KU launches website to help faculty, staff create accessible materials

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has launched a new website to help faculty and staff create online materials that are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

The new website is a tool for all members of the KU community who generate content for public consumption, including faculty creating instructional materials and staff creating materials for university initiatives. The site is structured around three categories of public materials — documents, web and video — and also includes contact information for units and departments that can help in the creation of these materials.

“As faculty and staff, we should strive to make our materials accessible to the widest possible audience,” said Jamie Lloyd Simpson, director of accessibility and ADA education, “and this responsibility will become even more important as KU continues to expand its online and hybrid course offerings. This new website is a powerful tool, and we encourage KU faculty and staff to use it proactively to ensure KU materials are accessible to everyone.”

The new website is the result of recommendations made to the Provost’s Office by a team of staff from the Center for Online and Distance Learning, the Academic Achievement and Access Center, and KU Information Technology, as well as the director of accessibility and ADA education.

The site will evolve as course designs and technology continue to change. In the meantime, faculty and staff are encouraged to send feedback about the website to Kit Cole, project coordinator for KU Information Technology, at kitcole@ku.edu.

“Incorporating accessibility at the beginning of the course design process is a much more effective way to respond to the needs of students with disabilities, offering them equal and timely access to course content,” said Andrew Shoemaker, director of the Academic Achievement and Access Center. “Additionally, these design principles enable KU to reach the broadest population possible.”