Enhancing Accessibility

Purdue University’s Commitment

Purdue University is committed to an inclusive and welcoming experience for all students, staff, faculty, and guests. We have a responsibility to identify and remove barriers to access in the way we design classes, assessments, events, programs, and other university experiences. If we incorporate access into our design initially, it may reduce or eliminate the need for individual accommodations and increase the level of inclusion and participation for everyone. 

To aid with our commitment to providing equal access for students, Purdue West Lafayette (PWL) instructors have a new partner in the educational process as they implement students’ required accommodations provided by the Disability Resource Center (DRC).

The Faculty Accessibility Consultant (FAC), Dr. Leslie Miller, in the Center for Instructional Excellence, is part of Purdue’s shared responsibility to provide educational access to all students. Miller collaborates with all of the instructional community in Indianapolis and West Lafayette to assist with thinking through ways to implement students’ required accommodations while maintaining the core elements of the course design and respecting the instructor’s time.

Dr. Miller can assist with the following: 

• Creating different forms of assessments 
• Navigating modified attendance accommodations 
• Creating alternatives to oral presentations 
• Group work strategies
• What in-class participation looks like with accommodations

What is Universal Design (UD)?

Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. This concept was born out of architecture and design, but has great potential to impact disability-related access.

PU considers Universal Design broadly.

• In the physical environment, we have guidelines for all campus planning, design and construction.
• In the technology environment, through a campus-wide IT accessibility committee that looks at accessibility of technology.
• In the curricular environment, through consultation with faculty on Universal Design for Learning.

The Seven Principles of Universal Design:

1. Equitable use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
2. Flexibility in use: The design accommodates a wide range of preferences and abilities.
3. Simple and intuitive use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
4. Perceptible information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.
5. Tolerance for error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
6. Low physical effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortable and with a minimum of fatigue.
7. Size and space for approach and use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility.