Universal Design

Deaf kids Code: A Promising Practice in Introducing Computer Programming

People who are deaf or hard of hearing experience a higher level of unemployment and under employment. In today's world, many products have been created to聽support聽interaction between deaf and non-deaf聽individuals. Work in accessible technology and other computing fields is聽a聽lucrative career opportunity, potentially for everyone. Having strong computing skills is essential because of the role of computers in almost every field.

How聽can workplaces be more inclusive of colleagues who are deaf or hard of hearing?

Much can be done to make a workspace more accessible to and inclusive of colleagues who are deaf or hard of hearing. Universal design can provide a framework for doing so by underpinning practices that can be applied proactively to make a welcoming and environment and to ensure that appropriate accommodations are available specific individuals.

The Neurodiversity Initiative: A Promising Practice for Promoting Disability Awareness in Higher Education

The at the seeks to educate the campus about the positive aspects of embracing neurodiversity, and ultimately to be a model for other campuses. As stated on their website, "The Neurodiversity Initiative is an innovative program that is raising awareness on our campus of the vast array of brain differences and cultivating an appreciation of the many kinds of talents we can nurture at our historic institution.

How do I include information about universal design in curriculum related to informal STEM learning?

顿翱-滨罢鈥檚听Access to Informal STEM Learning (AccessISL) project has developed resources to help educators include information about universal design in curriculum related to informal STEM Learning. The document聽Pedagogical and Content Design Practices that Support Accessibility and Inclusion in Museology Courses shares information about the following:

How can I use my learning management system to make my course more accessible to everyone?

Steps to making an online course accessible include

  • Structuring content using headings,
  • Creating alt text for images,
  • Create meaningful hyperlinks,
  • Created structured lists,
  • Include table headers,
  • Captioning and audio-describing videos,
  • Uploading accessibly-formatted content, and
  • Using accessibility checkers to find barriers to accessibility.

Options in Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, and other learning management systems (LMSs) for making courses are described below.

How does Art Beyond Sight promote equal access to art?

The goal of is to 鈥渆mpower cultural institutions to provide accessible and inclusive environments for all of their patrons, including people with disabilities and their families.鈥 The Art Beyond Sight website shares relevant resources鈥攊ncluding text, images, audio, and video鈥攆or classroom teachers, museum educators, and the general public. Provided they follow user guidelines, site visitors are encouraged to utilize materials and adapt them for their own non-commercial use.

How can STEM academic departments be more accessible to and inclusive of faculty with disabilities?

As institutions seek to leverage the benefits of diversity, application pools for faculty positions have become increasingly diverse, inclusive of faculty with disabilities who bring unique and valuable perspectives and talents to the workplace. However, the inaccessible design of the employment application process, as well as many campus facilities, software tools, services, and online resources, continue to erect barriers to some applicants and employees with disabilities, including those who are also members of other marginalized groups.

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