AccessCollege: An Alliance to Promote the Success of People with Disabilities in Postsecondary Education
"Your work is excellent and serves as a model for our project. Your generosity in sharing is greatly appreciated" –Instructor
"I intend to build my programs around the concept of universal accessibility. Also, I will be more aware of disability related needs." –Student Services Staff
"We have determined equipment needs and have solved a couple student issues. Our faculty is excited to use the resources from the DO-IT web page." –Postsecondary Staff
"Having a disability doesn't mean that you have anything wrong with you. It just means that you might have a difficult time expressing your ideas. In this program everyone has a chance to communicate." –Student with a disability
Postsecondary Education and Students with Disabilities
DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology), an international center located at the University of Washington (UW), promotes through its AccessCollege project the full inclusion of people with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers, and the application of universal design in the development of physical spaces, information technology, instruction, and student services. AccessCollege Websites and Searchable Knowledge Bases The following websites tailor content to specific audiences. They promote the use of universal design and accommodations to maximize the success of students with disabilities in postsecondary education. Each includes a searchable knowledge base of questions and answers, case studies, and promising practices. They are linked to the DO-IT website at www.washington.edu/doit.
- The Faculty Room is a place for postsecondary faculty and administrators to learn about how to create classroom environments, e-learning, and other activities that maximize the learning of all students, including those with disabilities.
- The Student Services Conference Room is a place for staff in postsecondary libraries; career services, admissions, financial aid, and registration offices; computer labs; and other campus services to learn how to effectively serve all students.
- The Board Room provides guidance to postsecondary administrators regarding policies and practices that maximize the learning and participation of all students, including those with disabilities.
- The Student Lounge helps students with disabilities prepare for and succeed in postsecondary studies.
- The Center for Universal Design in Education shares the definitions, principles, guidelines, and strategies for applying universal design to instruction, student services, information technology, and physical spaces.
Publications and Videos
Permission is granted to reproduce DO-IT videos and publications for educational, noncommercial purposes as long as the source is acknowledged. They can be located by selecting "publications and videos" at www.washington.edu/doit.
A selection of publications relevant to postsecondary education are listed below. Free publications that have a corresponding video presentation are marked with an asterisk (*). Streaming videos are on the website. Downloadable versions of videos to play from your computer may be obtained without charge by sending a request to doit@u.washington.edu. Videos may be viewed and ordered in DVD format at www.washington.edu/doit/resources/informational-briefs. DVD collections come with handouts that summarize content and point to related resources. All videos are open-captioned for those with hearing impairments and audio-described versions are provided for those who are blind.
Overview
- AccessCollege: Systemic Change for Postsecondary Institutions
- Disability-Related Resources on the Internet
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Conference Exhibits and Presentations
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Professional Organizations
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Your Project
- Glossary of Disability-Related Terms
- Self-Examination: Is Your Campus Accessible?*
- Universal Design in Education: Principles and Applications
- Universal Design: Principles, Process, and Applications
Instruction
- Academic Accommodations for Students with Learning Disabilities
- Academic Accommodations for Students with Psychiatric Disabilities
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Distance Learning
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Instruction*
- Invisible Disabilities and Postsecondary Education*
- Making Science Labs Accessible to Students with Disabilities
- Universal Design of Instruction: Definition, Principles, and Examples
- Working Together: Faculty and Students with Disabilities*
- Working Together: Teaching Assistants and Students with Disabilities
Student Services
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Advising
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Career Services
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Financial Aid
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Housing and Residential Life
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Libraries*
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Recruitment and Undergraduate Admissions
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Registration
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Student Organizations
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Student Services*
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Tutoring and Learning Centers
Information Technology
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Computer Labs*
- Real Connections: Making Distance Learning Accessible to Everyone*
- Web Accessibility: Guidelines for Administrators
- Working Together: Computers and People with Learning Disabilities*
- Working Together: Computers and People with Mobility Impairments*
- Working Together: Computers and People with Sensory Impairments*
- Working Together: People with Disabilities and Computer Technology*
Resources for Students
- College: You Can Do It!*
- Moving On: The Two-Four Step*
- Taking Charge: Stories of Success and Self-Determination
Training Materials
DO-IT's comprehensive materials for individual instruction or for delivery of presentations include
- Making Math, Science, and Technology Instruction Accessible to Students with Disabilities—A RESOURCE FOR TEACHERS AND TEACHER EDUCATORS
- Building the Team: Faculty, Staff, and Students Working Together—PRESENTATION AND RESOURCE MATERIALS
- Students with Disabilities and Campus Services: Building the Team—PRESENTATION AND RESOURCE MATERIALS
- Creating a Transition Program for Teens: How DO—IT Does It, and How You Can Do It Too
- Creating an E—Mentoring Community: How DO-IT Does It, and How You Can Do It Too
About DO-IT
DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to increase the successful participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs such as those in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Primary funding for DO-IT is provided by the National Science Foundation, the State of Washington, and the U.S. Department of Education. DO-IT is a collaboration of UW Information Technology and the Colleges of Engineering and Education at the University of Washington.
Grants and gifts fund DO-IT publications, videos, and programs to support the academic and career success of people with disabilities. Contribute today by sending a check to DO-IT, Box 354842, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-4842.
Your gift is tax deductible as specified in IRS regulations. Pursuant to RCW 19.09, the University of Washington is registered as a charitable organization with the Secretary of State, state of Washington. For more information call the Office of the Secretary of State, 1-800-322-4483.
To order free publications or newsletters use the DO-IT Publications Order Form; to order videos and training materials use the Videos, Books and Comprehensive Training Materials Order Form.
For further information, to be placed on the DO-IT mailing list, request materials in an alternate format, or to make comments or suggestions about DO-IT publications or web pages contact:
DO-IT
University of Washington
Box 354842
Seattle, WA 98195-4842
doit@uw.edu
www.uw.edu/doit
206-685-DOIT (3648) (voice/TTY)
888-972-DOIT (3648) (voice/TTY)
206-221-4171 (fax)
509-328-9331 (voice/TTY) Spokane
Founder and Director: Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
Acknowledgment
This publication is based upon work supported by the Department of Education (OPE #P333A050064) as part of DO-IT's AccessCollege project. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect views of the Department of Education.
© 2007 University of Washington. Permission is granted to copy these materials for educational, noncommercial purposes provided the source is acknowledged.