Accessibility
Katherine Irwin, UAA's first Deaf student commencement speaker, delivers her address, Dec. 2018.
UAA's Commitment
The University of Alaska is committed to ensuring that all of its students, regardless of challenges, may achieve their academic goals. It is the policy of University of Alaska Anchorage not to discriminate on the basis of disability, which makes accessibility integral to our educational mission. We recommend using the Universal Design approach below to develop accessible courses. These resources will help instructors design and teach accessible online, hybrid, and technology-enhanced courses.
Students who experience disabilities and need academic accommodations should reach
out to the Disability Support Services (DSS) office. Faculty and staff who experience disabilities should work with Human Resources for support and accommodations.
Learn More About Accessibility
Legislation
Key federal legislation related to accessibility includes the following:
- The Rehabilitation Act passed in 1973 made it unlawful to discriminate against persons with disabilities in all federally assisted programs, services, and employment.
- Section 504 stipulates that "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.”
- Section 508 is the 1998 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act that mandates that electronic and information technology supported by federal agencies must be accessible to people with disabilities.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is civil rights legislation signed in 1990 to prohibit discrimination based on a student’s disability. The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 clarifies the definition of “disability” and broadens the number of individuals who are eligible for the protections of the ADA, including accommodations for temporary disabilities.
Definitions
- Disability: A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- Accessibility: All students can access, perceive, understand, navigate, interact, and contribute to web-based or technology-enhanced courses and materials.
- Accommodation: Necessary and appropriate modifications to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to course materials and functions.
- Assistive Technology: Any equipment that is used to enhance the functional capabilities of students with disabilities.
- Universal Design: Proactive design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
Faculty Success
Library 213 • 907-786-4496 • uaa_facultysuccess@alaska.edu • Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.