An estimated 15-20 percent of people across the world exhibit some form of neurodivergence (National Cancer Institute, 2022), which suggests there is a high likelihood of every classroom having at least one neurodivergent learner. To provide an equitable and inclusive learning experience for all learners, it’s critical that we take a proactive and holistic approach to course design. The Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR) Principles provide a clear and actionable framework to create learning experiences that benefit all learners, including those who are neurodivergent.
As higher education institutions compete for top talent, accessibility has become a crucial factor in attracting and retaining students with disabilities. With new U.S. Department of Justice regulations mandating full accessibility by April 2026, the time to act is now.
It is unfortunately easy to forget, when designing a course, about the unique experiences of students with mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety. And yet, depression and anxiety are extremely prevalent. In this presentation, I will provide a quick overview of some techniques to improve accessibility with regards to mental health in the classroom, and I will reflect on my experience working to implement these techniques in my classes.
Imagine a web where everyone can access and enjoy your content. As responsible developers, we must ensure this vision becomes a reality. At the same time, I probably don’t need to convince you that we developers alone cannot build accessible websites. For example, we usually cannot change brand colors to fix color contrast issues, modify content to be more accessible and understandable, or control third-party integrations that may not consider accessibility.
This session demonstrates essential strategies for creating accessible text that enhances learning for all learners. Participants will learn to:
In this concise 15-minute presentation, participants will be introduced to the core strategies for creating accessible PDF documents that meet the needs of diverse users, including those with disabilities. The session will highlight essential techniques such as using heading structures, adding alternative text for images, and ensuring proper structure for lists and tables. By the end of this short session, attendees will have a foundational understanding of the most critical steps they can take to ensure their PDFs are accessible and user-friendly.
In this session, join Mollie Connelly-MacNeill, ASU Career Services Advisor: Disability and Inclusivity Specialist and ASU ISSC coordinator Isaac Garcia as we explore essential tools and strategies for empowering students and alumni with disabilities in their career journeys. Our panel features insights from Mollie, an experienced career services professional and ASU alum with a disability, as well as a firsthand account from Isaac, a disabled student who recently and successfully transitioned to a full-time employee at ASU.
In this presentation, I will argue that, if we want to give students with disabilities the best chance of completing their programs of study, we need to develop an institutional culture that values the unique contributions that students with disabilities can make to campus life. In other words, we need to foster in them a sense of belonging. This goal is essential because a great deal of research shows that students who do not develop a sense of belonging during their first year in college are more likely than others to drop out.
The sheer variety of combinations of browsers, operating systems, screen sizes, devices, assistive technoloigies (ATs), etc., make the notion of a "normal" user absurd. This talk shares the math behind this concept and best practices for Universal Design toward a more inclusive Web.
In this session we will explore how to create trauma sensitive, accessible learning environments for postsecondary education. Session participants will explore the overlap between trauma and disability, how this impacts learning, how to foster authentic connection with students that supports their learning, how to communicate with students, and how to support executive functioning. Tips for how to set up courses in Canvas to be user friendly will be shared.