Making Courses Accessible So That All May Learn

When courses are proactively created in an accessible format, it benefits everyone, not only students who use assistive technologies. Instructors who are ready to provide accommodations are committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to their high-quality content.

Knowing how valuable it is to integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into the curriculum, Dr. Suzan Smith-Ayers, Interim Chair of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), took the lead on assessing her department's courses for inclusivity. Recognizing that she needed a little extra support to make a project of this size and complexity successful, Smith-Ayers reached out to WMUx's Coordinator for Assistive Technology, Cara Junghans, for help.

Cara Junghans, WMUx Assistive Technology Coordinator

Smith-Ayers was initially interested in learning more about Ally, WMU's integrated technology tool that works seamlessly with Elearning to gauge the accessibility of online content. After a few discussions, Smith-Ayers invited WMUx to join her department in monthly meetings and share accessibility best practices, learning opportunities, and step-by-step demonstrations to help faculty better understand what digital accessibility is and how it supports the inclusion initiative.

In a situation where information overload might lead to paralysis, Smith-Ayers appreciated the way WMUx adjusted their content and delivery to make it more digestible. "When WMUx's Assistive Technology Coordinator came to our first meeting, we were all a bit overwhelmed. There was SO much information to take in and I think we overestimated our readiness to absorb the amount of information she was providing," recalls Smith-Ayers. "WMUx's ability to meet my team where we were was amazing. Our partner listened to our feedback and was incredibly responsive to our needs. She made it seem possible to make progress on our initiative. She made it approachable."

Dr. Suzan Smith-Ayers, Chair of Family and Consumer Sciences

Smith-Ayers, the FCS DEI committee, and WMUx now regularly collaborate to identify the foundational accessibility materials that would be the most useful for their department. WMUx's role is to not only inform faculty, but also provide time-saving resources and examples to help instructors get started using Ally to create their own accessible course content. With the support of WMUx, FCS faculty have taken steps to individually assess their content for inclusivity. Some faculty have enrolled in self-paced training, reached out for document assistance, and made improvements increasing the accessibility of the department's online content.

"WMUx has been so exceptionally flexible and supportive," says Smith-Ayers. "We know we have a lot to learn, but we are never made to feel like what we're doing isn't enough. WMUx has provided us with a rich volume of resources and has encouraged us to reach out directly whenever we have questions. They want to see us succeed and they have been a true partner."

The student learning experience is amplified when content is created or revised to be accessible and inclusive, but the real goal of Smith-Ayers' initiative is to plant a seed among instructors for how to think about and approach future course content development. WMUx is here to help all instructors and departments think through these considerations. With WMUx's accessibility expertise, FCS is the perfect example of a department reaching out for help and immediately receiving the customized resources and support they needed to achieve their goals.