Creating accessible learning environments and informing social justice through inclusive course design

Social justice concepts can play a pivotal, transformational role in Library and Information Science (LIS) education and practice. Universal design – or design focused on meeting the needs of everyone, regardless of variabilities -- is one framework that can enhance the experience for all. This chapter provides a pedagogical approach to inclusion and accessibility in the LIS sector, providing practical examples of approaches to social justice in course design and delivery through a focus on physical equity, intellectual diversity, and social inclusion. This pedagogical model draws upon the core principles of Universal Design for Learning, and will not only ensure that more students in our programs can be successful in the learning environment, but also that the integration and modeling of these principles for course design throughout the curriculum ultimately can have pervasive social impacts and resultant community involvement in LIS practice, research, education, policy development, service design, and program implementation.