Accessibility Course: Training Higher Education academics in the University of Porto

Abstract

Universities face new challenges as they have to deal with an increasing number of disabled students attending their curricula. In Portugal, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are still not prepared, as teaching and non-teaching staff face serious difficulties interpreting accessibility guidelines, and are not aware of their important role for providing accommodations. This paper presents the findings of the first national initiative on a HEI to help implementing an inclusive curriculum. We developed a course on accessibility and observed that staff had little or no training on how to deal with disabled students, although they were willing to learn how to adapt their curricula to this new reality. In conclusion, new courses and workshops on accessibility will have to be developed within the U.Porto to reach a larger and more diverse audience and thus contributing to build a barrier free community where all students can feel included.