Role of Accessibility In Shaping Inclusive Higher Education 

Higher education, which follows secondary schooling, is an optional form of tertiary education. Typically pursued at universities or colleges, it involves specialized subjects and courses leading to academic degrees or qualifications.

The issue of accessibility in education is significant across all levels, including higher education. Recent studies indicate that approximately 13.2% of higher education students in the UK have reported experiencing at least one disability. Moreover, those students with disabilities tend to achieve lower academic outcomes and have decreased employment rates. This highlights the importance of improving the quality and inclusivity of higher education for students with disabilities, with a particular focus on digital accessibility considerations.

Implementation Of Accessibility In Higher Education 

1. Flexible Teaching Practices

In response to the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions have embraced more flexible teaching methods, although many have returned to in-person instruction.

However, the lack of remote attendance options could be problematic for students with mobility limitations, compromised immune systems, or other health concerns.

Even though professors usually decide how they want to teach their classes, offering both synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (not real-time) options helps students with disabilities and others who might be dealing with temporary health problems.

But just having online classes isn't enough to make things fair for everyone. Courses need to be designed in a way that makes them easy for everyone to access, including using technology that helps people with disabilities, giving out materials beforehand, and offering different ways for students to show what they've learned.

2. Accessible Student Resources

Institutions should set clear accessibility standards for technology use. Following the guidance of the U.S. Access Board, it's important to adhere to the WCAG levels of compliance. This includes making captioning a standard practice for all videos used in classes and on campus. Institutions should allocate resources for creating video captions, ensure all new website content meets accessibility standards, and implement accessibility checks before content is posted.

In addition to web content, institutions should prioritize the accessibility of all digital materials, including PDF documents. This can be achieved through PDF document remediation, a process that ensures these documents are usable by individuals with disabilities.

3. Accessible Multimedia Options

Teachers should make sure that all multimedia in learning materials can be used by everyone. For example, adding descriptions to images helps people who can't see well understand what the images are about.

Also, providing written transcripts for videos helps people who can't see well or who are blind get the information from the videos. And for people who have trouble hearing, it's important to include subtitles in videos so they can read what's being said.

4. Training Employees

Instead of waiting for a student with a specific disability to ask for help, university staff should be ready to put new policies and procedures in place whenever needed. Giving thorough training to employees is important to make sure they know how to welcome and assist students with disabilities all year round.

This training should focus on helping staff understand different disabilities, clearing up any misunderstandings, and encouraging empathy and inclusivity. By teaching faculty and staff about the challenges disabled students face, everyone can better understand their needs and make the university a more supportive place. Plus, it helps smoothly bring in any changes to university rules if needed.

Closing Thoughts

Investing in accessibility extends beyond simply meeting compliance standards. It fosters a culture of innovation and ignites a ripple effect of positive societal change. By ensuring an inclusive learning environment, universities empower individuals with disabilities to not only excel academically but also become active participants in the workforce and contribute their unique talents and perspectives. This makes the professional world more diverse and exciting, benefiting everyone. Plus, focusing on accessibility shows a strong commitment to fairness and encourages future generations to value inclusivity in everything they do.