MYAP:
- Tools and resources will be developed for instructors to increase awareness of accessibility and universal design for learning (UDL) principles in the classroom.
*Training for employees was completed in 2019. A resource guide for Procurement was developed in 2020, and tools to support the creation of accessible information and educational materials within an online learning environment was completed in 2020.
G1. Resource Guide for Procurement
Status: mostly complete
Progress: on track
In January 2021, the Government of Ontario invested $50 million in a Virtual Learning Strategy to “drive growth and advancement in virtual learning across the province’s post-secondary institutions” (https://vls.ecampusontario.ca). Waterloo, in partnership with 10 other Ontario universities and colleges, was a successful recipient of funding to create a “Universal Design for Learning (UDL): An Online Post-Secondary Educator Micro-credential for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)” (UDL for IDEA) course. This six-module, online course aims to provide educators with the key principles of Universal Design for Learning, and its application to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and indigenous pedagogy. This course has been designed to meet the legislative requirements under the AODA in providing training to educators on “accessible program or course delivery and instruction” (O. Reg. 191/11, s. 16(1)). It is anticipated this course will be published and available for use in March 2022. Once published, Waterloo will work with relative faculty and support units to adapt the course for Waterloo-specific needs and determine the best forum for implementation within our campus.
