General Accessibility Resources
FGCU is committed to ensuring a positive, and successful, experience for all who learn, work, or visit campus. Whether you are brand new to the topic of accessibility and received your first accommodation plan for a student, or have some experiences with creating accessible resources for your students but just need a refresher, this section is intended to get you where you need to go.
Web Accessibility
What is Web Accessibility? Web Accessibility allows users to access online content regardless of the type of physical impairment, such as visual or motor impairments. Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2008 (as amended), states that “no qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance”.
Why is Web Accessibility Important? Florida Gulf Coast University is a Title II institution, which means that it receives federal financial assistance and as such, must provide access to all programs and services to students, employees and guests with disabilities. While we strive to maintain compliance with the law, we are also committed to ensuring a positive, and successful, experience for all who learn, work, or visit campus.
Course Accessibility
Ally
What is Ally? Ally is a tool that integrates with Canvas to provide insight into the accessibility of your course content and guidance on how to improve accessibility to ensure compliance and equitable access for students.
Why use Ally? Students can use tools in Ally to convert contact to alternative formats, such as speech to text. Use the following link to get more information about Ally and how you can use it in your courses.
Kaltura
What is Kaltura? Kaltura is a unified platform that supports virtual learning and communication needs in the classroom. At FGCU, Kaltura is primarily used for closed captioning and recording of lectures for virtual classes.
Why use Kaltura? As a resource to faculty, Adaptive Services has developed a closed captioning program that partners student volunteers with faculty to review closed captioning to ensure that it is an accurate description of the audio material.
Accessibility Checklist for Software: This checklist has been designed to assist with evaluating software to ensure that it meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and WCAG 2 AA technical accessibility standards. When purchasing software, it is important to consider individuals with disabilities who may be taking your class, or working in your department, and ensuring that the software is available for use, regardless of need.
Questions? Contact Adaptive Services
Student Accommodation Plans
Students who self-identify as needing accommodations due to a disability are required to register with Adaptive Services. During the registration, an accommodation plan is created and this plan is shared with the faculty to ensure the receipt of the entitled accommodations.
While most accommodations are provided by Adaptive Services, some accommodations require instructor assistance, such as note taking, alternate formats of texts, and online accessibility, such as closed captioning and Canvas.
For more information on these accommodations, you can visit the Faculty Canvas page or contact Adaptive Services directly.
Accessibility Policies
The following FGCU policies explain the process for requesting accommodations and services, as well as the accessible technology procedures.
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Disability Access and Reasonable Accommodation Policy
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Technology Resource Accessibility Policy
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Contact Us
Adaptive Services is located in the Student and Community Counseling Center, located behind Seidler Hall and next to the Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship. We are on the first floor, and first door on your right.
Questions? | Call (239) 590-7956
