Sheryl Burgstahler, Director, Accessible Technology Services, University of Washington
Disability Area: Topic Area:
Length of Session (in hours): 1-hr
Format: Lecture
Expertise Level: All Levels
Type of session: Not provided
Summary of Session
Learn what actions instructors in online courses can take to ensure that their courses are welcoming to, accessible to and usable by all students, including those who have disabilities, who wish to engage in online learning offerings.
Abstract
Some online learning programs have faced legal challenges because of the inaccessibility of their courses to individuals with disabilities. But, what does it mean for a course to be “accessible”? What can be learned from legal challenges regarding e-learning accessibility. What are relevant laws? What are some strategies for making online courses compliant with legal mandates specifically, but also, more generally, welcoming to, accessible to and usable by all students, including those with disabilities, who wish to engage in online learning offerings,? This presentation will answer these questions, provide time for discussion, and provide useful resources for further exploration of the content presented.
Keypoints
Postsecondary institutions’ legal obligation to make online courses accessible to faculty, students, staff, an
Typical challenges people with a variety of disabilities face in engaging in online courses.
What specific actions can an instructor take to ensure that their courses is welcoming to, accessible to, and
Speaker Bio(s)
Sheryl Burgstahler
Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler founded and directs Accessible Technology Services, which includes the DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center and the IT Accessibility Team within UW-IT at the University of Washington (UW). These units promote (1) the success of students with disabilities in postsecondary education and careers and (2) the development of facilities, IT, services, and learning activities that are welcoming and accessible to individuals with disabilities through the application of a Universal Design (UD) Framework. ITAT focuses efforts at the UW; the DO-IT Center reaches national and international audiences with the support of federal, state, corporate, foundation, and private funds. Dr. Burgstahler is an affiliate professor in the UW College of Education. She developed and continues to teach a graduate course in applications of universal design in higher education at City University of New York.
