Digital accessibility – Introduction to the summer theme - transcript

As acting DPVC for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, I strongly believe that we allrecognise the importance of the success and well-being of all students and strive to develop a University community where everyone feels welcome, included and empowered to succeed. Central to this aim is enabling all students to access learning opportunities and participate fully, both in person and in the digital environment.

At Birmingham 14% of our students have a declared disability. However, many more students will choose not to declare a disability, and difficulties accessing our teaching will be experienced by a far wider population again than those with disabilities. Teaching that takes place digitally, if designed properly based on accessibility and universal design principles, will be a more inclusive learning experience and will benefit a wide range of students.

Therefore, over the coming weeks, the theme for HEFi’s MicroCPDs and Showcase sessions will be the ‘Accessible Educator’, encompassing digital accessibility and inclusion.

Through the Accessible Educator events, academic colleagues will share their approaches, difficulties, and solutions to digital accessibility. 

To coincide with Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 19^th, HEFi will launch a new Accessible Educator course, which will invite educators across the University to reflect on their current practice and to commit to the Accessible Educator pledge.

Finally we will hear from students on their experiences, perhaps both positive and negative, of engaging with teaching in the digital environment.

I would encourage you to engage with and contribute to these resources, events, and opportunities, so that together we can help make our teaching accessible to everyone.