Digital Accessibilty

In an online space, accessibility is “designing better user experiences for everyone by first improving the user experience of persons with disabilities.” Instructors must be “proactively creating content, products, and environments that people with a diverse range of hearing, sight, movement, and cognitive abilities can use, understand, (in some cases) contribute to, and benefit from.”

– Michelle Tuten, Accessibility Coordinator

Accessibility Matters

According to the CDC, around 28% of all adults in the United States had a disability in 2024. Disabilities can range from mobility/physical impairment to brain injury to blindness to mental illness. It is important to consider that not all disabilities are visible. Many students may not have formal accommodations through the University. All students have the right to equal access to education. So, with all this in mind, it is necessary to design courses with accessibility in mind, seeking to preemptively break down any potential digital barriers.

What is Universal Design for Learning?

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) evolved out of Universal Design, which is an architectural theory developed by Ronald Mace. Universal Design aims to design spaces that can be used, understood, and accessed by the greatest possible number of people. (About UD)

UDL is a scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice that:

1. Provides flexibility in the ways: information is presented, students are engaged, and students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills.
2. Reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodations, supports, and challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities and students who are limited English proficient (from the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008)

The learning goals of educators remain the same, they just provide students with more flexibility in how they can achieve those goals.

UDL Guidelines – Three Principles

Multiple Means of Engagement

• Provide clear goals, purpose, and expectations within the instructions of assignments.
• Provide learners with as much choice and autonomy as possible.
• Optimize the relevance of course work in accordance to learning goals.
• Encourage collaboration and community.
• Foster independence.
• Provide students with clear and action-oriented feedback.
• Encourage students to reflect on their work.

Multiple Means of Representation

• Support students customizing the way information is displayed.
• Provide a multimedia display of course information.
• Support multiple ways of perceiving and processing information.
• Represent diverse perspectives, and when possible, address bias.
• Provide clear definitions of terminology and symbols.
• Support an array of communication and language practices.
• Support multiple ways of knowing and making.
• Connect prior knowledge, and emphasize the transfer of that knowledge.
• Connect patterns and relationships across information.

Multiple Means of Action and Expression

• Allow for flexibility for learner navigation, movement, and responses.
• Optimize accessible material as well as recommended tech and tools.
• Offer multiple forms of support to learners.
• Scaffold learning.
• Set clear and meaningful goals.
• Anticipate any possible challenges for learners.
• Ensure clear organization of course information.
• Emphasize how learners can monitor and track their own progress.

Upcoming Events 

Quick Hits: Canvas Gradebook Settings, Grade Weights, and Extra Credit

December 4th, 3:00-4:00 PM

This quick hit will cover helpful settings in the Canvas gradebook, including utilizing grade weights effectively and incorporating extra credit in your course.

This training session will be held over Zoom. After completing the registration form, you will receive an Outlook calendar invitation, including the Zoom link. All registrants will be sent a copy of the recorded training.

Click here to register and receive the Zoom link!

Facilitated by John Dickinson, IT Services Specialist.

Clemson Online Fall 2025 Events Calendar

Review our Fall 2025 Events Calendar to see what Online Instruction Development opportunities await!

We have a robust lineup of topics and live training formats to support your use of Canvas and other e-learning tools. Topics cover demonstrations of using Kaltura, engaging your students, and workshops to get your Canvas site ready to teach!

All of our live training is recorded. Registrants will automatically receive a link to that day’s video after it has been processed.

Contact Millie Tullis with any questions regarding these sessions.

Clemson Online – Where Tech and Teaching Meet