Summary

Planning for accessibility during the design and development of your course will support a delivery that meets the needs of diverse learners from the beginning. Throughout the module, we discussed AODA and our responsibilities as educators in creating accessible courses. We’ve also explored best practices and ways to design courses with accessibility in mind.

Now that you have completed this module, you should be able to:

• Identify the responsibilities under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) as an educator
• Explain why accessibility in postsecondary institutions is critical for equity and student learning
• Incorporate accessibility standards and best practices into your course design
• Create and use accessible course materials
• Respond to letters of accommodation
• Develop an action plan for improving the accessibility of your course(s)

Remember, creating accessible learning environments for your students is an important part of your role as an educator. An accessible learning environment is ones in which all students receive equitable treatment, can access their learning materials, can contribute in meaningful ways to course activities and complete course assignments, and are supported to achieve their learning goals.

References

Accessibility Services Canada. (n.d.). About the AODA [Chart]. https://accessibilitycanada.ca/aoda/

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Burke, L. (2020, November 12). Disability as diversity. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/11/12/could-disability-be-further-included-diversity-efforts

Canadian Human Rights Commission. (2017). Left out: Challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Canada’s schools.

Centre for Academic Excellence. (n.d). Design, Develop and Deliver: A Guide for Effective Online Teaching. Niagara College. Retrieved from https://www.niagaracollege.ca/cae/eddev/teaching-resources/online-teaching/develop/diverse-learners/

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). (n.d). 10 Tips for Creating Accessible Course Content. Iowa State University. Retrieved from https://www.celt.iastate.edu/instructional-strategies/preparing-to-teach/accessible-course-design/10-tips-for-creating-accessible-course-content/

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). (n.d). Individual Action Plan Digital Accessibility: Online Course Design. Iowa State University. Retrieved from https://www.celt.iastate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/CELTdigitalaccessibilityactionplan1.pdf

Darla Benton Kearney (2022) Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Retrieved from https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/universaldesign/chapter/6-2-udl-for-aoda/

Dolmage, J. (2017). Academic ableism: Disability & Higher Education. Michigan: University of Michigan Press.

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Olson, S. (2015, July 27). Every student uses your access statement. Retrieved from https://tenureshewrote.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/guest-post-every-student-uses-your-access-statement/

Ontario Human Rights Commission. (2004). Guidelines on accessible education. http://www.ohrc.on.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/Guidelines_on_accessible_education.pdf

Ontario Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Main barriers to education for students with disabilities (fact sheet). Retrieved from http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/main-barriers-education-students-disabilities-fact-sheet

Ontario Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Post-secondary education. Retrieved from  http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/opportunity-succeed-achieving-barrier-free-education-students-disabilities/post-secondary-education

OntarioUniversities. (2013, Dec 3). Discover: An Educator’s Introduction to the AODA [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/4AxaWGbf4mk

Poorvu Centre for Teaching and Learning. (n.d). Accessible Teaching. Retrieved from https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/strategic-resources-digital-publications/accessible-teaching

Pulrang, A. (2013, Aug 17). Accessibility vs. Accommodation [Blog post]. http://disabilitythinking.blogspot.com/2013/08/accessibility-and-accommodation.html

Titchkosky, T. (2011). The question of access: Disability, space, meaning. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.