Overview
Participants will build their confidence as inclusive community leaders within their campuses. This open course empowers participants to recognise and remove barriers so that everyone—regardless of ability—can participate fully in campus events and activities.
Participants will explore practical ways to make messages, spaces, and experiences more accessible. From planning an event to communicating with diverse audiences, participants will learn how to design environments where everyone feels genuinely welcomed, supported, and included.
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure their initiatives reflect the values of equity, respect, and universal access.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain key principles of disability awareness and inclusive practice, demonstrating an understanding of how different access needs affect participation in community and campus activities;
- Evaluate the accessibility of events, communications, and environments, identifying potential barriers and proposing practical improvements;
- Apply inclusive design strategies to plan events and initiatives that enable people with diverse disabilities to participate fully and confidently;
- Demonstrate effective communication and leadership skills when engaging with people with disabilities, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to promote a culture of inclusion;
- Explore relevant resources across higher education to deepen your knowledge and develop your inclusive-practice skills.
Professional Development Recognition
On earning the open badge for this course, you will have achieved further recognition across the following domains of the National Professional Development Framework for Staff Who Teach:
- Domain 3: Professional Communication and Dialogue — highlights the importance of clear, coherent, and effective communication within dynamic learning environments;
- Domain 4: Professional Knowledge and Skills — focuses on ensuring that learners remain current in their knowledge and can apply effective, evidence-based practices.
Course Developers
This open course was developed by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education in partnership with:
Riona Hughes
University of Galway & Board of Irish College Societies
Dr Lorraine Tansey
Student Volunteer Ireland
Aoife James
Student, Munster Technological University
