• Universal Design for Learning - Discover what you need to know about UDL and how it can assist you in creating accessible and usable content to meet the needs of diverse learners.
• Alternative Text - Find out why alternative text is an important principle in accessible web design and how you can use it to help all learners understand the meaning of the image used in your content.
• Video Captions and Audio Descriptions - Uncover the specific steps that must be taken to make video content accessible.
• Hyperlinks - Gain an understanding of how to set up links in the most accessible way possible in order to create accessible content.
• Accessible MS Office products - Explore the basics of Microsoft product accessibility, including alternative text, document best practices and utilizing built-in accessibility checkers.
• Readability: Color Choice and Contrast - Dive into the topics of readability and discover why color choice and contrast play a major role in creating accessible digital resources.
• Accessible PDFs - Take your readability skills to the next level and learn more about how you can make PDFs accessible for your learners.
• Cognitive Accessibility - Increase your understanding of cognitive accessibility and uncover strategies to combat this common barrier to student success.
• Inclusive Teaching Practices - Discover design and pedagogical practices to help you foster an inclusive and diverse online learning community.

Each topic features different resources to assist you with your accessibility challenges. Videos show you step-by-step changes you can make to increase the accessibility of your course. Examples highlight best practices. Articles provide you with additional information and resources. And forums allow you to connect directly with accessibility experts --peers who have expertise in designing accessible courses. There is also a General Accessibility and Usability Questions' Forum where you can ask any question that is unrelated to the listed topics.

Accessing AURS

Anyone can register for the site for free by logging into MyQM and selecting "Workshop - Register" in the side navigation and choosing "Register for Accessibility & Usability Resource Site." Need a QM account? 

If you've already registered, the AURS link can be found on your Dashboard in the QM Classroom after you log in.

ADDITIONAL ONLINE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY WITH BLACKBOARD ALLY-MORE DETAILS/REGISTER HERE 

A photo of a leather toolbelt with a hammer and wrench accompanies this post.  Credit: Jesse Orric via unsplash.com

Some good news from the Association of Higher Education and Disability/AHEAD (one of the professional associations that UMBC's ADS/SDS Staff belongs to)

"AHEAD is happy to share that on the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) have reintroduced the Pell Grant for Students with Disabilities Act! (HR 5739 for those wanting to reach out to their Federal Representatives)

This reintroduction is due to AHEADs continued efforts to work with Congress to address an issue that has been raised time and time again by our members as a stumbling block for students with disabilities to successfully complete college. Students are in the position of having to decide whether to follow their recommended course load or ignore the recommendation and go with a full-course load in order to qualify for the full Pell Grant amount for which they are eligible.

The Pell Grant for Students with Disabilities Act, like its predecessor in the last Congress, would allow students with disabilities to take the recommended course load without losing Pell Grant funding by having the U.S. Department of Education consider the recommended course load as equivalent to a full course load (which is 12 credits)." -AHEAD listserv post 7-27-23

Don't be shy about reaching out to your elected officials.  Closer to home, resources for campus members and visitors with disabilities include:  Student Disability Services, Accessibility and Disability Services (Employees and Visitors), and UMBC's online form for reporting accessibility concerns.  As Disability Pride Month comes to a close, please know we honor and celebrate people with disabilities every day, and have more events planned, especially for October, Disability Employment Awareness Month.

A photo of three women conferring over their laptops  while seated accompanies this post. Credit: Christina Wocin via unsplash.com

• Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b)
• The Pride Center for LGBTQIA2+ Diversity (i3b)
• The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being (i3b)

• Linktree: Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b)
• Linktree: The Pride Center for LGBTQIA2+ Diversity with Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b)
• Instagram: Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b)

• Participate in the ADA National Network's 33rd Anniversary Awareness Campaigns 
• The NYPL has a range of titles for reading a book about disability.
• Take in Michaela Otera's 2023 Disabled Beauty Series.
• Watch a movie that includes actors with disabilities.
• Visit the Society of Disabled Oracles - a creation of Alice Wong, Aimi Hamraie and Jen White Johnson. If they sound familiar, Aimi Hamraie has presented here on Critical Access Studies via the Dresher Center, and Jen White Johnson had a HTLab on Zines as Tools for Action.

• Accessibility and Disability Services (check out Disability Pride events here)
• Student Disability Services
• Report a UMBC Campus Accessibility Concern via this online form and be an accessibility ally - this is after being a good campus citizen by bringing it to the attention of the responsible department, such as reporting a Facilities Management repair to 410-455-2550.
• Learn more about UMBC's Disability Studies First Year Seminar and American Sign Language courses.  A Disability Studies Minor is in the process of being developed.
• Become involved with student organizations such as Sign of Life (ASL), UMBC NAMI (Mental Health), Delta Alpha Pi (Honor Society for Students with Disabilities), DAU, Best Buddies, and more