What is ADA Accessibility? How Can I Help Make it Happen? The University of Texas at El Paso

Rich Dugan, M.A., Coordinator Technology Support Center – Assistive Technology Lab Library 300 – tsc.utep.edu/atl tsc.utep.edu/atl Neelam Agarwal, Ed.D., Assistant Director Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS) Union East, Rm sa.utep.edu/cass sa.utep.edu/cass Rich Dugan, M.A., Coordinator Technology Support Center – Assistive Technology Lab Library 300 – tsc.utep.edu/atl tsc.utep.edu/atl Neelam Agarwal, Ed.D., Assistant Director Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS) Union East, Rm sa.utep.edu/cass sa.utep.edu/cass Presented by:

Under ADA, UTEP is obligated to provide equal access to all technology-based services, activities and information. This includes: informational websites, course management systems, student portals providing access to systems, registration services, grades, etc. UTEP strives to be an inclusive environment. As such, it is UTEP's policy to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under ADA, UTEP is obligated to provide equal access to all technology-based services, activities and information. This includes: informational websites, course management systems, student portals providing access to systems, registration services, grades, etc. UTEP strives to be an inclusive environment. As such, it is UTEP's policy to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 1990

It’s the right thing to do. Legally obligated to do so. Same federal laws apply as with on-campus courses (Section 504 & the ADA). Increased attention by federal government (DOJ/OCR) and advocacy groups to ensure that online education is accessible to all. It’s the right thing to do. Legally obligated to do so. Same federal laws apply as with on-campus courses (Section 504 & the ADA). Increased attention by federal government (DOJ/OCR) and advocacy groups to ensure that online education is accessible to all. Why Accommodate Students with Disabilities in Online Courses?

Accessibility is the ability of users with impairments to read content PDF Web Mobile Other Accessibility is the ability of users with impairments to read content PDF Web Mobile Other What is Accessibility?

Blind Low Vision Mobility Deaf/Hard of Hearing Learning/Cognitive Disabilities TBI/PTSD Blind Low Vision Mobility Deaf/Hard of Hearing Learning/Cognitive Disabilities TBI/PTSD Impairments:

Screen Readers Screen Magnifiers Text-to-Speech Software Speech Recognition Software Alternative Input Devices Braille Embossers/Braille Displays Screen Readers Screen Magnifiers Text-to-Speech Software Speech Recognition Software Alternative Input Devices Braille Embossers/Braille Displays Assistive Technology

Delivery of web-based distance learning includes: Learning Management Systems (e.g. Blackboard) o course portals / audio conferencing /webinars video lectures / video conferencing face time / iChat / Skype Delivery of web-based distance learning includes: Learning Management Systems (e.g. Blackboard) o course portals / audio conferencing /webinars video lectures / video conferencing face time / iChat / Skype Program Design and Student Access

Registration via portal / messages / announcements Syllabus Class modules / Lecture notes Assignments / tracking Downloaded information in various formats such as; MS Word documents, video, PDF files, etc. Registration via portal / messages / announcements Syllabus Class modules / Lecture notes Assignments / tracking Downloaded information in various formats such as; MS Word documents, video, PDF files, etc. Uploaded assignments, including video Tests / quizzes Checking grades Peer review / group discussions Group participation / collaboration Organizing on-line files Tutorials What Does Online Learning Look Like?

Ensure that any product you consider using is accessible at time of purchase. For example all videos should be captioned. Digital textbooks and some supplemental online tools may not be accessible for students who are blind/visually impaired or deaf/hard of hearing. Students with disabilities need to be able to access online courses with as much independence as possible. Ensure that any product you consider using is accessible at time of purchase. For example all videos should be captioned. Digital textbooks and some supplemental online tools may not be accessible for students who are blind/visually impaired or deaf/hard of hearing. Students with disabilities need to be able to access online courses with as much independence as possible. Important Points

UTEP strives to be an inclusive environment. As such, it is UTEP policy to comply with the ADA. Documents posted online including, but not limited to, PDF files, Microsoft Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations, must be screen-reader friendly. Screen-reader software is a form of assistive technology that reads a screen’s display aloud to the user (AKA text-to-speech). Use only captioned video content. UTEP strives to be an inclusive environment. As such, it is UTEP policy to comply with the ADA. Documents posted online including, but not limited to, PDF files, Microsoft Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations, must be screen-reader friendly. Screen-reader software is a form of assistive technology that reads a screen’s display aloud to the user (AKA text-to-speech). Use only captioned video content. Why Must Course Content be Accessible?

Students with learning disabilities (LD) or other “invisible” disabilities (e.g., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or psychological disabilities) may be less likely to self-disclose their disability to the instructor due to the impersonal nature of the online environment. As a result, these students may be less likely to receive needed accommodations in an online course (Barnard-Brak & Sulak, 2010; Bricout, 2001). Due to the speed of reply required, synchronous discussions do not fairly assess the knowledge or skills of students with a disability (Bricout, 2001; Burgstahler, 2002; Dukes et al., 2009). Graphics or visual media may not be accessible to students who are visually impaired, whereas text-heavy environments are particularly challenging for students with reading disabilities and other types of LD or AD/HD (Burgstahler, 2002; Dukes et al., 2009). Reference: UDI Online Project. (2010). Students with Disabilities and Online Learning (Technical Brief # 04). Storrs: University of Connecticut, Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability. [1] Students with learning disabilities (LD) or other “invisible” disabilities (e.g., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or psychological disabilities) may be less likely to self-disclose their disability to the instructor due to the impersonal nature of the online environment. As a result, these students may be less likely to receive needed accommodations in an online course (Barnard-Brak & Sulak, 2010; Bricout, 2001). Due to the speed of reply required, synchronous discussions do not fairly assess the knowledge or skills of students with a disability (Bricout, 2001; Burgstahler, 2002; Dukes et al., 2009). Graphics or visual media may not be accessible to students who are visually impaired, whereas text-heavy environments are particularly challenging for students with reading disabilities and other types of LD or AD/HD (Burgstahler, 2002; Dukes et al., 2009). Reference: UDI Online Project. (2010). Students with Disabilities and Online Learning (Technical Brief # 04). Storrs: University of Connecticut, Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability. [1] Problems Encountered by Students with Disabilities in Online Courses

“Dear Colleague Letter” issued to college presidents by Departments of Education & Justice Settlements reached at several colleges after complaints/investigations –Penn State - –University of California at Berkeley –South Carolina Technical College System carolina-technical-college-system-accessibi “Dear Colleague Letter” issued to college presidents by Departments of Education & Justice Settlements reached at several colleges after complaints/investigations –Penn State - –University of California at Berkeley –South Carolina Technical College System carolina-technical-college-system-accessibi Implications of NOT Being Accessible

ADA Settlement Agreement Between the USA and Louisiana Tech University National Federation of the Blind and Blind Student File Suit Against Maricopa Community College District student-file-suit-against-maricopa-community-college-districthttps://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-and-blind- student-file-suit-against-maricopa-community-college-district ADA Settlement Agreement Between the USA and Edx Inc. [Re:MOOCs] Settlement Between Penn State University and National Federation of the Blind Other College agreements and settlements Pending ADA Settlement Between the USA and Miami University of Ohio. [Inaccessible technologies]. ADA Settlement Agreement Between the USA and Louisiana Tech University National Federation of the Blind and Blind Student File Suit Against Maricopa Community College District student-file-suit-against-maricopa-community-college-districthttps://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-and-blind- student-file-suit-against-maricopa-community-college-district ADA Settlement Agreement Between the USA and Edx Inc. [Re:MOOCs] Settlement Between Penn State University and National Federation of the Blind Other College agreements and settlements Pending ADA Settlement Between the USA and Miami University of Ohio. [Inaccessible technologies]. Relevant Legal Settlements

Phoenix, Arizona (May 22, 2012): The National Federation of the Blind…and Sebastian Ibanez, a blind student who recently graduated from Mesa Community College, have filed suit … against the college and the Maricopa Community College District, alleging discrimination against Mr. Ibanez and other blind students. The complaint alleges that Mr. Ibanez, as a blind student, could not register for his classes, complete online courses and assignments, access student services, or actively participate in his classes because of inaccessible technology purchased or deployed by the Maricopa Community College District and Mesa Community College. Among other things, college and third-party Web sites and software applications used for coursework and student services do not work with text-to-speech screen reading software, and “clickers” that are used to respond to questions in class cannot be operated independently by blind students. …Mr. Ibanez was deliberately excluded from a class solely on the basis of his blindness. He attended the class but was told by the instructor that she did not feel comfortable teaching a blind student, and he was subsequently electronically “dropped” from the class without his knowledge or consent. Mesa Community College Case Example

Making PDFs Accessible via Adobe Acrobat

Making PDFs Accessible via Copier

Questions? Cyndi Castro Manager - Faculty Instructional Technology Technology Support Center Rich Dugan Coordinator – Assistive Technology Lab Technology Support Center Dr. Bill Dethlefs Director - Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS) Cyndi Castro Manager - Faculty Instructional Technology Technology Support Center Rich Dugan Coordinator – Assistive Technology Lab Technology Support Center Dr. Bill Dethlefs Director - Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS)