Peer Review

The Inclusive Design Guide has been developed by the Inclusive Design Research Centre (OCAD University), "an international community of open source developers, designers, researchers, educators and co-designers who work together to proactively ensure that emerging technology and practices are designed inclusively."

The purpose of the Guide is to identify and describe approaches for bringing inclusion into "digital design as well as to the design of services, the built environment and physical products. It can be applied to processes like workshops, meetings, conferences, and even our daily interactions with one another."

In all, the Guide shines a light on respect for and understanding of diversity, and it outlines the positive outcomes that can be achieved through the application of inclusive design.

Reference Material

• For application with students: This design model may be readily applied within a number of pedagogical scenarios ranging from individual application and review to group preparation ahead of a team-project that incorporates inclusive design strategies.
• For application in professional development for faculty: The Guide presents an excellent approach for illustrating the importance of building inclusive design into courses from the beginning rather than trying to fix courses as needed or after-the-fact. Developing an open understanding of disability as a mismatch between needs and the environment/context is an eye-opening launching point for online and hybrid course design. 

A web browser -- and audio/media player for the introductory tutorial -- are needed to successfully view and use the Guide. 

• The purpose of the Inclusive Design Guide is to provide users with an overview of designing digital materials in an inclusive manner. This Guide approaches inclusion from a broad perspective and touches on user design, user characteristics and diversity, as well as technical details of design.
• The video tutorial provides the following specific objective.
  • "The Guide is intended to provide a supportive scaffolding for your unique inclusive design process, rather than a strict series of steps that must be taken."

High School, College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division

Academic disciplines focused on inclusive design, such as web development, instructional technology and instructional design, education and pedagogical methods/curriculum and instruction, and psychology and development may find this material most useful. 

Basic principles of content design may be useful ahead of review and application of this site, as some details/components are post-introductory level.