ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the need for accessible courses and recommends proactive universal design strategies used by administrators, faculty, and course developers for an inclusive course development process. This proactive approach will lead to high-quality learning experiences for students with disabilities and ultimately enhance their persistence in academic programs. Most educators recognize their legal and ethical obligations to provide accessible online course materials for their students. In the United States, the Department of Justice and the Department of Education share responsibility for protecting the rights of students with disabilities. Two major laws relate to accessible online courses: the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each online course should include a disability statement. Just as integrating universal design principles into online courses benefits students with and without disabilities, assistive technologies are reaching users beyond the original audience for which they were developed.
