Accessibility word cloud Welcome to the online Introduction to Accessibility, Universal Design, and Assistive Technology workshop. The goal of this workshop is to provide a basic understanding of the principles of Universal Design, Universal Design for Learning, accessible web design, and assistive technology. This foundational knowledge provides educators with strategies for making learning content more perceptible to the diverse spectrum of learners. The topics have been arranged in a linear format, to begin with content that can be applied more broadly and narrows to target specific learning needs.

Course Navigation:

The Course Syllabus discusses the course objectives and lists the assignments and readings used to achieve an understanding of the topics covered. You can visit the course Modules or the buttons at the bottom of each course page to move between sections of this workshop. You can always return back to this page by clicking "Home" in the course navigation on the left. It is recommended to visit each section of this course in the order they are constructed. This can be done easily by using the "Next" and "Previous" buttons at the bottom of each course page.

Technical Support:

For technical support on the technology used in this workshop, submit a Service Desk incident. In the incident report, state your request for assistance is with a technology workshop, and provide a detailed description of the support you require. You can also reach out to Canvas Support 24x7 using the Help icon in the left navigation menu.

Completion Requirements:

To access the content within this course, you will need a computer with internet access via the Google Chrome browser, a Gmail account, and the ability to add extensions to your Google Chrome browser. In order to gain an understanding of the topics presented, you will be asked to complete several readings and activities, then participate in discussion forums. The course is structured in Modules that will require completion prior to moving on to the next topic. Progress will be tracked via the Canvas course modules, and participation in the provided forums and activities is required for the satisfactory completion of each module prior to consummation of this workshop. Upon successful completion, a Credly badge will be awarded to acknowledge your acquisition of the understandings provided through this workshop.

About the course designer:

The content and instructional design was prepared by Chris Doucet, who has over 15 years of experience with the field of assistive technology. As a teenager, the designer developed seizure disorder that caused multiple petit mal seizures daily, and several grand mal seizures during the time period as well. This affected his ability to attend class, complete assignments in a timely fashion, and most importantly, his understanding of equitable access to education and related activities. After a grand mal seizure left Chris in the hospital for over a week in his second semester of college, scar tissue was identified in the right temporal lobe of his brain, and brain surgery was recommended to attempt to remedy the regular occurrence of seizures in his daily life. In July of 2001, this life changing procedure took place, and Chris has not experienced a seizure since that time. Following this experience, Chris has been an advocate for individuals with disabilities, with the intention of helping others ensure equitable access to educational environments and opportunities.

Working with Individuals with Disabilities:

When referencing, speaking, and working with people with disabilities, there are formalities that need to be taken into account to uphold the dignity of the person as an individual. Please read Disability Etiquette (United Spinal Association, 2015, Kew Gardens, NY) to learn more about this topic.

Continuing on in this workshop:

Now that you know the background and intentions for the workshop, please use the "Introductions" discussion forum to introduce yourself and state your goal for taking this course. After introducing yourself, you can move on to the first section of the course, Universal Design.