Accessible Education Tips

Teaching to students with different abilities does not mean the academic rigor is lowered. Teaching to students with different abilities pushes educators to be more clear, concise, and intentional about their teaching. Taking on a mindset of accessible education improves teaching quality and provides all students an opportunity to access course content in more effective ways. Accessible education aims to reduce accommodation needs and move towards inclusion.

Watch our Accessible Education Workshop video (7 minutes).

Here are some tips for designing content and teaching with accessible education in mind (these tips are in no particular order and are not extensive):

  1. Let students know of course material as soon as possible
  2. Attempt to be specific when describing visuals
  3. Use Alt. text on images
  4. Read aloud anything that is on the PowerPoint or handouts
  5. Be sure electronic documents can be used with a screen reader
  6. Choose digital textbooks or books
  7. Provide PDF documents as often as possible
  8. Allow for multiple means of action or expression for assessments
  9. Use plain language
  10. Focus attention on important content
  11. Limit distractions
  12. Be consistent
  13. Make lighting adjustments in classrooms
  14. Meet students in alternate locations if your office is inaccessible
  15. Caption your lectures and videos
  16. Use large print and clear font
  17. Make sure your course can be navigated by keyboard
  18. Over-communicate and be willing to repeat yourself
  19. Use concrete examples
  20. Make concrete connections between topics
  21. Set clear guidelines for participation
  22. Provide breaks
  23. Provide step-by-step instructions
  24. Deliver instruction in a variety of ways
  25. Allow for partnership and collaborative discussion and projects
  26. Provide visuals to support understanding
  27. Use normal speech patterns
  28. Ask clear and short questions
  29. Repeat responses given from students
  30. Provide a visual cue when necessary while speaking
  31. If a student has an ASL interpreter, look at the student, not the interpreter
  32. Be aware that the interpreter will interpret everything that is said unless a private conversation is happening
  33. Make sure there are clear pathways in your classroom
  34. Provide choice for assignments
  35. Create a flexible learning environment