Online Course AccessibilityTechnical and Pedagogical Strategies

A growing problem

College students reporting a disability1999: 6%2012: 11%

Technology dominance worsens accessibility issues

Agonizing and overwhelming barriers to access for college students today

“”– Eve Hill, US DOJ,

Civil Rights Division, 2015

Legal requirements

Section 508: Federal agencies must make electronic information accessible

Applies to schools that receive federal funding Upcoming “refresh” = stricter rules for all online content

Section 504: Anti-discrimination measure similar to ADA Covers web-based communications for public educational

institutionsAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Title II prohibits discrimination by public entities Title III applies to “public accommodations” broadened to include

online programs at schools

Paradigm shift

Accommodations•Reactive

•Customized

Accessibility•Proactive, built-in

•Removes as many barriers to instruction as possible

Accessibility challenges

Technical Lack of skills or time

to build in accessibility

Nature of online instruction, esp text-based discussion boards

Pedagogical Audio presentation of

screen readers is linear and continuous

Meaningful adaption of content requires significant effort

How does a screen reader work?

Screen reader reading different table layouts (2 min) Introduction to the Screen Reader (7 min)

Technical strategies

Provide digital texts in HTML, structured Word docs, or tagged PDF formats

Use alt text for images Present content in flat navigational structures (i.e., single

scrollable folder or file) Chunk videos and name the chunks Caption all videos Create human-readable links

Pedagogical strategies

Cut extraneous material Write clearly and succinctly Provide accessible alternatives to inaccessible materials or

activities Annotate links meaningfully Avoid pronouns Uniquely identify and annotate all figures and illustrations

Microsoft Word

Benefits Defined structure and

navigation Improved readability and

comprehension Conversion to other file

formats

Access Barriers Improperly formatted

headings, tables, lists, etc. Missing alt text Detailed or "busy" page

backgrounds or watermarks

URLs as links

Word best practices

Heading, list, and paragraph styles Alt text for images True columns True lists Meaningful descriptive text for links Clear table structure and headers Accessibility Checker tool

Save Word as PDF

Export correctly: File > Save As Check setting: Acrobat tab > Create PDF > Options >

Enable Accessibility and Reflow

Microsoft PowerPoint

Benefits Pre-set, accessible slide

layouts Accommodation of visual

learning styles Information in multiple

formats Conversion to other file

formats

Access Barriers Content within a text box Images, animations, or

videos without alt text Low contrast or patterned

backgrounds Slide transitions and

animations URLs as links

Best Practices

Structure and Images Pre-set slide templates Unique heading titles Logical reading order Charts, tables, graphs via

slide layout or Insert menu Alt text for all images Extended descriptions for

charts and other graphics

Content Sans-serif fonts Appropriate punctuation at

the end of each bullet point

Template text boxes Color contrast between

text and background Captioned video

Adding placeholders

1. On the View tab, in the Master Layout group, click on Slide Master.

2. Click the layout to which the Content Placeholder is to be added.

3. In the Master Layout Group, click Insert Placeholder.4. Choose the type of Content Placeholder needed.5. Choose a location on the slide, and position the new

Placeholder.6. In Edit Master Group, Rename the layout.7. In the Slide Master tab, Click on Close Master View.

Reading order

To verify the order of slide elements: Go to the Home tab. Select the Arrange icon to see a drop-down list of commands Choose Selection Pane (PowerPoint 2013 for Windows) or

Reorder Objects (PowerPoint 2011 for Mac) Use the tools to place items in correct reading order.

Windows: The bottom-most item is in the Arrange panel read first.

Macintosh: Item #1 in the Rearrange panel is read last.

Save PowerPoint as PDF

File > Save AsOR:Select Create PDF from Acrobat ribbon

Spring Accessibility Workshops

Best Practices for Word, PowerPoint, and PDF Jan 22 Feb 10 March 11

DIY Workflows for Captioning and Transcription Jan 28 Feb 17 March 24

https://net3.umkc.edu/intapps/workshops/