There are many elements of inclusive instruction that apply to teaching across academic disciplines.  While the links below are not specific to foreign language  instruction, they are relevant to a college instructor working to provide an inclusive classroom

 

Syllabus

• Sample Syllabus Statements Regarding Disabilities: Eight sample disability statements.

• How to Rethink Your Syllabus: Emory University provides suggestions on syllabus structure and organization, including class policy about accommodations.

• "UDL: Syllabus Design" Case: This link from the FAME curriculum from Ohio State provides a case study and tutorial on inclusive syllabus design. (see also http://fame.oln.org/udl/f2_20_256.html)

• Enhancing Learning of Students with LD Without Compromising Standards: Tips for Teaching: This document, originally written by Beverly Sandock at the SALT program at University of Arizona, provides general teaching tips as well as important steps in preparing a timely syllabus that is inclusive of students with disabilities.

 

Faculty Disposition and Approach to Classroom Instruction

• A Checklist for Inclusive Teaching: Outlines the basic elements of an inclusive class climate and accessible interaction.

• Suggestions for Faculty: A guideline with video tutorials about ways a professor can help students disclose their disability.

• Lecture Guide: Using Principles of Universal Instructional Design: Applies each of the principles for universal design for instruction and provides usable tips for lecturing.

• Grading and Assessment using Principles of Universal Instructional Design: Applies each of the principles for universal design for instruction and provides usable tips for grading and assessment.

• Enhancing Learning of Students with LD Without Compromising Standards: Tips for Teaching: This document, originally written by Beverly Sandock at the SALT program at University of Arizona, provides general teaching tips as well as important steps in preparing a timely syllabus that is inclusive of students with disabilities.

  

Document Development and Instructional Materials

• Module: Adobe PDF Universally Designed: Explains how and why to use Adobe PDF for electronic documents.

• Text Transformations: Printed text can be one of the biggest barriers for students with disabilities. Read suggestions for making your class materials more usable.

• UDL and Instructional Materials: A short explanation of what universally designed instructional materials are and how they benefit your students.

• Working Together: Faculty and Students with Disabilities: Suggests behaviors and classroom policies that will increase usability for students with a variety of disabilities.

  

Creating Online Materials for Web Accessibility

• Web Accessibility: Provides an outline and article about the principles of Web Accessibility.

• Online Education: Gives readers specific examples about how to make their online resources accessible for all users.

• Ten Simple Steps Toward Universal Design of Online Courses: Lays out the basic principles of online courses that are designed for universal use and assists readers in developing online content that is accessible for all users.

• TUTORIAL: Adding Alt Text to Images in Microsoft Word: Online users need to be able to understand images in multiple ways. This tutorial about alternative text descriptions will show instructors how to make their images interpretable for all users.

• MODULE: HTML, Universally Designed: Takes users through all of the different ways instructors can make their online materials universally usable from images to links to layout.

• Accessible HTML/XHTML Forms: Beginner Level: A detailed tutorial that demonstrates how to make websites accessible for all users. (for additional reading, see also intermediate level suggestions: http://www.webstandards.org/learn/tutorials/accessible-forms/intermediate/)

• Inclusive Practices in Instructional Design: Explains the concepts of instructional design and includes specific examples about how to increase the usability of your online materials.

• Instructional Design and Accessibility: Cognitive Curb Cuts: Very specific directions about accessibility with graphics for online materials.

• Web Accessibility for Cognitive and Learning Disabilities: A Review of Research-Based Evidence in the Literature: A study that draws interesting conclusions about web accessibility for many different needs, including cognitive and learning disabilities.  

    

Classroom Policy

• Suggestions for Faculty: A guideline with video tutorials about things a professor can do to help students disclose their disabilities. This link also generally gives advice about what attitude toward disabilities a professor should portray in the classroom.

• A Checklist for Inclusive Teaching: Gives suggestions to make all aspects of the classroom more accessible. The Feedback and Assessment sections will guide teachers in making universally friendly classroom policies.

• Grading and Assessment using Principles of Universal Instructional Design: Applies each of the principles for universal design for instruction and provides usable tips for grading and assessment.

 

Classroom Setup

• A Checklist for Inclusive Teaching: Gives suggestions to make all aspects of the classroom more accessible. The Physical Environments and Products section will guide teachers in creating physical spaces that are universally usable.

• A Checklist for Designing Spaces that are Welcoming, Accessible, and Usable: Outlines the basic principles for making usable spaces for learning. Some suggestions should be implemented in the building and design process and other physical characteristics of a space should be manipulated by instructors.

• Physical Space using Principles of Universal Instructional Design: Applies each of the principles for universal design for instruction and provides usable tips for physical space.

• The Community College Classroom Environment: Student Perceptions: Contains opinions from students about the different aspects of a classroom environment that make a difference to them.

 

 Textbook and Course Materials

• Practice Suggestions: Gives professors guidelines for looking critically at their textbook selection so that they can choose materials that are appropriate for all of their students.

• Assigned Readings: Using Principles of Universal Instructional Design: Applies each of the principles for universal design for instruction and provides usable tips for choosing readings.

• Textbook Adoption Process: Helps instructors identify textbooks that are universally accessible.

• Assistive Technology Trainer Talks New Accessible Textbooks: Learn why electronic formatting of new textbooks makes them inherently more accessible.

• The Promise of Accessible Textbooks: Increased Achievement for All Students: Explores the characteristics of appropriate class materials and textbooks.