Purpose To provide faculty and staff with practical strategies for improving the student experience of learners with visual impairments by identifying and removing barriers to education. Participants will explore how accessibility is a shared institutional responsibility and learn how inclusive practices contribute to student engagement, belonging, retention, and academic success.
Rationale Every student deserves equitable access to learning opportunities. As the college welcomes an increasingly diverse student population, faculty and staff are more frequently supporting students with visual impairments. While accommodations play an important role, the overall student experience is shaped by the accessibility of our courses, services, learning environments, and institutional processes. This workshop will encourage participants to view accessibility through the lens of the student journey—from admission through graduation—and provide practical strategies that help create an environment where students can participate, learn, and demonstrate their knowledge with dignity and independence.
Learning Outcomes By the end of the session, participants will be able to: • Recognize common barriers experienced by students with visual impairments throughout the student journey. • Understand how accessible practices contribute to student engagement, belonging, and retention. • Identify the shared responsibilities of faculty, staff, and institutional services in supporting learner success. • Apply practical strategies to improve accessibility in teaching, assessments, communication, and student services. • Reflect on opportunities within their own roles to proactively remove barriers to education
