Introduction to Accessible Teaching
Max Krasnow Discusses Accessible Teaching
Hear from a Harvard instructor as he shares practical strategies for designing courses with proactive disability access and inclusive learning at the center.
What is Accessible Teaching?
“Accessible Teaching” is the practice of providing equal access via designing courses, materials, and learning experiences so that all individuals, including those with disabilities, can fully participate in the student experience.
It goes beyond implementing individual accommodations. Instead, it involves faculty and instructional staff proactively remove barriers through inclusive course design, flexible teaching methods, and accessible materials and learning environments.
At its core, accessible teaching recognizes that:
- Students learn in different ways
- Barriers can be physical, digital, cognitive, or social
- Small design decisions can significantly improve access for everyone
Why Accessible Teaching Matters
More than ever before, students are presenting with a wide range of visible and non-apparent disabilities in Harvard classrooms. We have the opportunity to make a difference by teaching accessibly.
Accessible teaching:
- Improves learning for all students; not just those with documented disabilities
- Reduces the need for reactive accommodations
- Creates a more inclusive and equitable classroom environment
- Supports student success, retention, and engagement
- Provides access for students with different learning styles
- Helps students navigate temporary challenges (injury, illness, stress, etc.)
28.7%
Percentage of Americans living with a disability (CDC)
21%
Students with disabilities in undergraduate education
21% of undergraduate students in the United States identify as having a disability. National Center for Education Statistics
The Role of Harvard Faculty & Instructional Staff
Faculty and instructional staff play a critical role in ensuring accessibility.
While disability support offices coordinate formal accommodations, instructors are responsible for:
Designing courses that minimize barriers from the start
- Providing accessible materials (documents, slides, videos)
- Implementing approved accommodations
- Creating an inclusive and respectful classroom environment
Accessible teaching does not mean lowering academic standards. It means ensuring that all students have an equitable opportunity to meet them.