From Access to Universal Design: Accommodations that Benefit Everyone

Rian Gayle, he/they

Director

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Alexis Morrison, she/her

Program Specialist

Acknowledgements

• The Hallmark Resort in Newport is located in the ancestral homelands of the Yakina people and on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary home of the members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. To learn more: https://native-land.ca
• People who were brought to the United States against their will
• Civil and disability rights activists
• Everyone taking the time to be here today!

Introduction

Alexis Morrison, she/her

Alexis holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health and Rehabilitation Counseling with an emphasis in College Counseling from San Francisco State University. Alexis was an avid consumer of Disability Services throughout her Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree programs.

Alexis has worked supporting students with disabilities and the daily function of higher education disability services offices, large and small. She values individual stories and recognizes the impact that those stories have on the greater community. Her interest in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) began early in her career and, over the years, she has found that the story of UDL is one of inclusion and empowerment.

Introduction

Rian Gayle, (he/they)

Rian Gayle is the Director at the Disability Access Services at Western Oregon University. Rian serves on several committees at the university that gears toward access for people with disabilities. Rian was the former advisor for the University’s Black Students Union and Disability Union and he also formerly served on the board of the Oregon Association of Higher Education and Disability (ORAHEAD) and on the Advisory board of the Telecommunication Device Access Program (TDAP) under PUC. Rian is also a former commissioner on the Oregon Disabilities Commission under Oregon’s Department of Human Services. Rian graduated from Gallaudet University in 2010 with a Master Degree in International Development for Persons with Disabilities. Born and raised in Jamaica, Rian was a Disability Advocate and Researcher in Jamaica from 2010 - 2014 with the Jamaica Association for the Deaf.

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Understanding Accommodations in Higher Ed.

• An alteration of something already established to remove barriers for a specific person or group
• Colleges and Universities who receive federal funding provide academic accommodations for students with a documented disability

Group Activity

Please form two groups.

Discuss common accommodations at your institution.

After 5 minutes, we will ask each group to share the top three (3) accommodations that were discussed.

Things are changing

• Many students are choosing remote learning
• Accommodations are becoming more digitized
• Makes more sense to move some accommodations towards UD approach
• Invisible disabilities are more common than ever before; in these cases, faculty (or staff) may find it difficult to understand the need for accommodations
• New ADA requirements for Digital Accessibility

Benefits and Challenges of Accommodations

• Benefits:
• Providing access
• Specialization
• Interactive process
• Building rapport

• Challenges:
• Accommodations are fluid
• Burdensome
• Time consuming
• Disclosure of diagnosis
• Independence

Disability as a social barrier…

There is an implication of “inherit dysfunction in the way… individuals learn without consideration of problems in the way content is taught” (Burgstahler & Cory, 2013)

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Understanding Universal Design

• Universal Design (UD) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.
• UD incorporated readily-available, equal, and accessible opportunities and resources for most without navigating extra barriers.
• An environment that supports the ability, freedom, or liberty to approach, interact, or make the maximum use of something with limited barriers on the same level as everyone else.

What does UD look like from DS perspective?

• Integrating accommodations
• More alternatives and control in the hands of the students
• Readily available (saves time)
• DS being able to provide for more students
• Reduction in email communication

Why integrate accommodations?

• Accessibility benefits everyone
• It’s everyone’s responsibility
• Involve campus stakeholders
• Non-disclosure
• Availability

But, some things stay the same…

• Following federal laws that require us to provide reasonable accommodations
• Interactive process with students
• Making accommodations on a case-by-case basis / offering specialized accommodations
• Being DS as usual

Universal Design is Everyone’s Responsibility

Challenges of Implementing Universal Design

• May be costly
• Establish an effective system/platform for UD
• Getting the right stakeholders to buy-in
• On-boarding for the Campus Community
• Assigning roles outside of DS

Characteristics of UD in Instruction

• Clearly defined course components
• Prereqs, knowledge, and skills are identified
• Clearly communicated expectations
• Physical environment that is accessible and conducive to learning
• Climate supports and encourages interaction
• Recognize student diversity
• Technology enhances learning and fosters accessibility
• There are a variety of mechanisms to demonstrate knowledge
• Feedback is clear, prompt, and frequent
• Good study habits are encouraged and supported

Group Activity, part 2

In the same groups as our previous activity.

Discuss changes that can be made to the top three (3) accommodations to facilitate a UDL approach?

In 5 minutes, each group will share some ideas that they came up with.

What’s new at WOU?

• Furniture
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• Note-taking support services
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• Flexibility accommodations
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• Alternative format reading materials
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• Open access - Communication
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• Open Resources
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How About You?

Thank You!

Questions?

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Rian: gayler@wou.edu

Alexis: morrisona@wou.edu

Resources

• https://www.cast.org/impact/universal-design-for-learning-udl
• Burgstahler, S. E., & Corey, R. C. (2013). Universal Design in higher education: From principles to practice. Harvard Education Press.