Here are some statements about why accessibility matters from Pratt faculty who have previously completed Creative Accommodations:
“As our students develop their voice as creative practitioners, they need to feel safe and supported to fully realize themselves. Feeling seen, respected, listened to and taken seriously creates the necessary sense of support. This sense of ‘access’ is essential for *all* students. For some students, the accessibility letter and the sense of protection it affords is a necessary component of feeling seen.”
“Accessibility is important so that various types of learners and people can have access to education. Accessibility helps students and staff effectively learn based on their needs.”
“Learning, thinking and sensing the world is something that each of us, as individuals and also as creative artists, designers, writers and thinkers, does differently and uniquely. There is no limit to the ways that diverse ways of presenting and communicating information can influence and affect the learning and creative processes that we explore. In so many ways, the practice of accessible learning is one that benefits everyone involved – students, teachers, staff and all of those individuals and communities that are tangentially and/or intimately influenced by creative fields. It makes our work more inclusive and it leads to the possibility of opening up the conversation.”
“Accessibility is important to me because I believe it relieves some of the pressures we experience in our daily lives. And with less pressure, we have more space to work towards being our best selves and extending the same courtesy to others.”
“Accessibility in education is crucial because it ensures that all students, regardless of their abilities, have equal opportunities to learn and succeed. Making teaching more accessible benefits not only students with registered disabilities but also promotes inclusivity and improves the overall learning experience for everyone. In short, by prioritizing accessibility in my teaching, I feel I work toward a more inclusive and equitable learning environment that benefits all students.”
“Accessibility is important in order to make sure that all students have equal opportunities in the classroom and within their chosen academic programs. I think being transparent about accessibility and finding ways to offer flexibility and adaptation also humanizes all of us and acknowledges that we are whole persons who live complex and sometimes messy lives. I think flexibility in offering multiple modes of engaging with course content and demonstrating learning helps all students grow and learn, including students who may excel with traditional teaching and evaluation methods but who haven’t had much opportunity to experiment with other methods or challenge themselves with new ways of learning. It can also slightly lessen the burden of adjunct instructors teaching at multiple institutions.”
