By: Jasmine Yap, Director of Inclusive Teaching Practices
The sixth Neurodiversity Institute (NDI), held on August 13-14, 2024, brought together 24 faculty members from 14 departments and units across DU for insightful discussions on neurodiversity, accessibility, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
The NDI addressed challenges faced by neurodivergent learners, equipping faculty with tools to create inclusive learning environments through utilization of UDL principles and educational technology. Visit our Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) report to see how the Neurodiversity Institute impacted previous participants.
Here are a few takeaways from this past NDI:
- Many students do not inform the university or their professors of their disabilities or neurodivergence, making it crucial to proactively design instruction using inclusive design frameworks such as UDL to accommodate diverse learning needs. Requesting students to complete an accessibility survey at the start of the term can help identify these needs.
- Designing courses for digital accessibility ensures that learning materials are accessible to all students, regardless of abilities or preferences. The Student Disabilities Services web page has many resources listed to help you make your courses more digitally accessible.
- Neurodiversity is often invisible. Dr. Lauren McGrath, Professor of Psychology and Director of the L.E.a.R.N. Lab, highlighted myths about neurodevelopmental disorders such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism, which can lead to ableist attitudes. UDL principles help create learning experiences that include the widest range of learners, minimizing exclusion.
This fall quarter, we are again offering the UDL Your Course Series workshops, which aim to equip the DU community with the knowledge and skills needed to universally design instruction with accessibility in mind. We’re starting the series on Thursday, September 12, at noon with both virtual and in person sessions hosted at the OTL. Our first session will focus on using accessibility surveys and classroom norms to create an inclusive learning environment. For our full calendar of events, visit the OTL page on Crimson Connect.