Accessibility in higher education

Advice on tackling accessibility challenges in higher education to ensure all students and staff can fully participate in their studies and work. These resources explore topics such as digital accessibility, remote and in-person working, course design, technology use and assessment practices through an accessibility lens, alongside insight on widening access to higher education for more diverse populations.

By Miranda Prynne, 15 September, 2023

Ten steps to equity: making fieldwork accessible

A man with a prosthetic leg sitting in a forest with his laptop

Fieldwork can be isolating for disabled students and academics when it is not designed with inclusivity in mind. Becky Alexis-Martin shares 10 strategies to ensure disabled students and academics are included by field-based disciplines

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 31 July, 2023

Digital accessibility is real and tangible

A workshop using real-life examples and first-hand experience of how assistive technology works can result in a deeper understanding of accessibility needs

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 12 July, 2023

Grow your own accessibility allies

The steps to making learning content accessible include identifying areas that need attention, overcoming barriers and recruiting allies to get the job done, writes Luke Searle

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton, 7 July, 2023

Making an inclusive ‘unconference’

Many people in minority communities within our universities do not have enough opportunities to be platformed or validated, or to share their lived expertise within our institutions. An ‘unconference’ could cultivate these voices for positive impact

By Eliza.Compton, 4 July, 2023

A colour matrix to make visual content more accessible

“Feedback” appears in white text with a yellow background, with a contrast ratio of 1.7:1. The image has a reflection of an open window on it, making the text much harder to read. In some places the contrast of the text is as low as 1.0001:1

Accessible content is better content. One way to boost accessibility in visual materials is paying attention to colour contrast during the design process. Here’s a tool to make that simpler

By dene.mullen, 14 June, 2023

Co-branding the student journey from further to higher education

College to university student journey co-branding

Facilitating an early link with higher education through campus visits and support with applications can improve progression to and success at university

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 5 May, 2023

A simple way to improve navigation in online learning

Woman's hands holding a fan colour palette

Five simple steps to use colour to design an engaging menu and navigation system that enhances digital learning environments and platforms

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen, 8 March, 2023

Those of us with dyspraxia are frequently affected by academic ableism

The actions, inertia and discretion of individual academics can be a key driver of ableism – here’s what you and your institution can do to help, says John Macklin

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 8 March, 2023

Listening, learning and responding to disabled students

A group of young researchers talking, one of them is in a wheelchair.

Lessons from a group of disabled postgraduate researchers on steps that every university and tutor can take to better support disabled students

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 7 March, 2023

Ten steps to recruitment equity for disabled academics

A young man in a wheelchair heading towards a university building

Disabled academics are under-represented across university departments. Becky Alexis-Martin and Jennifer Leigh share 10 strategies to enhance disability inclusion throughout the academic recruitment process

Reading time

4minutes

Accessibility in higher education