Accessibility Updates for TILT and CSU Online: The Policy Allison Kidd and Anna Walker Assistive Technology Resource Center December 2016

Kudos: Good Work! Thanks for reaching out! What are you already doing that you are proud of?

The “Policy”: Accessibility of Electronic Information & Technologies (EIT) Land grant university - serve a broader population Mission includes all members have access to information This includes any information conveyed or exchanged electronically The Policy: Accessibility of Electronic Information & Technologies http://policylibrary.colostate.edu/policy.aspx?id=739 EIT is: We probably have more diversity because of this mission EIT extends to web sites, course and instructional materials (Word documents, PDF documents, Power Point presentations, video, podcasts, etc.), courseware, software, other classroom technologies, content management systems, search engines and databases, registration and grades, financial and human resource management systems, telecommunications, and emerging technologies.

Policy Purpose: Support an EIT Environment that is Accessible to All EIT designed, developed or procured to be accessible to those with disabilities This generally enhances usability for all The University is committed to supporting an electronic and information technology (EIT) environment that is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. To this end, the University seeks to deploy EIT that has been designed, developed, or procured to be accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies. An accessible EIT environment generally enhances usability for everyone. By supporting EIT accessibility, the University helps ensure that a broad population is able to access, benefit from, and contribute to its programs and services. Because our student and employee demographics are increasing becoming more diverse, we need to consider whether information is accessible and usable for all. Typically, accessibility enhances usability. Eg. When you design a web site to have good structure and eliminate excessive content or information, it can be more used more easily by those with disabilities, can be easier to view on mobile devices and can enhance search engine optimization – your content being more easily searched and found.

Universal Design – Physical and Digital Worlds UDL is the same concept for electronic accessibility Designing digital content to work for students with disabilities benefits all students Include accessibility as part of your work flow instead of retrofitting

Flexible Documents - Electronic Accessibility Electronic content (e.g. Word, PPT, PDF, and Web) is accessed using a wide variety of devices and software Content must be designed to interact well with these technologies. Documents that work are Accessible Universal Design – Create with accessibility up front instead of fixing it later Shannon

Definitions Assistive Technology = Software or hardware that users with disabilities use to access electronic content. Accessible = making EIT equally effective and independently usable by individuals Accessible ≠ access is identical Able to acquire the same information Engage in same interactions Enjoy the same services Equivalent ease of use Timeliness and Independence Timeliness and independently apply to ADAAA ADA applies to the policy because of equally effective communication piece Independence… also AT Accessible refers to making EIT equally accessible to and independently usable by individuals with disabilities, so that they are able to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as individuals without disabilities, with substantially equivalent ease of use, using reasonable accommodations when necessary. It does not mean that the means of access must be identical, but that an equally effective means of access is afforded. If you can provide access to all types of users electronically then you MUST provide an equivalent format. An example of this in the employment realm: A worker with a visual impairment could not access content in a database that was needed for a primary or essential function of the job. The employer ended up assigning a grad student to the worker to provide a reader for that database content.

Areas You Need to Consider Web Pages (Public vs. Controlled) Emerging Technologies Course Materials Accessibility By Design (http://accessibility.colostate.edu) Person Creating the content is responsible!!! Assign responsibility to appropriate departments and personnel Provide necessary training (maybe this is like a pyramide effect… responsibility keeps going??) Web Pages: Public vs Private Emerging Technologies: Make sure everything purchased is accessible (software, etc.) Provide training to enable them to utilize software & tools and make it EIT accessible Course Materials: while this isn’t public facing, we’ll discuss in a bit why it’s important to be proactive instead of reactive in regards to the policy

Creation of Electronic Content New or redesigned web pages “Legacy” as requested Content requested by student with disability What does this mean for you and faculty? Procuring new technologies Assuring new Technology is accessible Course and instructional materials Canvas, PDFs, Word docs, PowerPoints, Video, etc. University departments and employees must be prepared to provide content and/or services in a suitable alternative format as required. Policy includes public facing content and controlled content. Public refers to anything accessible to the general public and controlled is content where authentication is required… Examples of access include things like: captioning of video, is keyboard navigable, has images labeled as alt text or alt tags If you put something up on a website that is not accessible then give people another way to access that information. E.g give them a phone number to call and a contact person to provide the same information that is provided on the web…. Can the general public access information you provide on the web? Your public facing web content?

Acquiring New Technology Request a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) from vendors Does the VPAT claim perfection? (Not realistic) Does the vendor have a VPAT readily available when you ask for it? Ask Additional Questions Can you use your product without a mouse? Do you have a plan for resolving accessibility issues that come up? Product Testing Try before you buy Manual Testing checklist

Beyond the Policy Mandates Again, what are you already doing? Why not wait for a student request? What’s important? Campus Culture Timeliness of delivery Equivalent ease of use Universal Design AT only as good as the content it works with become

Nate - Apparent Disability A Piece of the Picture Computer Science student who is legally blind Considered a power user of assistive technologies Barriers he experiences in accessing coursework Print textbooks Print handouts and study guides PDF’s that are image only Visual graphics and formulas Marla – case studies illustrate what is required today and what accessibility can mean and do for a student

AT Nate Used to Access Coursework *Screen reading software For most documents and web Braille translation software for embossing Refreshable Braille Tactile graphics Tiger pro graphics with Braille Daisy book player - Stream

Course Solutions for Nate Course content in digital formats Use of Braille or screen reading software Needs lecture content in digital format ideally ahead of time Universally designed course materials Example: Word documents : create with Styles and Headings PowerPoints: Use Slide Layouts Needs content uploaded into Canvas to be accessible Word docs, PowerPoint, PDFs Putting course content in digital format allows Nate to access the materials with Braille or screen reading software. Giving him the content ahead of time allows him to use technology such as refreshable Braille to emboss content. When creating materials think about creating universally designed course materials For example. If a Word document is being created, use styles and headings

Quick Demo Able to read the words Searchable/highlight-able Functional with text to speech What does this mean from a Universal Design Perspective? Who else can benefit? Benefits those with learning disiabilities to use other AT (text to speech, visual highlighting) 2nd language learners Those who need to hear it because they commute Students who learn through a more interactive rather than passive means (allows interaction with the text) Allows for effective studying due to search and highlight

Easy Top Tips for Universally Designed Documents Make Scanned PDFs Searchable Use Headings and Slide Layouts Add Descriptive Text to Links Allison

More Tips: Level 2 Alternative Text for Images Reading Order (PDF Tags and PowerPoint) Add Captions to Videos

YouTube Auto-Caption Example Source: Funniest YouTube Captions Fails (CLONED) (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/29/funny- youtube-caption-fai_n_516866.html)

Captioning Options YouTube Auto-Captions Amara Must edit for accuracy Amara DIY Option Linked in Canvas Outsource Captioning – Preferred Method Higher accuracy, faster turnaround, lower cost overall 3rd Party Videos Ask for a captioned version. It’s their responsibility to provide it.

Coming Soon! Canvas Accessibility Tester Make life a little easier: Canvas Accessibility Checker: UDOIT Canvas Add-on – currently in the works Checks an entire course for accessibility Checks web and linked videos, not uploaded documents

Your Involvement Training for Faculty Course Approval Process/Rubric? What can we do to help you? Where does it fit with what you are already doing? Course Approval Process/Rubric? UDOIT Searchable PDFs Course approval checklist Spread the Word Represent your role on an accessibility committee Become your department’s accessibility specialist Would you like to come see our AT???? Spread the Word: Your thoughts and support for on-line course development

Services for CSU Students and Employees with Disabilities Students: Resources for Disabled Students 970-491-6385 Employees: Office of Equal Opportunity 970-491-5836 Assistive technology Resource Center (970) 491-6258 atrc@colostate.edu

ATRC Resources on Universal Design and Accessibility Allison Kidd: Accessibility Specialist Allison.Kidd@colostate.edu Anna Walker: Campus Service Coordinator Anna.Walker@colostate.edu Trainings offered throughout the year PDI, MTI and by request Tips and Guides at: Accessibility By Design (http://accessibility.colostate.edu)

Thank You!!!