Accessibility in Higher Education:
Learning from Faculty Attitudes

Ellen Perlow, Ph.D. CHES (eperlow@hotmail.com)
Main Website URL: http://www.a4access.org/
Last updated Tuesday, April 23, 2008 CST

Presentation for the Texas Woman's University
2008 Student Creative Arts and Research Symposium
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - Texas Woman's University - 9 am-10:20 am - Room: ACT 601

The conference presentation is available in alternative formats.

Abstract: Within the diversity spectrum, people with access needs account for more than 20 percent of U.S. and 10 percent of world populations. Due to global aging, climate change, war/terrorism, lifelong and distance learning initiatives, and over thirty years of pre-K-12 inclusive education, U.S. college faculty are teaching many more students with access needs in both face-to-face and virtual classrooms.

In universal design for learning, a framework for designing curricula with accessibility in mind, now mandated for pre-K-12 U.S. public education (IDEA 2004, P.L. 108-446, aligned with NCLB, P.L. 107-110), higher education has an evidence-based methodology mutually beneficial to serving the needs of an increasingly diverse student community, in addition to satisfying fiscal accountability and institutional effectiveness standards.

Results of a pair of IRB-approved studies of postsecondary faculty attitudes toward accessibility and teaching students with access needs provide a measurable indicator of prospective successful integration of universal design for learning and a culture of accessibility into higher education.

PowerPoint Presentation: http://www.a4access.org/twu2008.ppt

PowerPoint Presentation-Text-Only Format: http://www.a4access.org/twu2008.txt

PowerPoint Presentation-Supplement: Definitions, References: http://www.a4access.org/twu2008supp.ppt

PowerPoint Presentation-Supplement: Definitions, References-Text-Only Format: http://www.a4access.org/twu2008supp.txt

Script of Oral Presentation-M. Word Format: http://www.a4access.org/twu2008script.doc

Script of Oral Presentation-Text-Only Format: http://www.a4access.org/twu2008script.txt

The conference presentation and supplement also are available in embossed Braille. Please contact eperlow@hotmail.com to receive the Braille version.