Support inclusive courses across Brightspace, Panopto, Zoom, and classroom experiences.
Instructor response goal: 2 business days for accommodation letters
Executive summary
Students must receive accessible materials and timely accommodations. Align your syllabus, LMS content, media, and assessments with UCATT and DRC guidance.
- Use Brightspace templates and the LMS checklist.
- Caption Panopto/Zoom recordings within 3 days and provide transcripts.
- Respond to DRC accommodation letters promptly, documenting adjustments.
- Offer multiple ways to engage, including accessible labs and group work.
If you only do one thing: post slides or notes before class and caption your next recorded lecture.
Brightspace essentials
Course shell setup
Start with UCATT’s accessible template, structure modules with headings, and set default font sizes.
Assessments
Use question pools, avoid timed-only exams, and configure extended time per letter.
Discussions & group work
Provide alternate submission formats and encourage descriptive subject lines.
Media workflow
Follow UCATT’s decision tree for captions, transcripts, and audio description.
- Panopto: enable machine captions, edit for accuracy, request professional captions for high-stakes content.
- Zoom: enable live captions and save transcripts for asynchronous review.
- YouTube/VoiceThread: upload captions or use third-party caption files.
Reference the Media & Captioning guide.
Provide tactile diagrams or 3D prints, describe visuals verbally, and pair students intentionally to support note taking and lab navigation.
Offer collaborative documents with heading styles, ensure comment text has sufficient contrast, and provide clear deadlines/time estimates.
Share itineraries early, confirm transportation accessibility, and plan for interpreters or captioners in mobile settings.
Support & escalation
Training & community
- Accessible Teaching Essentials (monthly, UCATT).
- Panopto caption editing labs (bi-weekly).
- Inclusive pedagogy learning community (semester-based).
Track upcoming events on the training calendar.