The majority of resources listed below include information about academic accommodations, inclusive teaching and incorporating universal instructional design to meet the needs of all students. This also includes links to accessibility and disability. On this page you will find resources for:
York Support
There are numerous supports available across our York University campus where you can participate in workshops or collect resources to assist you in making your class/course more inclusive and accessible.
- Inclusive Curriculum Design
- Centre for Human Rights Training Sessions
- Disability Services
- Learning Skills Services
Resources Internal to York
Faculty Guidelines on Academic Accommodations highlights the process of meeting the needs of students that require accommodations, including FAQs for faculty.
Teaching Students with Disabilities includes Common Academic Accommodations, Minimizing the Need to Individually Accommodate (Universal Design), Frequently Asked Questions, Understanding Various Disabilities and Best Practices. We have updated the Faculty Resource Guide: Teaching Students with Disabilities (updated 2017).
Counseling and Disability Services is the main page for Counseling and Disability Services and includes links to Learning Disability Services, Mental Health Disability Services and Physical, Sensory and Medical Disability Services.
Library Accessibility Services offers transcription services, which provides course materials in accessible formats; captioned media, to aid in finding media that is closed captioned; adaptive equipment lab, which includes accessible study space, scanners, computers, software, printing etc. Additional services are also available.
York University Accessibility Hub provides tools and resources to understand accessibility issues and your obligations to help York become more accessible for everyone.
Tip Sheets on Accessible Teaching for York Faculty
The following are documents on educational accessibility that were created to help ensure the York University community meets AODA requirements.
Introduction to Accessible Education identifies key characteristics of accessible education, the advantages for educators and students and related external links.
Using Word Documents and/or PDFs identifies how to create organized, clear and accessible Word and PDF documents for the greatest number of students.
Developing Courses addresses how to design an accessible course or how to rethink an existing one. External links related to creating accessible courses are also included.
Writing a Course Syllabus offers general tips on writing an accessible course syllabus. It also lists York University campus supports and related resources.
Evaluating Students and Giving Feedback provides important tips on evaluation and providing feedback for students that align with the principles of accessible education. Related external links are also provided.
Creating Accessible Lectures lists tips on creating accessible lectures, including lecture structure and delivery of large, midsize and small classes, seminars and tutorials. More resources related to creating accessible lectures are also provided.
Using Powerpoint identifies what makes a PowerPoint accessible. It provides general tips on layout and identifies what is an alternative text. Related resources also included.
Dealing with Students in Crisis
Guidelines to Identifying and Responding to Students of Concern is a tool to help you determine whether or not your student is in distress and suggested next steps to follow for both urgent and non-urgent situations.
Identifying and Responding to Students in Crisis is a guide for faculty and staff to help you identify and respond to students in crisis.
Resources External to York
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005 details the development, implementation, and enforcement of accessibility standards with respect to goods, services, facilities, employment, accommodation, buildings and structures, etc.
Publications: About the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) contains pertinent information about the AODA.
Mental Health Disabilities: Accommodation Resources (07/05/2016) From the 14 recommendations outlined within the Guidelines for Academic Accommodations to the inspiring story of Navi Dhanota, a student who victoriously fought for the right not to disclose her mental health disability, the Community of Practice, Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division, hope you'll find some thought-provoking evidence for the conscientious administration of academic accommodation.
The Teachability Project from the University of Strathclyde promotes accessible curriculum through various publications such as accessible lectures, eLearning, examinations and assessments.
Effective Practices for Description of Science Content within Digital Talking Books contains numerous resources, examples, and guidelines that should be followed when describing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) information.
Inclusive Teaching, Learning and Assessment contains research-informed resources (tip sheet and checklist, videos, case studies of good practice) about inclusive teaching and learning developed by Plymouth University.
Action for Inclusion: A Resource Kit for Community Conversations contains a variety of tips and tools related to understanding diversity and inclusion. The document also contains information on dimensions of diversity and planning inclusive events.
