In his lecture “The Universe is a Big Place: Re-thinking Universal Design for Learning,” Professor George Williams discusses the idea of universal design for learning and accessibility in the classroom and online media settings. I found this lecture very interesting because it was something that is not usually brought to my attention. The concept of accommodations is something that I see at the beginning of every semester, where professors send out emails asking for notetakers or students to submit ASDR accommodation forms, however, this issue was not something that I particularly paid attention to. It wasn’t until this lecture and through his examples that I really started thinking about the “accommodations” on campus and defeat devices, where you do something just to say you contributed, even though it doesn’t necessarily achieve its purpose. On campus, many professors upload lectures online onto Echo360; however, I have noticed that this platform doesn’t include an option for captions, which ties into how there are limitations to these accommodations. Another point I found interesting was how this lecture tied into our class about new media. Professor Williams mentioned that although it might be bothersome to take the extra steps to make your media more accessible (i.e. putting captions on your videos), at the end it’s worth it because it allows search engines to make your media more accessible to the public and easier to find. I believe that having an organized and traversable website is essential in creating media that is readily accessible to everyone and the idea of accessibility is something we should keep in mind when creating these new media platforms.
]]>I strive to create an inclusive learning environment for all. I am invested in your success in this class and at Emory, so please let me know if anything is standing in the way of your doing your best work. This discussion can include your own learning strengths, any classroom dynamics that you find uncomfortable, ESL issues, disability or chronic illness, and/or personal issues that impact your work. I will hold such conversations in strict confidence.
This course emphasizes user-centered design and the value of connectivity over static standards to facilitate “universal instructional design.” Issues of accessibility are an integral component of instruction for all students. While students should disclose non-standard needs in keeping with guidelines provided by the Office of Disability Services in order to have those needs augmented by digital tools such as voice to text software or close captioning, the course recognizes the extent to which all students are “multiply situated learners” (Price 88). As such, the course emphasizes shared strengths over remediation.
All of that said, Emory University complies with the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and offers accommodations to students with disabilities. If you are in need of a classroom accommodation, please make an appointment with me to discuss your situation as soon as possible.
For more information, please visit Access, Disability Services and Resources or contact the office by phone at (404) 727-9877 [voice] or TDD: (404) 712-2049. Students who receive accommodations must present the Accommodation Letter from ADSR to your professor at the beginning of the semester, or when the letter is received.
Price, Margaret. Mad at School: Rhetorics of Mental Disability and Academic Life. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2011. Print. 88
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