Faculty and Staff

Please see our Steps Toward Creating a More Accessible and Inclusive Classroom PDF and contact us with any questions or to set up a custom training session.

Part 1

Part 2

Objective

To recruit and provide year-long support and training to a cohort of 20 faculty/staff members from across the University. This training will relate specifically to disability issues, facilitating accommodations, creating accessible materials, and implementing Universal Design for Learning strategies in their classrooms.

Description of Project

Part 1: Fall 2025

A new cohort of 20 University of Rochester faculty and staff will complete the CAST Universal Design for Learning in Postsecondary Education training Fall 2025

Explore Universal Design for Learning: Postsecondary, Fall 2025

This course runs from September 8 - October 31, 2025.

Course Structure: This 8-week course consists of 4 modules, each lasting two-weeks in length. Each module will have one large-group, 90-minute, live Zoom session, one 60-minute facilitated small group meeting and self-paced learning. Live sessions will be recorded and posted on the website for those who may need to miss a session, though we encourage you to be present, if possible, to get the most of your learning experience.

Sample Module Schedule:

• Week 1: 90-minute live zoom session; remainder of the week self-paced learning
• Week 2: 60-minute small group facilitated meeting; remainder of the week self-paced learning
• Self-paced learning includes a website with online content from our trainers and a virtual workbook with writing prompts and to use for notetaking as you work through each module.

Live Zoom Presentations:

(All presentations will be held from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET)

• Module 1: Getting Started with UDL, September 9, 2025
• Module 2: Accessibility in the Context of UDL, September 23, 2025
• Module 3: Addressing self-regulation through UDL, October 7, 2025
• Module 4: Re-envisioning assessment with a UDL lens, October 21, 2025
• Module 4: Culmination, October 31, 2025

More information on this eight-week course is available on the CAST website. Do NOT register for this course directly through CAST. The tuition ($850 per person) for the CAST UDL training will be fully covered by the NYSED SWDPS grant, with no cost to the participants. Faculty and staff who are interested in joining the project can register online by completing the online signup form.

Part 2: Spring 2026

The cohort will also meet up in Spring26 for one or two University of Rochester Office of Disability Resources (ODR) training sessions on disability/accessibility issues TBD, depending on participant interest. These ODR training sessions may include information on a variety of topics including:

• ODR services and accommodations
• Faculty/student rights and responsibilities
• Communicating with students with disabilities
• Inclusion and disability as diversity
• Working with communication access providers
• Creating accessible materials
• Online/in-person course accessibility issues

Benefits for Participants

The tuition ($850 per person) for the CAST UDL training will be fully covered by this NYSED SWDPS grant, with no cost to the participants.

Additional grant funding will be used to provide participants with books/materials related to Universal Design for Learning and working with individuals who have disabilities.

Participants will earn a Postsecondary UDL Credential from CAST upon completion of their eight-week training program.

Expected Outcomes

Upon completion of the program at the end of the 25-26 academic year, participants will be expected to:

• Have the knowledge and skills to apply UDL principles to create inclusive experiences for their students
• Be able to serve as a resource to their schools and departments by being able to share information about services for students with disabilities, creating accessible materials, and UDL instructional strategies

Join the Project

Faculty and staff who are interested in joining the project can register online by completing the online signup form.

More Information

For more information about the program, contact Jen Prosceo, ODR director at jennifer.prosceo@rochester.edu.

Part 1: Self-Advocacy in College

Part 2: What is Self-Advocacy?

Part 3: Growth Mindset

Part 4: Self-Reflection

Part 5: More Self-Reflection

Part 6: Rights and Responsibilities

Part 7: Circles of Support

Part 8: Thinking About the Future

Part 9: Goal Setting