Access for All: Designing Accessible Courses from Day One

In this episode of the UM3D Podcast, host Lavonnie Perry-Claybon sits down with Jaafar Al-Azaawi, Access Coordinator for Disability Resources for Students (DRS) at the University of Memphis, to unpack the critical difference between accessibility and accommodations in higher education. Jaafar walks faculty through the student accommodation request process, highlights key tools and resources available through DRS — including Sensus Access — and addresses common faculty concerns around workload and fairness. The conversation wraps up with practical, actionable strategies for designing accessible courses from day one. Whether you are new to accessibility or looking to strengthen your current practice, this episode reminds us that accessibility is smart design — and that faculty, DRS, and UM3D are all partners in making it happen.

Resource Links:

UofM Disability Resources for Students (DRS): https://memphis.edu/drs

UM3D: https://memphis.edu/um3d

Canvas Commons | M50 Template: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/37015d72712c4c3b94bf0abd1df81d73?shared

Sensus Access: https://www.sensusaccess.com

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines: https://udlguidelines.cast.org

*Note: Since the recording of this episode, the Department of Justice has extended the compliance deadline for web accessibility from April 24, 2026 to April 24, 2027.