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

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

3. 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
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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. Areas You Need to Consider
Web Pages (Public vs. Controlled)
Emerging Technologies
Course Materials
Accessibility By Design (
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

9. 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?

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

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

18. YouTube Auto-Caption Example
Source: Funniest YouTube Captions Fails (CLONED) ( youtube-caption-fai_n_ html)

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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

22. Services for CSU Students and Employees with Disabilities
Students: Resources for Disabled Students
Employees: Office of Equal Opportunity
Assistive technology Resource Center
(970)

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

24. Thank You!!!