Accessible Pedagogy is Not Just UDL
Full Title
Author(s)
Centering Voices
Year of Publication
Media Type
Usefulness to Educators
This easy-to-digest podcast outlines things educators need to consider when thinking about what makes a learning environment or a pedagogical approach accessible in post-secondary. Gagné also argues that accessibility and inclusion work must be approached in ways that acknowledge intersectional identities and systems of oppression.
Premise
There are a number of distinct pieces of the accessibility puzzle that educators and post-secondary institutions need to put together to support learners with disabilities through accessible pedagogy.
Purpose
To address some common misconceptions about accessibility, accessible pedagogy and UDL To underscore that UDL alone doesn’t guarantee accessibility To view accessibility and disability with an intersectional lens
Research Methods
- Research-supported professional overview
- Supplementary reading list provided
Conceptual or Theoretical Frameworks
- Disability studies
- Critical disability justice
- Universal design for learning
Reference with Published Abstract (when available)
Points of Connection
In this short podcast, Gagné addresses common misconceptions about UDL and accessibility and argues that accessible pedagogy does not begin and end with Universal Design for Learning.
She acknowledges that what could be considered accessible pedagogy is something of an evolving, dynamic construct. Gagné cautions accessible pedagogy can be conflated with inclusive pedagogy. Equity, diversity and inclusion policies, and practices often focus on racial inclusion and disregard the marginalization of learners with disabilities and learners who experience intersectional marginalization.
I would argue that the dynamic quality or characteristic of accessibility that Gagné describes is, to my mind, central to our understanding of and respect for those with whom/ for whom we develop accessibility practices. This living essence of accessibility is fundamentally inconsistent with a static checklist approach to digital accessibility, or accessibility writ large, which essentially detaches or deadens the relative nature of accessibility.
Points of Contention
Findings
The podcast offers recommendations rather than findings. More episodes of Gagné’s podcasts are available 😉
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