Accessibility in Spanish Universities, evaluation through their policies communications about accessibility during COVID-19

Abstract

This research analyzes the announcements issued by Spanish universities during the COVID-19 pandemic relating to students with special needs, to offer a new vision, complementary to existing audits conducted on university websites about technical accessibility compliance. The study approaches the evaluation of accessibility from the point of view of organizational support. The identified measures are mapped onto Universal Design Learning guidelines to give them context and to analyze their coverage. The research shows a landscape with an uncoordinated and uncollaborative approach, with negative consequences in the tackling of remote emergency teaching.