Accessibility
Recognising that some of our students have additional learning needs is crucial to fostering an inclusive learning environment. The information on deaf awareness below is intended to help lecturers create a more inclusive atmosphere for all students, promoting equal opportunities for participation and success.
Immersive deaf awareness experience
The 360-degree image below contains interactive elements which allows you to experience a teaching session from the perspective of a student with significant hearing loss. You will need your volume on to fully experience this learning resource.
Click and hold the mouse button, then drag left, right, up, or down to explore the surroundings. Click the flashing hotspots to open additional information including images and videos. The hotspots stop flashing once you've visited them. The lecturers in these videos were role playing and the resource in no way represents their teaching competencies.
Please read our Audibility guidelines for teaching (PDF)
Light Sensitivity
Please consider students with light sensitivity. If the teaching room has the option, turn the lighting down to a lower setting and avoid changes in light levels. Position where you stand to minimize glare. Students may wish to wear a cap or sunglasses if needed. Again, providing lecture materials in advance can help students prepare and reduce the strain of focusing on bright screens.
Powerpoints
Watch the video below on how to make your powerpoint presentations more accessible.
Download our DClin PowerPoint template (powerpoint file) We have created a standard powerpoint template to ensure accessibility for our trainees. To convert an existing powerpoint into this format: open your existing powerpoint presentation that needs changing. Go to Design tab > Browse for Themes. Browse to the location where you have saved this template. Once imported, make any formatting amendments as required. Please remember to amend other accessibility issues e.g. Alt text to images, create tables and not screenshots of tables etc. See the guidance above for more information.
Check your presentation against the Powerpoint accessibility checklist (opens in new window).
Documents
We have a legal duty to ensure all of our teaching resources are accessible to all. Please check the links for guidance on how to create accessible word documents (opens in new window). Please try to avoid using PDF files.
A range of short video guides is available to show you how to improve accessibility of Word documents and Powerpoint presentations (opens in new window).
The table below highlights guidance on designing accessible content for diverse learners.