Checklist for Making Informal Learning Accessible to Students with Disabilities
![A student in a wheelchair looks at brochures in a display. A student in a wheelchair looks at brochures in a display.](https://www.washington.edu/doit/sites/default/files/uploads/images/Accessing_brochures%20copy.png)
Many engineering departments, libraries, and universities are launching new initiatives to create makerspaces, physical spaces where students, faculty, and the broader community can gather and share resources and knowledge, work on projects, network, and build. In creating these innovative spaces we should apply principles of universal design to ensure the spaces, tools, and community are accessible to as many individuals as possible.
As increasing numbers of people with disabilities pursue educational opportunities in engineering, accessibility of engineering teaching and research labs is critical. The ultimate goal is simply equal access. Hands-on learning in lab courses is an important component of an engineering degree. Everyone who needs to use your department's labs should be able to do so comfortably.
Name and location of science lab reviewed:
Reviewer name(s):
Contact name, phone, email:
Students with disabilities can face access challenges in engineering lab classes. Access barriers may prevent a student from
AccessEngineering works with two national leadership teams: engineering faculty from diverse colleges and universities, and students with disabilities in undergraduate and graduate engineering programs
AccessEngineering encourages students with disabilities to pursue engineering careers.
Professors, students, and IT administrators share the benefits of using captions on videos in postsecondary courses.
Students suggest ways to make science activities more accessible.