ACCESSIBILITY and it’s importance in online course design

Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web

“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”

Why is it Important? Americans with Disabilities Act and Section

508

Missouri state law (RSMo. 191.863) requires state agencies to develop and procure accessible information technology unless an undue burden would be imposed. The statute defines state agencies as "each department, office, board, bureau, commission or other unit of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government, including public four-year and two-year colleges and universities."

Why is it Important?

http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/StatusReports/2012-PDF/2012-StatusReport_US.pdf Employment and Disability Institute – Cornell University. 2012

Why is it Important?

http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/StatusReports/2012-PDF/2012-StatusReport_US.pdf Employment and Disability Institute – Cornell University. 2012

Why is it Important?

1 out of 13 Americans has a Visual, Hearing, or Cognitive

Disability

Why is it Important?

Why is it Important?

 “Just as buildings without ramps bar people who use wheelchairs, online content without captions excludes individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.”

http://www.d.umn.edu/~lcarlson/atteam/lawsuits.html

Why is it Important?

What can we do?Tools and Strategies

• Design for accessibility. • YouTube (auto captioning is available and it’s

free!)• Create transcripts for videos. • Choose resources that provide closed captions and

transcripts. (TedTalks, etc.)• Be mindful of color (high contrast) and fonts (san

serif)• If it’s auditory, make it visual; if it’s visual, make it

auditory.• Check with publishers to ensure their content is

accessible. Do they offer captions and transcripts?