Introduction
When creating digital materials and constructing online classrooms, instructors have an obligation (under the Americans with Disabilities Act) to ensure they can be accessed by all students. The expectation that online classrooms and the materials contained in them be accessible extends to all courses and materials. If, for example, an instructor posts a PowerPoint presentation that is used in class to the virtual classroom, then that version should be accessible, even if the version used in class was not.
While the need to create accessible courses is grounded in students with disabilities and the fact that colleges are funded in part through taxes generated by the federal government (including through financial aid), making your materials accessible ensures all students can benefit from the improved perceptibility, operability, and understandability of the materials.In this self-paced workshop, you will be led through steps to improve the accessibility of your virtual classrooms and the materials you post their.
Course Accessibility Checklist
Accessibility is currently understood as ensuring perceptibility (users can see and hear the materials in multiple formats), operability (users can navigate the materials and open and control media files), and understandability (users know what they must to engage with the course materials).
Make sure your materials can be perceived:
- Provide alt-text to images in your Canvas classroom, presentations, and other digital media
- Provide closed captions and transcripts for videos
- Use heading styles in documents, unique titles on slides, and header rows in tables
- Use high-contrast colors for text and graphics
- Avoid decorative images
- Avoid using colors alone to indicate important information
- Avoid text as an image as it cannot be read by screen reading software
Make sure your course is operable:
- Users can navigate the course using their keyboard
- Users control media (such as play and pause, fast forward and rewind, and controlling speed)
- Avoid flashing content which can trigger seizures
- Add descriptive text to hyperlinks so that students know what to click and what they will find
Make sure your course is understandable:
- Use consistent organization and vocabulary
- Provide cues and use consistent navigation aids