Universal Design in the Curriculum

Including universal/accessible design content in a course teaching future professionals in a field can contribute to the design of products, environments, and services that are inclusive of diverse users, including those with disabilities. The resources below can help faculty integrate universal/accessible design into their curriculum.

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Explore Examples of Specific Courses

  • 6.811: Principles and Practice of Assistive Technology (PPAT)
    A semester-long, project-based course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) focused on the design and engineering of customized assistive devices for people with disabilities. Additional information about PPAT can be found at MIT Open CourseWare.
  • Perspectives in Assistive Technology, at Stanford University, explores the design, development, and use of technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults.
  • Assistive Technology Design Projects,
    A capstone design course at Duke University that pairs students with health care professionals to build custom assistive, recreational, or therapeutic devices for people with disabilities in the local community.
  • The Accessibility Capstone in Computer Science and Engineering
    A capstone at the University of Washington that has students work in teams to create new applications on cell phones that allow persons with disabilities to accomplish tasks that would be difficult to impossible to do without their applications.
  • The Adaptive Toy Project 
    This course at the University of North Florida has taught a special topics course focused on engineering innovative adaptive toy technologies to help engage children with disabilities in play.
  • CSE 490 D: Introduction to Accessible Technology (also know as The Goals and Complexities of Designing All-inclusive, Cutting-edge, Technology Solutions)
    This University of Washington course examines the ways in which technology can be both assistive and a potential barrier. Students are asked to consider the role of technology designers and engineers in designing for equity in a technology-laden society.
  • Investigating Normal at Olin College is a critical disability studies seminar housed in a design-build studio. Engineers and designers solve problems and ask questions—about normalcy, ability, and cultural ideas of the body. 
  • A free course curriculum on web design and development that integrates accessibility into lessons on design and site planning, HTML coding, cascading style sheets, JavaScript, and web authoring tools.
  • Strategies for integrating accessible design principles into existing courses.
  • This tutorial will help you get a solid footing on accessibility via hands-on exercises and useful reference guides.
  • A presentation by Richard Ladner and Matt May about how to teach accessibility.
  • "MILK" modules are classroom ready educational components that teach students and developers how to create accessible mobile applications, along with demonstrating the importance of creating these apps.
  • AP Computer Science Principles Quorum Curriculum
    Accessible curriculum based on the Code.org AP Computer Science Principles curriculum.
  • An accessible version of Exploring Computer Science Unit 4 that utilizes the Quorum Programming Language.