Why and Howto Create an Accessible
Online Learning Environment
Sheryl BurgstahlerTerry Thompson
AccessIT, University of Washington
AccessIT National Center on Accessible
Information Technology in Education Co-sponsored by:
DO-IT UWCTDS
www.washington.edu/accessit
Pacific ADA & IT Center One of ten regional U.S.
technical assistance centers www.pacdbtac.org 800-949-4232
Agenda Why? How? Resources
Why Create an Accessible Online
Learning Environment?
It’s the Right Thing to Do
Sheryl and Norm Randy Katie
Legal Framework
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Americans with Disabilities Act Section 508 State laws, policies and standards
Universal design benefits all, including people…
with disabilities with situational limitations in noisy or noiseless environments where English is a second language learning to read who need hands-free computing using older technology with different learning styles
A Foundation for Advanced Technology
Separation of content from presentation Ubiquitous support for the full spectrum of
input and output devices Closed Captions
Full text archival and searching capabilities Search results can link to specific keyframes
within a video presentation
Reduced cost of accommodation
Including accessibility in the design saves $ over expensive time-sensitive retrofits
Providing accessible online learning saves $ over hiring human readers and scribes
Approaches to Access
Accommodation vs.UniversalDesign
Reactive vs. Proactive
How to Create an Accessible
Online Learning Environment
Examples of Distance Learning Print Media Video Audio & video conferencing Web Courseware Email Webcasts Instructional Software
Draft WCAG 2.0 Guidelines
Perceivable Operable Understandable Robust
Standards and Guidelines
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(WCAG 1.0) 14 guidelines 65 checkpoints (Priority 1 – 3) http://w3.org/TR/wcag10
Standards and Guidelines Access Board Standards
(Section 508) Software Applications & Operating Systems Web-based Intranet and Internet Information
and Applications Telecommunications Products Video and Multimedia Products Self Contained, Closed Products Desktop and Portable Computers
Standards and Guidelines
Access Board Standards for Web Accessibility Based in part on WCAG Priority 1 16 standards http://www.access-board.gov
Standards and Guidelines
State & Institutional Standards and Guidelines Examples:
California Community Colleges Distance Learning Guidelineswww.washington.edu/accessit/articles?185
University of Wisconsin – MadisonWeb Accessibility Guidelineswww.washington.edu/accessit/articles?140
Draft WCAG 2.0 Guidelines
Perceivable Operable Understandable Robust
An Evolving Web: Beyond HTML
Client Scripting
Use onfocus with onmouseover Use onblur with onmouseout Use onkeydown with onmousedown Use onkeyup with onmouseup Use onkeypress with onclick Avoid ondblclick and onmousemove
Java
Java Accessibility API User must have supporting
assistive technology www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?24
Flash
Flash MX Accessibility Panel User must have supporting
assistive technology www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?23
XML
In itself is an accessibility solution: MathML, CML, SVG, SMILVoiceXML, MusicXML, DAISY
New languages must include accessibility provisions
W3C XML Accessibility Guidelines www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?26
An open standard = various implementations
Three general types: Unstructured Structured Tagged
Tagged PDF
Supports alternate text for graphics Allows explicit control of read order Supports text reflow when content doesn’t
fit in window Built or updated with Acrobat 5.0 or higher. Few authoring tools support tagged PDF. User must have supporting assistive
technology
Courseware
Most major courseware vendors provide an accessible standard interface
Content accessibility is the responsibility of the course instructor
Some features create accessibility problems, e.g., chat and whiteboard
Assessment instruments can create barriers
www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?63
How to Learn More
AccessIT
www.washington.edu/accessit Disability and Business Technical
Assistance Centers (DBTACs)http://www.adata.org/dbtac.html