Teaching with Access & Inclusion

Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodations at the University of Minnesota

The Disability Resource Centers located on each campus of the University of Minnesota (UMN) System work collaboratively to provide consistency on access and inclusion throughout the UMN System. We partner with instructors to facilitate individual student accommodations and in creating more inclusive and accessible learning environments for students.

When embraced fully, accessible and inclusive teaching begins at the design stage, resulting in a paradigm shift that fundamentally alters thinking about curriculum, course design, the classroom, and campus culture. The Teaching with Access & Inclusion guide provides principles and practices for academics who are committed to improving equitable student learning experiences.

Plan for Accessibility From the Beginning

Planning for accessibility from the beginning is key to reducing barriers for students with disabilities. A tangible way to get started is to learn how to create digital materials that can be used by the greatest number of people without modification. This can both reduce the need for reactive accommodation and improve access for all students. We encourage you to do what you can to make your digital resources accessible before posting or sharing them.

7 Core Skills of Digital Accessibility & Badging Program

Use the Accessible U: Cultivate Inclusion website to learn the 7 Core Skills of digital accessibility. Or, start the Digital Accessibility Badging Program, which is more comprehensive and teaches participants how to create accessible web content, slide decks, documents, PDFs and more. Once you have taken Digital Accessibility: Foundations, you will be eligible for any of the other courses in the program including Digital Accessibility: Create Accessible Canvas Course Sites.

Accessible Canvas Courses

Instructors can create course sites that are both usable and accessible to the widest range of students possible by following the practices outlined in these resources:

Creating Accessible Canvas Courses: This self-guided tutorial in Canvas has been designed to provide you with basic information for creating accessible Canvas courses.
Canvas: Design an Accessible and Usable Course Site
UDOIT, the Canvas Accessibility Checker
Accessible Exams Checklist
How-to guide on managing extended time to exams/quizzes in Canvas

Access and Reasonable Accommodations: Information for Instructors Who Have Students with Disabilities in Their Courses

Student accommodations are modifications in your course or the course environment that make it possible for an individual student to fully and equitably participate in your class. Please reach out to the DRC on your campus if you have questions about meeting the access needs of a specific student. They are available to consult with you about student specific or course specific access needs. If you have specific questions regarding how to implement the disability accommodations included in a student's letter, please reach out to the disability resource professional who signed the student's letter.