7 core practices that benefit all students

Three statistics highlight why creating inclusive course materials can be a challenge—and why it's best to focus on proactive design approaches that benefit all students:

• Only 11% of students formally disclose learning disabilities. (Source: NCCSD Research Brief)
• However, 20% of undergrads informally report disabilities. (Source: NCES study)
• And 43% of both groups have hidden, non-obvious disabilities. (Source: US Department of Education)

The good news: Making documents and course materials that are accessible to all your students might sound momentous, but all it takes is 7 simple steps. In addition to removing barriers, these steps are frequently time-saving. For example, using built-in lists involves less typing than manually created lists, and it's better for assistive technology like screen readers.