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Accessibility Resources for Instruction: Resources

Welcome to our journey towards creating more inclusive and accessible learning experiences.

Virginia Tech Accessibility Resources

Services for Students with Disabilities at Virginia Tech

  • Description: Information about support services, accommodations, and assistive technologies available for students with disabilities.
  • Contact: ssd@vt.edu

Virginia Tech ADA Compliance

  • Description: Details on Virginia Tech’s efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including policies and procedures.
  • Contact: ADA compliance officer at Virginia Tech.

InclusiveVT

  • Description: The inclusion and diversity initiative of Virginia Tech that encompasses accessibility and aims to create a supportive community.
  • Website: InclusiveVT

Universal Design and Accessible Teaching Resources

  • Description: Resources provided by Virginia Tech for faculty and staff on implementing UDL and accessible teaching practices.
  • Contact: Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at cetl@vt.edu

Virginia Tech Web Accessibility Guidelines

Library Accessibility Services at Virginia Tech

  • Description: Services offered by the university libraries to ensure accessibility, such as accessible text, research assistance, and adaptive equipment.
  • Contact: libraryada@vt.edu

Virginia Tech Disability Alliance

  • Description: A campus organization that advocates for the rights of individuals with disabilities and raises awareness about accessibility issues.
  • Website/Contact: Student organizations directory or disabilityalliance@vt.edu

Tools/Recourses to help with Accessibility

WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool

  • Description: WAVE is a suite of evaluation tools that helps authors make their web content more accessible to individuals with disabilities. WAVE can identify many accessibility and Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG) errors, and also facilitates human evaluation of web content.

  • Link: WAVE Web Accessibility Tool

AXE Accessibility Checker

  • Description: Axe is a browser extension that allows developers to test their web content for accessibility issues directly from their browser. It's an open-source tool that provides actionable insights and is considered one of the most reliable accessibility software.

  • Link:  Axe Accessibility Checker

 Google Lighthouse

  • Description: Lighthouse is an open-source, automated tool for improving the quality of web pages. It has audits for performance, accessibility, progressive web apps, and more. You can run it against any web page, public or requiring authentication.

  • Link: Google Lighthouse

Color Contrast Analyzer

  • Description: This tool allows you to check the color contrast of text and visual elements on web pages to ensure that information is easily discernible by users with color vision impairments. It's crucial for meeting WCAG 2.1 contrast requirements.

  • Link: Color Contrast Analyzer

AChecker Web Accessibility Checker

  • Description: AChecker is a tool that allows you to check the accessibility of web content based on a variety of guidelines, including WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.1. It provides detailed feedback on accessibility issues and potential fixes.

  • Link: AChecker

Tenon.io

  • Description: Tenon.io offers a robust web accessibility testing tool that can integrate with development environments, supporting automated testing of web accessibility. It provides detailed issue reporting and practical recommendations for fixing identified problems.

  • Link: Tenon.io

Resource Citations

Web Tools

Guidelines and Resources

  • CAST. (n.d.). CAST – UDL Guidelines. Retrieved from https://udlguidelines.cast.org/
  • National Center on Universal Design for Learning. (n.d.). National Center on Universal Design for Learning. Retrieved from http://udloncampus.cast.org/
  • (n.d.). UDL on Campus: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education. Retrieved from [insert the actual link to the resource here]
  • Understood. (n.d.). Understood.org for Educators. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/
  • The George Washington University. (n.d.). UDL Resource by George Washington University. 

Books

  • Meyer, A., Rose, D. H., & Gordon, D. (n.d.). Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice.

Learning Platforms

  • (n.d.). Learning Designed. 
  • UDL Universe. (n.d.). UDL Universe: A Comprehensive Universal Design for Learning Resource. Retrieved from http://www.udluniverse.com/

Universal Design for Learning Resources

CAST – UDL Guidelines

  • Website: CAST UDL Guidelines
  • Description: A comprehensive exploration of the UDL framework with detailed guidelines, examples, and resources for each principle.

National Center on Universal Design for Learnin

  • Website: National Center on UDL
  • Description: A hub of resources, including research articles, UDL tools, and instructional examples for educators.

UDL on Campus: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education

  • Website: UDL on Campus
  • Description: A practical guide for applying UDL principles in higher education, with a focus on curriculum development and lesson planning.

Understood.org for Educators

  • Website: Understood for Educators
  • Description: A collection of resources and tips for educators on UDL and how to support students with learning and attention issues.

UDL Resource by George Washington University

  • Website: GWU UDL Resources
  • Description: A library of UDL resources compiled by the university, including toolkits, strategies, and research findings.

Book: "Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice"

  • Authors: Anne Meyer, David H. Rose, and David Gordon
  • Description: A book providing an in-depth explanation of UDL, including the research foundation for the framework and practical applications.

Learning Designed

  • Website: Learning Designed
  • Description: An online platform for professional learning and resource sharing on UDL practices.

UDL Universe: A Comprehensive Universal Design for Learning Resource

  • Website: UDL Universe
  • Description: A one-stop source for UDL resources, including training modules, videos, and tips for implementation.

YouTube - UDL Channel

  • Channel: Various channels dedicated to UDL
  • Description: Videos ranging from introductory content to in-depth training on UDL principles and methods.

Head, Learning Design Initiatives