Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning

Accessible course design removes barriers to learning. Your students may have permanent, temporary, or situational impairments, preferences or learning styles. Efforts towards universal design and accessibility can help all your students to succeed and create a more inclusive learning environment.
Key terms and definitions

Accessibility:  Course elements that ensure access to the same information, interactions, and opportunities for all learners. Put simply, accessibility = usability.

Digital Accessibility: Refers to the inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to websites, digital tools and technologies.

Accommodations: Focuses on learners who have particular needs related to sensory, physical or cognitive impairments.  At IC, individual accommodations can be requested through Student Accessibility Services.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): UDL is a set of design principles based on research on how humans learn. It emphasizes flexible approaches to representation, engagement, and expression. These alternatives are built into the course design and not added for individual students.

What's in this section?

See Anticipating learner variability to better understand the diverse characteristics of your students and that there is no “average” student.

Intentionally plan to address areas of learner variability. Applying the  principles of Universal Design for Learning in your course design is a great way to get started.

Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services works to facilitate access for students with disabilities at Ithaca College.  Through the interactive process, SAS works in partnership with IC students, faculty and staff to develop and implement accommodation plans.   

Student Accessibility Services

Feedback and suggestions

Please send any suggestions, corrections, or feedback on this section to CFE.