Ensuring educational materials, including digital tools and resources, can effectively support all students, including those with disabilities, is a challenge. Education systems often have a gap in the accessibility of procured and teacher-created educational materials which can negatively impact learning experiences. CAST’s instructor-facilitated Designing for Accessibility course provides an interactive learning experience designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge to create accessible learning environments, empowered by our Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework.

This course combines expert guidance, collaborative discussions, and hands-on practice to support participants in applying accessibility and UDL principles in their creation and implementation of digital content. Through structured modules, facilitated discussions, and real-world application, participants will deepen their understanding of accessibility, gain practical skills, and receive feedback to enhance their instructional materials. This course is ideal for educators, instructional designers, and anyone looking to support accessible learning opportunities. Engage in facilitated discussions and receive expert feedback to refine and enhance your accessibility practices.

What you will learn

The foundational concepts of accessibility and UDL
Skills to assess digital learning materials for accessibility compliance
How to utilize tools and strategies for creating and delivering accessible digital materials
Advocacy strategies to implement design practices that support the needs of diverse learners

Registration

Fee: $599 per person

If you are enrolling a team of five or more from the same organization, please contact our Accessibility team for information on group pricing.

Who should enroll?

CAST’s Introduction to Accessibility course is ideal for PreK-12 and postsecondary educators (both general and special education), curriculum coordinators, administrators, instructional technology specialists, paraprofessionals, faculty and teams of educators at all levels who are interested in:

Learning how to remove barriers so all students can fully engage in learning activities and demonstrate their knowledge in multiple ways.
Strengthening teaching practices with essential accessibility skills that are increasingly in demand in digital and hybrid learning environments.
Implementing practical strategies and best practices to create content that is clear, navigable, and usable for all students.
Evaluating, designing, and implementing accessible educational materials.
Providing students with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed, fostering independence and learner agency.

Course Structure & Dates

Session Duration: July 7 to August 15, 2025
This is a group-paced, facilitated online course with three digital modules, hosted on the Canvas learning platform. Participants are assigned one module every two weeks.

Course modules

Accessibility (A11y)
Assistive Technology (AT)
Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)

The course will include three live Zoom session with the facilitator:

Kick-Off session: Monday, July 7, 2025, at 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET
Office Hour: Monday, July 28, 2025, at 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET
Closing session: Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET

Each module of the course varies and will include a mix of readings, multimedia, activities, discussion board posts, and deliverable assignments. The course facilitator is available for questions and feedback, and grades assignments. The course is the equivalent of 24 contact hours.

Participants who complete the course with a C- (71%) or better will receive an email that contains a printable PDF of an official CAST certificate.

Purchase Orders

If you are paying for your registration via invoice, Purchase Orders must be submitted at the time of registration to submit your order successfully. All Purchase Orders should be uploaded to the Purchase Order Submission Form at the time of registration.

Withdrawal & Refund Policy

Please see CAST’s Course Withdrawal Policy.

Withdrawals must be submitted via email to Sam Bouchat, Administrative Coordinator at sbouchat@cast.org.

Questions?

For additional information about our accessibility courses, classes, or customized learning opportunities, please contact our Accessibility team, or explore the different ways CAST's Accessibility Services can help support your professional development and compliance goals.

Introduction to Designing for Accessibility (Instructor-Led)