Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning

To help make higher education available to as many students as possible, CUNY SPS supports course design that upholds the principles of accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL).

See the links, quick guides, and video tutorials below for steps can you take to ensure that your Blackboard course site and the course materials you post there are accessible to all.

WORD	Creating Accessible Word Docs (PDF) Checklist Word (PDF)	VIDEO TUTORIALS Part 1 & Part 2
EXCEL	Creating Accessible Excel Docs (PDF) Checklist Excel (PDF)	VIDEO TUTORIAL
POWERPOINT	Creating Accessible PPT Docs (PDF) Checklist PPT (PDF)	VIDEO TUTORIAL
PDF	Creating Accessible PDFs (PDF)
BLACKBOARD	Accessibility in Blackboard (PDF) Checklist for Course Sites (PDF)	VIDEO TUTORIAL: BB Accessibility VIDEO TUTORIAL: Adding Exceptions to Blackboard Tests
VIDEOS	Captioning Videos on YouTube (PDF)	VIDEO TUTORIAL

CUNY-wide Resources

CUNY’s Accessibility Website (with links for faculty, students, and staff on the left)
CUNY’s Accessibility in Distance Learning site
Reasonable Accommodations: A Faculty Guide to Teaching College Students with Disabilities

Also, browse our Accessibility in Higher Ed series on the SPS Community Blog introducing the principles of Universal Design as they apply to teaching and learning.

(This site is continuous work in progress. Please check back for updates soon!)

	April 2021
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1 No classes: Spring r… No classes: Spring recess March 27, 2021 - April 4, 2021 See more details Student Engagement i… Student Engagement in Online Learning April 1, 2021 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Student Engagement in Online Learning Join us for a discussion of best practices for generating and sustaining student engagement in the virtual classroom. This training will review approaches to enhance student engagement and instructor feedback in online courses, including different ways to present content and provide feedback, activities to promote student interaction, active learning approaches, and connecting your course content to the real world. You’ll have an opportunity to discuss challenges and successes you’ve experienced and share strategies with colleagues. Thurs April 1, 9:30-10:30 (Registration Link) See more details Blackboard on a Mobi… Blackboard on a Mobile Device April 1, 2021 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Blackboard on a Mobile Device Over half of participants in SPS’ New Student Orientation plan to use mobile devices as a part of their online learning experience – will your online courses transfer well into this interface? In this session, we will explore the Blackboard Mobile application and gain an understanding of how students experience learning on the go. We will also discuss the major interface differences between Blackboard Mobile and Blackboard for Desktops and best practices for online course design for mobile devices. Thursday, April 1st - 12-1pm (Registration Link) See more details • • •	2 No classes: Spring r… No classes: Spring recess March 27, 2021 - April 4, 2021 See more details •	3 No classes: Spring r… No classes: Spring recess March 27, 2021 - April 4, 2021 See more details •
4 No classes: Spring r… No classes: Spring recess March 27, 2021 - April 4, 2021 See more details •	5 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	6 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	7 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	8 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	9 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	10 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •
11 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	12 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	13 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	14 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	15 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	16 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	17 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •
18 Accessibility & … Accessibility & UDL Workshop Sign-Up April 5, 2021 - April 18, 2021 Note: This workshop is offered for instructors currently teaching at CUNY School of Professional Studies only. Please use this form to sign up for our Accessibility & UDL Workshop, offered online from April 5-18, 2021. We'll send out enrollment confirmation and workshop details the week before the workshop starts. Please contact us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu with any questions. Thank you! Workshop Description: This two-week, online workshop provides an in-depth introduction to accessibility and Universal Design in Learning (UDL) for online and hybrid education. Participants will review the principles of UDL, learn about best accessibility practices in Blackboard, and get hands-on practice creating accessible documents and multimedia. In applying the skills acquired in this workshop to course design and your teaching, you will create an online experience that is welcoming to all learners, including those with disabilities. See more details •	19	20	21	22 Faculty Development … Faculty Development Day 2021: Looking Back, Moving Forward - Part 1 April 22, 2021 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Online via Zoom Thursday, April 22, 2021, 2pm-5pm Friday, April 23, 2021, 12pm-3pm The theme of Faculty Development Day this year is synthesis and renewal--moving out of crisis and into a renewed commitment to our students, our research and writing, and our school’s mission. On Thursday, April 22, CUNY SPS faculty will share something positive that has come out of this extraordinary year; such as a teaching practice or strategy, a new tech trick, or a scholarly accomplishment. On Friday, April 23, guest speakers will lead us through an exploration of the world of gamification. Can we add an element of play into our teaching practice? How can we leverage the benefits of game-based learning in our online classrooms? For program and details please see the Faculty Development Day page. REGISTER HERE See more details •	23 Faculty Development … Faculty Development Day 2021: Looking Back, Moving Forward - Part 2 April 23, 2021 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM Online via Zoom Thursday, April 22, 2021, 2pm-5pm Friday, April 23, 2021, 12pm-3pm The theme of Faculty Development Day this year is synthesis and renewal--moving out of crisis and into a renewed commitment to our students, our research and writing, and our school’s mission. On Thursday, April 22, CUNY SPS faculty will share something positive that has come out of this extraordinary year; such as a teaching practice or strategy, a new tech trick, or a scholarly accomplishment. On Friday, April 23, guest speakers will lead us through an exploration of the world of gamification. Can we add an element of play into our teaching practice? How can we leverage the benefits of game-based learning in our online classrooms? For program and details please see the Faculty Development Day page. REGISTER HERE See more details •	24
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