on:

What do you think are the most important thing to do in your course room for those students with hearing impairments?
What do you think are the most important thing to do in your course room for those students with visual impairments?
What do you need more knowledge about to succeed with your course room design?

Support

If you have any questions any time during the course address them here : Support forum