Metropolitan State University values access and believes it is a shared responsibility of all community members. Active participation by faculty/instructors in collaboration with students, the Center for Accessibility Resources and other units providing student access services is key to creating an accessible, welcoming and inclusive experience.
Listed below are best practices that create a more accessible and inclusive learning experience for all students. CAR staff is available to provide support and/or consult about information provided on this page. Contact us at 651-793-1549 or accessibility.resources@metrostate.edu.
Classroom access
- Include the required syllabus statement for access on all course syllabi. See the "Additional Resources" page for more information.
- Ensure Sign Language Interpreters or CART writers have appropriate seating in the classroom.
- Accessible transportation is available for field trips as requested.
- CAR Staff may be added to your Learning Management Course sites (D2L, etc.) in order to provide accessible course materials to students Exams and Learning Assessments.
- Partner with CAR to ensure all student assessments/exams are accessible. Options include:
- Coordinating accommodations yourself within the classroom, office or department.
- Arranging for CAR to administer classroom exams with accommodations.
- Designing student assessment activities that minimize the need for accommodations.
- D2L Exams:
- Do not use the option for disabling "copy/pasting" of the exam content, this is inaccessible for assistive technology users.
- Consider expanding amount of time allowed on an exam for all students to eliminate need to modify time for individuals
- Currently, modification to an exam time has to be changed on each individual exam, for each individual student with time extension as an accommodation
- D2L Exams:
Read more detailed information on process for instructors
Note-taking
- Post class notes on an accessible course Website, D2L OR assist students in locating a volunteer classmate to provide notes
Accessible course materials and content
Creating accessible materials ensures they can be read by a variety of users, including people who use assistive technology, such as screen readers, screen magnification and text-to-speech software. They are also easier to access on a variety of newer devices, including smartphones, e-readers, iPads and other mobile devices, because the text "reflows" to fit the screen. In some cases, CAR staff may be added to your Learning Management Course sites (D2L,etc.) in order to facilitate the provision of accessible course materials to students.
Readings
- Identify your course readings and schedule early to allow time to create accessible materials.
- Post accessible materials to course Websites or D2L.
- Create Accessible PDF documents to ensure content accessible with assistive technologies and mobile devices.
- Re-download articles from journals - many are now in an accessible format.
- Ensure an electronic version of the text is accessible for assistive technologies and possibly mobile devices
- Check with vendors about accessibility of pre-packaged/third-party software used for homework solutions, assignments, assessments, etc.
Captioned videos
- Includes lecture capture, pre-recorded videos and third party videos. When requesting streaming videos from the Library, request captioned versions.
PowerPoint files
- Creating an Accessible PowerPoint Presentation
- Use pre-designed templates in PowerPoint (i.e. don't choose a blank slide and insert text boxes)
- If PDF is preferred for posting, consider posting the PowerPoint files as well
- Allows students to print many slides on one page
- Students using assistive technologies can access the text
- For charts/graphs follow the textbook example: describe the concept/reason for the image along with displaying the image