General Accessibility Course
At Lexington Theological Seminary, accessibility is a core expression of who we are as a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community of learners and leaders. To support this commitment, LTS provides structured training for faculty and academic staff through the General Accessibility Course, an initiative of the Office of the Dean designed to equip instructors with the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to design accessible courses for all learners.
The General Accessibility Course goes beyond regulatory compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It is rooted in LTS’s theological commitments to hospitality, justice, and belonging, affirming that every student should be able to access course materials with dignity and without unnecessary barriers. By integrating accessibility into course design from the outset, faculty are supported in creating learning environments that reflect the Seminary’s mission and values.
Each instructor is provided with a private Canvas development shell, preloaded with accessibility training materials, templates, and resources. This sandbox-style environment allows faculty to experiment with course layouts, media, and accessibility tools; test the student experience; and build or refine course materials prior to live instruction. These development shells support hands-on learning and confidence-building as faculty prepare accessible content for their courses.
Within the course, faculty have access to Canvas-ready templates for accessible lectures, readings, discussion boards, syllabi, and assignments. These templates model inclusive design practices such as clear structure, screen-reader compatibility, captioned media, and meaningful alternative text. Templates can be copied directly into active courses, allowing instructors to implement accessibility best practices immediately and consistently.
The course also includes step-by-step guides and video demonstrations drawn from LTS internal support staff, Instructure (Canvas) instructor resources, and curated external tutorials. Together, these materials guide faculty through essential accessibility practices, from checking documents for accessibility to using captioning and media tools effectively. The training emphasizes not only technical skill development but also awareness and empathy, helping faculty understand how accessible design supports the holistic formation of every learner.
As a seminary community, LTS understands accessibility as a reflection of its theological commitment to equity, welcome, and belonging. Each accessible page, captioned video, and thoughtfully structured learning activity represents an intentional expression of the Seminary’s mission to prepare faithful leaders for the church of Jesus Christ in ways that honor the diversity of God’s people. Through ongoing faculty and staff training, LTS continues to cultivate a digital learning environment marked by inclusion, excellence, and care.