Make your teaching easier for you and your students. Keep it simple and straight forward; don’t make anything more complicated that it needs to be. UD (Universal Design) means that, rather than design course for the average student, you design for potential students with a broad range in ability, disability, age, reading level, learning style, native language, race, ethnicity, and other characteristics. The ADA (American Disabilities Act) applies to Internet-based programs and services. The design of a distance learning class can impact the participation of students and instructors with visual, hearing, mobility, speech, and learning disabilities. Planning for access as the course is being developed is much easier than creating accommodation strategies once a person with a disability enrolls in the course or applies to teach it. People without disabilities may have temporary or situational constraints that are similar to those imposed by disabilities. Applying UD principles assists both people with and people without disabilities. This workshop will include strategies, demonstrations, and resources for using UD for your online courses.
