Among students who report having a disability while attending college, about one-third inform their college.
– National Center for Education Statistics
Who We Are
Founded in the Fall of 2022, AccessCORPS is a vertically integrated project (VIP) at the Georgia Institute of Technology comprised of students and faculty. We are focused on evaluating, remediating, and researching to make classes more inclusive.
What We Do
Evaluation
To proactively create inclusive content AccessCORPS utilizes a matrix of human diversity that include bodily, sensory, social, cognitive, emotional, experiential, and environmental diversity.
This human-centered matrix provides possible areas where the course content needs to be improved. Once these areas are identified, experts and users will be brought in to inform how these diverse individuals may interact with this content, and point out areas for future research and development.
Remediation
Once areas of the course have been identified for remediation, individuals from both AccessCORPS and our partners will work in unison to remediate the content. The advantage of remediating proactively is that the best solutions can be identified and utilized, rather than focusing on getting something accessible out the door as fast as possible. If instructors have accessible materials as their base materials, little to no extra remediation will be required when an academically diverse student joins the class. Georgia Tech can also insure they have all the tools and processes they need to accommodate diverse individuals.
Research and Development
Some of the areas identified for remediation will have no optimal solution and focus will need to be given on creating tools to facilitate learning by a particular user group. Students can work on developing these tools as part of a class project or as an independent study. Students will be able to work with user groups and professors to create meaningful and lasting impact on educational access.
Why It’s Important
All students need access to the content and learning resources necessary to participate in and successfully complete their courses and obtain their education. If accessibility is not considered, students with disabilities are likely to face barriers. Inclusive, quality education is necessary for the development of strong institutions and sustainable societies. Inclusive, quality education reduces inequalities and is foundational for the support of the 17 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.