Student Success Requires Both Digital Accessibility and Disability Inclusion
After a long career as a college professor, I lost my sight. My journey into blindness helped me to see more clearly the fundamental importance of making our courses fully accessible to students with disabilities. To this end, I outline some simple guidelines and resources for creating accessible course materials. My experience with blindness also helped me to see that accessibility is not, by itself, enough to maximize student success. Students with disabilities must feel valued as individuals and welcomed into campus life. To create an inclusive culture, the diverse needs of students with disabilities must be addressed seriously. To achieve disability inclusion, therefore, students with disabilities must have a seat at the table.
Speakers
Jeffry Ricker attained the Ph.D. degree in Cognitive & Experimental Psychology. He was a professor of psychology for more than 25 years. Dr. Ricker has taught many courses in psychology and biology. He began to lose his vision in 2017 and now is completely blind. Currently, he studies the effects of negative stereotypes on the educational and occupational opportunities open to people with disabilities.