Accessibility, Universal Design, Inclusive Teaching & More
Accessibility, Universal Design, Inclusive Teaching & More
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Accessibility of Course Content
Accessibility of Course Content
In April 2024, the Department of Justice updated its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) with a rule on the accessibility of web content and mobile apps effective April 24, 2026.
The new guidelines don’t exempt content behind a Blackboard login and require us to take responsibility for the accessibility of third-party content in our courses (like textbook platforms and external websites). To comply with this update, we need to improve the accessibility of our Blackboard course content by using heading styles, color contrast, descriptive hyperlinks, formatted lists, simple tables, alt text, tagged PDFs, captioned and described video, and transcribed audio content. These seemingly small changes in content formatting will reduce barriers for students and decrease the need for accommodations.
The Faculty Success office offers:
As your dedicated instructional designer, I am available to work with COH individuals and groups to improve the accessibility of course content. We can do this!
Accessibility Resources
Accessibility Resources
The University of Alaska is committed to accessibility. Accessibility means that ALL students have an equal opportunity to access content and participate in your course. We can design courses that address the needs of diverse learners from the start so fewer accommodations will be needed. When you improve the accessibility of your courses, you are breaking down barriers to learning!
Document Structure
Document Structure
How to use Heading Styles to build an accessible document
Accessible Videos
Accessible Videos
How to check for and edit captions and make a video transcript
Document Accessibility
Document Accessibility
How to use Accessibility Checkers
Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines aim to optimize teaching and learning for ALL people based on scientific insights into how humans learn by designing materials and instructional methods that are usable by a wide range of students.
UDL Guidelines
UDL Guidelines
View the new UDL guidelines 3.0 which aim to "guide the design of learning environments and experiences that reduce barriers and more fully honor and value every learner."
The guidelines provide suggestions for how faculty can provide multiple means of...
Engagement (the why of learning): interests and identities, effort and persistence, and emotional capacity
Representation (the what of learning): perception, language and symbols, and building knowledge
Action & Expression (the how of learning): interaction, expression and communication, and strategy development
Explore more: UDL & the Learning Brain and UDL on Campus and UDL Tips
Inclusive Teaching
Inclusive Teaching
Evidence-based teaching practices (Every Learner Everywhere)
Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT Higher Ed)
The Power of Student-Centered Learning (Every Learner Everywhere)
For Students: how to study using retrieval practice and other evidence-based strategies (Learning Scientists)
Helperbird Tool
Helperbird Tool
Helperbird is an accessibility tool designed to make web pages, PDFs, and documents easier to browse, read, and write. UAA Faculty, Staff and Students can use Helperbird.
Install Helperbird browser extension: Helperbird browser extension for Chrome or Helperbird for Firefox or Helperbird for Edge
It initially shows “free” account access > Go to settings and Login with your (UA) Google account > refresh and it will now show “unlimited”
Open Educational Resources
Open Educational Resources
What is OER? “Open Educational Resources are teaching, learning, and research materials that are either (a) in the public domain or (b) licensed in a manner that provides everyone with free and perpetual permission to engage in the 5R activities– retaining, remixing, revising, reusing and redistributing the resources."
UAA Open Educational Resources and Textbook Affordability
Here are some curated healthcare OER that you may find useful:
Pressbooks Healthcare collection, including Northern and Indigenous Health and Healthcare
OASIS: Openly Available Sources Integrated Search (OASIS) search tool
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