Welcome, explorers, to our BCcampus UDL Explorer Challenge Series!
We are Venecia Williams and Heidi Parisotto, and we will be leading you on the first challenge in this exploration: creating a welcoming accessibility statement.
Why Is This Important for UDL?
A welcoming accessibility statement is a great first step to implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into your courses. It’s a way to communicate your level of commitment to designing your course in a way that is inclusive and welcoming to all students.
This is connected to the UDL principle of engagement and specifically recruiting interest. When instructors take the time to create a welcoming accessibility statement, they are really connecting with students and telling them they care about them and are rising to the challenge of addressing accessibility in their classroom.
Our Challenge for You
To complete this challenge, we are asking you to create your own welcoming accessibility statement for your course.
You will find instructions, examples, and helpful resources for how to submit on the webpage. We are excited to see what you come with! Happy exploring!
Examples
Here are some examples of welcoming accessibility statements:
Heidi and Venecia’s Welcoming Accessibility Statement
I am committed to creating a course that is welcoming and inclusive for all learners. My goal is to eliminate any barriers to your learning while maintaining a high course quality and achieving the learning outcomes. If you experience any challenges in understanding course content, navigating the course, or participating in course activities, please let me know so I can determine if an adjustment can be made. I am always looking for feedback that will enhance your experience in my course.
Pearson’s Commitment to Accessibility
Our mission is simple: to help people make progress in their lives through learning, because wherever learning flourishes, so do people. We will be successful only when our educational materials are accessible to all users.
We’ve long been committed to providing access to learners with disabilities. Our commitment is woven into the fabric of our learning materials, development processes, innovation efforts, employee culture, and partnerships.
Explore
- The UDL principle: Learn more about the UDL guideline for recruiting interest.
- Writing accessibility statements: The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has a great article that provides more detail on writing welcoming accessibility statements, along with some examples.
Thank you for this first challenge suggestion.
Here is the link to the BC Campus Accessibility Toolkit:
https://opentextbc.ca/accessibilitytoolkit/
In it, there is an Accessibility Statement that can serve as an example of content to include:
https://opentextbc.ca/accessibilitytoolkit/front-matter/accessibility-statement/
Thank you for sharing this Pablo. We are hoping there will be much sharing of knowledge and resources in this series!
Learning is for everyone. Because learning is for everyone, the classroom and teaching should be for everyone as well. Creating a learning environment that is accessible to everyone is an ongoing journey that requires constant awareness, feedback, study, and application. The goal for any learning materials that I create is to be as accessible as possible, with room to be dynamic and flexible. To reach all learners, wherever they might be at, and to help them reach their own goals and help them on their own path to success.
Thank you for sharing, Brendan. We like what you mentioned the ongoing journey of accessibility. It does require constant assessment. The most important thing is we keep the growth mindset!
This is a great way of reflecting on my instructional design and teaching daily. As a first impression, a statement that an instructor shares is critical for students who feel welcomed and safe in learning.
Thank you for sharing. We feel the same way. Students need to feel safe in their learning, and this is one way we can do that.
Love this challenge already! Posting my written accessibility statement here, but will also work on a video to add to my course shell.
Welcome to MGMT 1004 Business Communication! In this course, we talk a lot about audience analysis and adapting our communication for our audience’s needs. YOUR needs as MY audience are very important to how this course is designed. I am committed to accessible learning, so I try to provide learning opportunities and course resources in multiple formats. Your contribution, suggestions, and feedback are crucial for me to ensure this course is accessible and inclusive for all types of learners. If you are struggling to access something in our course, navigate the course shell or resources, or are facing difficulty with any course documents or files, please let me know, so I can review and consider how I can present the information to you in a more accessible way. Together, we can co-create a course that is accessible and inclusive for all learners!
Thank you for sharing your statement. We really like how you center students with the language you use. We especially like the last sentence that lets students know they have a voice and power in your course, too.
Everyone is different. There is not one method of teaching or learning that works for everyone. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that is used to help reduce barriers that many learners might encounter in their educational journey. I have designed this course using UDL as a guideline with the intention of increasing the accessibility for a variety of learning styles, especially in a digital age. I am committed to help all students navigate through this less traditional style of teaching while still maintaining my standards of delivering a high caliber course.
Thank you for sharing your statement. We appreciate that you mentioned maintaining high standards in delivery. This is so important! Reducing barriers doesn’t mean lowering the rigour of your course.
Here’s my accessibility statement:
Welcome to our class. The goal of this class is for you to be successful in your learning and for you to contribute to our learning community. Learning is a complex process which can take us out of our comfort zone. Sometimes we feel that we are alone in feeling confused or needing support. However, if you feel confused or overwhelmed, likely some classmates feel the same way. If there are any issues that are preventing your success in this class, please let me know. I will try my hardest to answer your questions and to connect you to the support, e.g., Accessibility Services, that will help you learn.
Thank you for sharing. We like that you let students know they may not be alone in how they are feeling. And you also include other supports that are available to them outside your class. This sets the tone for an inclusive learning environment.
My statement would be something along those lines:
Welcome to your class. Our goal is to work together so you can be in control of your own personal learning experience. As your teacher, I am a facilitator of your learning journey and will do my best to provide ways for you to fully engage with the class. We are all learners, so please reach out with any concerns or suggestions to improve our teaching and learning environment.
Thank you for sharing. We like that you mentioned allowing the students to be in control of their own learning. This decentralizes the power and makes the students co-creators in the course.
I have added the following information to my existing welcome message:
I look forward to meeting you virtually this term. I am excited to explore the content of this course with you, to help you to grow as clinicians and to be a co-learner throughout this process. I am also committed to inclusivity of all learners; to break down learning barriers in a virtual format while maintaining course rigor and learning outcomes.
Please know I am happy to help in anyway, so don’t hesitate to ask for assistance. If you are having challenges navigating course content or participating in activities, please reach out! I’m always open to receiving feedback as it allows me to explore new ways of instructing, presenting information and enhancing your learning experience.
Thank you for sharing. We like your enthusiasm in saying that you are also excited to explore the content with them and open to receiving feedback. Students will immediately feel that you are approachable and flexible which creates a safe learning experience.
I will be adding to my introductory video…. at present it invites all learners to a safe inclusive space where we value each others contributions. I had my first day of class on Monday, and invited learners to add “ingredients for success” in this course. Students have bee invited to add these ingredients that have relevance to them in a shared drive accessible in the LMS and we will compile them into a classroom agreement this week.
Thanks for sharing. We love the idea of asking students about the ingredients for success, instead of us dictating what those are. This is also a way to bring in diversity. We all have different definitions of success.
As an instructor committed to inclusivity, it is my goal that all students feel welcome, accepted, and supported in this class. If you encounter any barriers to your learning or full participation, please reach out to me. I am always open to a conversation about how I can support your unique need(s) and/or learning style(s).
In addition, I am committed to incorporating fair, inclusive solutions to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn and to demonstrate their knowledge. This includes offering alternative options for assignments and exams, such as creative assignment options (e.g. posters, videos, podcasts, etc.), and oral or alternative exam formats. Since alternative options require planning, it is important that we meet to discuss well in advance of the due date, so please contact me early on if you think you might be interested.
Thank you for sharing. We really like that in your statement you are explicit about the alternatives you are prepared to offer your students. This allows students to be specific when asking for alternatives.
Welcome to [insert name of course here]. It is my goal to create a course and virtual classroom environment that fosters a sense of belonging and community for all students. I believe that each student comes to this course with a unique combination of background knowledge, experience, and education, and that everyone has something to contribute to our growing understanding of the course topics.
In creating this course, I have used principles of Universal Design for Learning, carefully choosing a variety of materials and ways for you to learn about the course topics and to show what you have learned. And yet I also see this course as a living document, something that can be responsive to the unique learning needs of each student within the structure provided by the learning outcomes, so I welcome your feedback regarding the course design and materials.
If you are encountering barriers to learning, such as having difficulty navigating the course, accessing, or understanding the course materials, etc, please let me know so that we can work together to meet your learning needs.
Thank you for sharing. In the first part of your message, you address the uniqueness of your students. We like how this immediately lets students know you care about them and will make space for their personal experience in the classroom.
Here is my draft of Welcome Message to my students which includes an accessibility statement tied to my institution’s existing policies. As I’ve researched a bit in the last 2 days, KPU does not seem to have a specific policy about Accessibility.
“Welcome to [X Course, Online Section, Semester] and welcome to KPU if this is your first semester here! The University’s goal is to ensure ‘fair and consistent treatment of all students, including students with a disability in accordance with their distinct needs and in a manner consistent with academic principles’. In designing this course, I have used Principles of Universal Design for Learning to capitalize on the affordances of educational technology tools in order to enhance the student’s online experience.”
Please note: This is just a draft. I generally change my Welcome message each semester, depending on the semester context of my courses. I now teach exclusively online. There are some aspects within the UDL recommendations which I cannot use- as in providing alternative materials in heritage languages. This would be controversial in my Faculty. Students can and do use Google Translate quite often.
Thank you for sharing. We really like that you take the time to change your statement depending on the context. There are definitely things that we can’t do based on our program, but we can still create an inclusive environment.
It is my goal to create a learning experience that is as accessible as possible to you all. I am committed to creating a course that is inclusive in its design. If you encounter any issues and barriers related to the format, materials, or requirements of this course, please let me know immediately so that we can determine if there is a design adjustment that can be made to remove the existing barriers. If you are a student with a disability or you feel you need accommodation and support please visit the Center of Accessibility at Center for Accessibility. If you have already been approved for accommodations, please email me at AccessibleInstructor@Goodpractice.ca so we can develop an implementation plan together.
Thank you for sharing. We really like that you let students know that support is available. Sometimes students do not have this information. Also, in your last sentence, you mention co-developing an implementation plan which is great because it allows the students to have input in the process.
Here is mine – sorry for the delay:
Recognizing the diverse learning needs of all learners, this course has been adapted to include improved accessibility format and options for use with assistive technology. The Accessibility Block in this course can change font size, and provide color options. The AT Bar includes font options, dictionary, text to speech to name a few. Try them out to see if they improve your learning experience. While every attempt has been considered to alter course information, barriers may still exist. Your feedback is important to us. Please advise your instructor of your issues, so we can continue to improve this blended course delivery.
Thank you for sharing! We like that you name the specific tools that are available in your course, and you describe what those tools do. We also like that you let students know that despite our best efforts, barriers will still exist and they can provide feedback to help us improve.
I believe that learning is the most important skill for everyone to have. It is my goal in this course to create an open and welcoming experience for all learners. However, I know trying to make everything be inclusive can sometimes unintentionally leave some learners out. If the design of the course doesn’t work for your particular needs please feel free to contact me so we can find an alternative.
Thank you for sharing. We like that you invite your students to contact you to discuss alternatives if needed. This immediately shows them that you are flexible and ready to listen.
Sorry for the delay in submitting the welcoming accessibility statement for challenge 1.
I am involved in a program development project where we hope to use the UDL framework to inform all courses required in the program. It is under this context that the welcome statement was developed.
Hello there, and welcome! We are excited to have you join this program and look forward to growing with you as a community! In this program, learners will complete a course of study that is welcoming and open to all persons and provides accessible, equitable, and inclusive courses and learning opportunities for all participants.
Throughout this program, we aim to support everyone in their unique qualities and learning preferences. It is also important for us to acknowledge you as an individual, and that everyone has a unique way of learning that might require various teaching and learning methods to guide your learning process. Courses in this program use principles of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, which helps resolve all kinds of barriers to learning. Whilst the UDL framework and principles will guide us, we encourage you to give us feedback throughout your learning journey and experience with us to help us improve learning experiences. If at any time you do not feel supported in your learning, whatever the reason may be, please reach out to your instructor, program manager, or any faculty or staff member involved in your program delivery.
Thank you for sharing. We like that you mention your desire to grow together, this really demonstrates your commitment to creating a community. We also like that you explicitly mention UDL so students can understand what is guiding your course design.
Sorry I am late to the party! Better late than never :).
Here is my statement:
Welcome students to the CDA program! We are very excited about the learning journey ahead of us.
Our program strives to meet our diverse learners’ needs and abilities. Lectures, clinical practice, and assessments are delivered in a safe learning environment where you will be challenged to demonstrate your learning in a variety of ways.
Each student’s needs are unique; therefore, suggestions on different ways to support your journey while maintaining the learning outcome standards are welcome and encouraged. Please feel free to bring your ideas forward at any time!
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing! It’s great that you encourage your students to provide feedback at any time.
Sorry for the delay in participating in the first challenge…
Please see the following welcoming statement I’ve created and used for this term:
Welcome to Term __ _______! I’m excited to be a part of your learning experience and journey as a student _______ in this program at _____. My role is to facilitate your learning by creating a safe learning environment where you feel safe to explore, accept challenges, apply critical inquiry, and therefore succeed in the program and be prepared to be a part of ________ team.
Please find the attached Week 1 Plan and feel free to contact me via email or text if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing! We like that you commit to creating a safe space for students.