Accessibility is more than compliance and doing the right thing-it’s a core teaching and learning principle. While many institutions focus on "teaching accessibly," fewer emphasize "teaching accessibility." In this session, we’ll explore how to integrate accessibility into pedagogy and curriculum design so that students are equipped with these essential career skills.

Accessibility in education is often framed as a compliance topic rather than a core component of pedagogy. While many institutions have made strides in “teaching accessibly”—ensuring that course materials, technologies, and instructional methods are accessible to students with disabilities—far fewer have integrated “teaching accessibility” into their curricula. Yet, accessibility is a critical skill set for all professionals, impacting industries from technology and design to business, healthcare, and the humanities. By embedding accessibility into pedagogy and curriculum design, educators can prepare students to create inclusive products, services, and experiences while ensuring that all learners can fully participate in the learning experience.

This session will provide a framework for incorporating accessibility knowledge and practices into teaching and learning. We will explore the relationship between “teaching accessibly” and “teaching accessibility,” offering strategies for educators to integrate accessibility concepts into their disciplines. Participants will engage with best practices that promote both accessible course delivery and the development of accessibility competencies among students.


Background

Many educators recognize the importance of making their courses accessible to students with disabilities. More recently, the Department of Justice’s guidance on Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has prompted institutions to prioritize these efforts. However, accessibility is not just about ensuring that students can access content-it’s also about modeling accessible practices and equipping students with the skills to create inclusive products and services in their future careers. Surveys conducted in 2018 and 2023 revealed a significant accessibility skills gap in the workforce, and this gap remains largely unaddressed in higher education. So what can educators do to make sure their students are equipped to enter the workforce with the skills they need? They must adopt practices that combine teaching accessibly and teaching about accessibility.


What to Teach: A Framework for Accessibility Knowledge and Practices

Teaching accessibility should not be limited to technology-related fields. Regardless of discipline, students will engage with digital tools, communications, and experiences that must be designed with accessibility in mind. Future business leaders will need to ensure that their products are accessible to all consumers. Healthcare professionals must provide equitable care to patients with disabilities. Educators must create inclusive learning environments. To effectively teach accessibility, educators need a structured framework that outlines key concepts and practices. Teach Access, in collaboration with industry, academia, and disability advocacy groups, has identified fundamental knowledge areas that can guide curricular integration. These knowledge areas can be approached by understanding what should be learned, why it should be learned, and how it could be learned. Additionally, they are complemented by professional skills or attributes that help apply accessibility principles across different scenarios and roles.


How to Teach Accessibility While Teaching Accessibly

Embedding accessibility into pedagogy doesn’t require an overhaul of existing courses. Small, incremental changes can have a big impact. Some key strategies educators can implement include: making course materials and activities accessible, modeling inclusive teaching practices, integrating accessibility topics into assignments and discussions, and leveraging accessibility communities.


Key Takeaways

By the end of this session, participants will:

1. Understand how “teaching accessibility” and “teaching accessibly” complement each other to foster student success and create more inclusive learning environments.
2. Gain a framework of accessibility knowledge and practices that can be incorporated into pedagogy and curricula across disciplines.
Explore best practices for integrating accessibility into teaching while ensuring that course materials, instructional methods, and assessments are fully inclusive.
3. Join us to learn how small shifts in teaching practices and curriculum design can have a lasting impact on students, preparing them to build a more accessible and inclusive future.