Online Course Accessibility Technical and Pedagogical Strategies

A growing problem  College students reporting a disability  1999: 6%  2012: 11%  Technology dominance worsens accessibility issues  College students reporting a disability  1999: 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 institutions Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)  Title II prohibits discrimination by public entities  Title III applies to “public accommodations” broadened to include online programs at schools 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 institutions Americans 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) Screen reader reading different table layouts  Introduction to the Screen Reader (7 min) Introduction to the Screen Reader  Screen reader reading different table layouts (2 min) Screen reader reading different table layouts  Introduction to the Screen Reader (7 min) Introduction to the Screen Reader

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  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  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  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  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. 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.  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 As OR: Select Create PDF from Acrobat ribbon File > Save As OR: Select Create PDF from Acrobat ribbon

Spring Accessibility Workshops Best Practices for Word, PowerPoint, and PDF  Jan 22  Feb 10  March 11 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