LearningHouse.com | (502) Understanding and Complying With the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
Objectives By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Define ADA and Section 508. Explain how ADA impacts course design and delivery. Review technological ways to address various disabilities. Identify instructional strategies that address various disabilities. Review institutional services and departments useful for supplementing Web accessibility in online course design.
Overview of ADA and Section 508
ADA Overview What is a disability? What is ADA? What is Section 508?
How ADA Impacts Online Courses Section 508 mandates compliance for: LMS Course materials Universal design Hearing, visual, physical, and cognitive impairments Consideration of age, language, gender, ethnicity
Addressing Disabilities
Types of Disability Student PhysicalLearningVisualHearingSpeech Psychological and emotional
Physical: Technology Use of joystick, trackball, speech input Keyboard adaptations (e.g., IntelliKeys, Unicorn Expanded Keyboard) Keystroke acceleration techniques Word lists or word prediction
Physical: Instructional Short breaks during synchronous sessions Text-based communication Icons and hypertext links
Learning: Technology Search engines and databases with word variations Books on tape Talking Web browsers (e.g., WebAnywhere) Screen magnification (e.g., Microsoft Magnifier)
Learning: Instructional Course layout Syllabus Transcripts Universally accessible file types Extended time on exams Multiple choice, matching, and fill-in-the-blank tests
Visual: Technology Refreshable Braille Screen readers Text-only browsers (e.g., Lynx) Voice recognition programs Captions
Visual: Instructional High and low contrast Colored text and font size Outline Java applets and Flash File size Universally accessible file types
Hearing: Technology Closed captioning Open captioning Real-time captioning Skype Telephone Relay Service (TRS)
Hearing: Instructional Transcripts for multimedia File size Timing for transcription ASL interpreter Chat transcripts
Speech: Technology Voice recognition systems: OpenVXI, Festvox, CMU Sphinx Microsoft Office: Voice Command Screen reader: NonVisual Desktop Access Web-based chat software: AJAX Chat
Speech: Instructional Text-based interactions One-on-one presentations
Psychological and Emotional: Technology Reduced flicker frequency Flicker-free monitors Glare guard
Psychological and Emotional: Instructional Text alternatives Reduced animation, blinking text, offensive color patterns Extended timed tests Increased phone and contact Short breaks during long visual presentations
Considerations for Compliance
Support Services Library Test proctoring Office of Accommodations
Conclusion Further questions? Contact Learning House support (800) or
References