ADA in the Virtual World – On-Demand Training

Reasonable Accommodations for Online Learning

Institutions still struggle to be truly comprehensively accessible. Sometimes faculty and staff may have challenges in their understanding of their obligations and ability to provide reasonable accommodations to help students – especially when the learning is happening online. Understanding and complying with federal laws and regulations is no longer just the responsibility of legal counsel.  Every area of campus plays a role in ensuring your institution is compliant with federal and state laws and Academic Affairs plays a large part in that. Help your faculty and staff members understand their legal responsibilities, recognize hidden disabilities and collaborate with key resources on campus so they can provide engaging online content that contributes to students’ academic success. 

Our expert presenter will help your team keep this student population engaged and ensure that you are doing everything you need to keep your institution compliant by creating an equal opportunity for success in the “current normal” of learning. We explore the intersections between the ADA, accessibility and academics. You’ll go beyond the legal baseline to also explore the principles of universal design and proactive planning to ensure that students needing accommodations not only graduate, but feel a sense of belonging.

Ensure that your students with disabilities will be successful within online course delivery and explore the specific challenges and opportunities faculty members are facing when teaching online classes that include students with disabilities.

Topics Covered

You will take away critical, actionable tools that will help you:

• Comply with each of the federal laws dealing with accessibility in online learning environments — avoid a legal quagmire caused by confusion and lack of confidence about how to proceed.
• Create policies and procedures to protect your institution's mission and ensure a healthy, supportive learning community — have proactive systems in place to support students who need accommodations to engage in the educational environment, rather than reactive resources and structures.
• Provide faculty, staff and students with systematic “gatekeeper” training to help everyone recognize and respond to students in need of accommodations and resources – in recognizing accommodation needs, develop relationships with university and community partners to support those needs through assistive technology, online learning support, and universal design.
• Incorporate ADA standards into curriculum and syllabi — foster an affirming and supportive environment for all students so that you can support their academic, social and emotional goals.
• Be thoughtful with universal design and engage in upfront inquiry/support as an extension of your DEI work – flip the script to ensure students not only graduate, but feel like they belong.

Presenter

Amber L. Grove is the Director of Title IX and Clery Compliance at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and has served in that role since January 2016. Additionally, she served as the Interim ADA/504 Coordinator for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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