Accessibility and Universal Design Resources

This comprehensive list identifies useful resources from the University of Waterloo and external sources related to accessibility and universal design.

If you have a resource to add to this list, please contact aoda@uwaterloo.ca.

Quick Links to Resources

Understanding Accessibility
Accessibility Initiatives at Waterloo
Understanding Legislation
Communication
Digital Accessibility
Documents, Emails, Powerpoints, and Materials
Design
Presentations, workshops, lectures, and other instructional events
Meetings, events, and conferences
Universal Design

Resources

Understanding Accessibility

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
External Resources	Digital Accessibility [website] - eCampusOntario Accessibility Guides and Resources [website] - Accessibility, Toronto Metropolitan University Fact Sheet: Understanding Barriers to Accessibility [PDF] - The Centre for Equity and Human Rights and Diversity, Humber College Accessibility Resources [website] - Council of Ontario Universities Educator's Accessibility Toolkit [PDF] - Council of Ontario Universities Accessible Procurement Guide [PDF] - Council of Ontario Universities

Type of Resource

Link to Resource

External Resources

Digital Accessibility [website] - eCampusOntario
Accessibility Guides and Resources [website] - Accessibility, Toronto Metropolitan University
Fact Sheet: Understanding Barriers to Accessibility [PDF] - The Centre for Equity and Human Rights and Diversity, Humber College
Accessibility Resources [website] - Council of Ontario Universities
Educator's Accessibility Toolkit [PDF] - Council of Ontario Universities
Accessible Procurement Guide [PDF] - Council of Ontario Universities

Accessibility Initiatives at Waterloo

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
University of Waterloo Resources	Postsecondary Course Accessibility Guide [website with downloadable, fillable guide] - Disability Inclusion Team List of Accessibility Initiatives at Waterloo [website] - Centre for Teaching Excellence

Understanding Legislation

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
University of Waterloo Resources	Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Toolkit - Accessibility Toolkit [website] - Library

Communication

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
University of Waterloo Resources	University of Waterloo Inclusive Communication Guide [website] - University Relations Everyday accessibility tips for the workplace [webpage] - Accessibility at Waterloo

Digital Accessibility

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
University of Waterloo Digital Accessibility Resources	Digital Accessibility [website] from University Relations Digital Accessibility Guide [website] from University of Waterloo Inclusive Communication Guide [website] - University Relations How to Compose alt tags - A Guide for Course Authors [webpage] - Centre for Extended Learning Accessibility [webpage] - Information Systems and Technology Accessibility Tools [website] - Information Systems and Technology Basic Web Accessibility [webpage] - Information Systems and Technology Captioning Capabilities of University Supported Platforms [webpage] - Information Systems and Technology Creating Accessible Transcripts or Captions for Video-based Learning Resources [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence
External Web Accessibility Checkers, Guides, and Tools	WAVE (Website Accessibility Evaluation Tool) [accessibility checker] - WebAIM Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 [guide] - W3C Web Accessibility in Mind (Web AIM) Articles [website] - WebAIM Design and Develop Overview [website] - W3C W3C HTML Markup Validation Service [accessibility checker] - W3C W3C CSS Validation Service [accessibility checker] - W3C

Type of Resource

Link to Resource

University of Waterloo Digital Accessibility Resources

Digital Accessibility [website] from University Relations
Digital Accessibility Guide [website] from University of Waterloo Inclusive Communication Guide [website] - University Relations
How to Compose alt tags - A Guide for Course Authors [webpage] - Centre for Extended Learning
Accessibility [webpage] - Information Systems and Technology
Accessibility Tools [website] - Information Systems and Technology
Basic Web Accessibility [webpage] - Information Systems and Technology
Captioning Capabilities of University Supported Platforms [webpage] - Information Systems and Technology
Creating Accessible Transcripts or Captions for Video-based Learning Resources [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence

External Web Accessibility Checkers, Guides, and Tools

WAVE (Website Accessibility Evaluation Tool) [accessibility checker] - WebAIM
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 [guide] - W3C
Web Accessibility in Mind (Web AIM) Articles [website] - WebAIM
Design and Develop Overview [website] - W3C
W3C HTML Markup Validation Service [accessibility checker] - W3C
W3C CSS Validation Service [accessibility checker] - W3C

Documents, Emails, PowerPoints, and Materials

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
University of Waterloo Documents Resources	Tips for Creating Accessible Materials [PDF] - Disability Inclusion Team Microsoft Word Accessibility Training [online module] - Library Tagging PDFs for Accessibility [online module] - Library Accessible Word Document Checklist [downloadable PDF] - Library Accessibility Checklist for MS Word [PDF] - Centre for Teaching Excellence
External Documents Resources	How to create accessible documents [website] - Toronto Metropolitan University Make your Word documents accessible to people with disabilities [website] - Microsoft

Design

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
External Resources	Access Ability - A Practical Handbook on Accessible Graphic Design [PDF] - Association of Registered Graphic Designers Clearing Our Path - Design Needs [website] - Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Presentations, workshops, lectures, and other instructional events

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
University of Waterloo Resources	Accessibility Checklist for Face to Face Presentations [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence Accessibility Checklist for MS PowerPoint [PDF] - Centre for Teaching Excellence Accessibility in Teaching [website] - Centre for Teaching Excellence How Do We Create Accessible Online Learning Experiences? [webpage] - Centre for Extended Learning

Meetings, events, and conferences

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
University of Waterloo Resources	Guidelines for Hosting Accessible Virtual Meetings [webpage] - Centre for Extended Learning Guidelines for Hosting Accessible Virtual Events [webpage] - Centre for Extended Learning Inclusive Event Planning checklist [PDF] - University Relations

Universal Design

Type of Resource	Link to Resource
University of Waterloo Resources	Universal Design for Learning [Online Module] - Library Accessibiltiy for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Toolkit - Universal Design [online website] - Library What is Universal Design? [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence Universal Design: Course Design [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence Universal Design: Instructional Strategies [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence Why is Inclusive Instruction Important? [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Academic Accommodations - For Instructors [PDF] - AccessAbility Services

Type of Resource

Link to Resource

University of Waterloo Resources

Universal Design for Learning [Online Module] - Library
Accessibiltiy for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Toolkit - Universal Design [online website] - Library
What is Universal Design? [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence
Universal Design: Course Design [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence
Universal Design: Instructional Strategies [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence
Why is Inclusive Instruction Important? [webpage] - Centre for Teaching Excellence
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Academic Accommodations - For Instructors [PDF] - AccessAbility Services