troy university rebecca ingram, ph.d. troy university rebecca ingram, ph.d. college of education

TROY University

Rebecca Ingram, Ph.D.

College of Education

Course Accessibility Issues:Universal Design

Legal Mandate

• Americans with Disabilities Act• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation

Act• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation

Act (federal programs)

Universal Design

• What is Universal Design?• What are the origins of Universal

Design? • What are some examples of

Universal Design?

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

• What is UDL?• Why do we need UDL?

Key Ideas

• Recognition Networks• Strategic Networks• Affective Networks

Guidelines

• Multiple Means of Representation• Multiple Means of Expression• Multiple Means of Engagement

Access Issues

• Actual Experience• Examples

• Correct usage of fonts and color in your text:

• Use sans-serif fonts rather than serif fonts, asthey are easier to read on the computer.

• Use black text on a white background. Make sure there is high-contrast between the background color and the font color. Make sure the text is easy to read by avoiding bright colors

in your background color.

• Use only one font… Use only one font!!! Be mindful of too many CAPS, italics or bold text.

• Do Not Use underlining for emphasis, as this could be mistaken for a link.

Designing your eCourse to Embrace Accessibility

Designing your eCourse to Embrace Accessibility

Correct hyperlink language for screen readers• In your links, Do Not Use hyperlinks that read Click Here.

Graphics• All graphics should have alternative text (alt tags) for

screen reader ease.• Label your alt tags to describe and match the graphic

image.

Limitations on animations• Do Not Use animated or blinking images or text or graphics,

as they can cause seizures for some folks.

Video captioning and scripts• Provide close-captioning and/or audio description or

transcripts for all video.

Designing your eCourse to Embrace Accessibility

Free Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools

http://www.w3.org/WAI/RC/tools/complete (100+ sites)

http://wave.webaim.org/ http://www.cynthiasays.com/

http://www.vischeck.com/vischeck/ Vischeck is a way of showing you what things look like to someone who is color blind.

Design Considerations

• Start Early• Use Blackboard Tools• Use Online Programs

How Do I Get Started?

• Be proactive• Provide information in Promotional

Publications • Ensure media can be accessed • Enforce Standards• Establish Procedures • Provide Information to Instructors, Design

Staff• Review Periodically

References/Resources• Accessibility of online courses & section 508. (2009). Online@UCF. Retrieved from

http://teach.ucf.edu/pedagogy /accessibility/.• Center for universal design. NC State University. Retrieved from

http://design.ncsu.edu/cud/about_ud/about_ud.htm.• DO-IT: Disabilities, opportunities, internetworking and technology. (2012). University of

Washington. • Retrieved from http://www.washington.edu/doit/. • Extend the amount of time a student has to take an assessment. (2011). Online@UCF.

Retrieved from

http://onlinesupport.cdl.ucf.edu/documentation/extend-the-amount-of-time-a-student-has-to-take-an-assessment/.• Kolowich, S. (2011). Elaborating on online accessibility. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/05/27/education_department_elaborates_on_guidelines_against_discriminating_against_disabled_students_with_technology#ixzz1r0cxH6Ap.• Preliminary review of web sites for accessibility. (2005). W3C Web Accessibility initiative.

Retrieved from

http://www.w3.org/WAI/eval/preliminary.html.• Transforming education through universal design for learning. CAST. Retrieved from

http://www.cast.org/.• Web accessibility evaluation tool. (2012). WAVE. Retrieved from http://wave.webaim.org/.• Where can I find online resources for learning about accessible information technology?

(2010). • AccessIT. Retrieved from http://www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?1191.

Resources (Continued)• http://www.w3.org/WAI/Resources/ 

Web Accessibility Initiative

• http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm Sec 508 Web-based Intranet and Internet Info and Applications

• http://www.cynthiasays.com/Free Accessibility Check

• https://go.dmacc.edu/ONLINE/Pages/adacompliance.aspx Suggested Guidelines for Online Courses

• http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Technology/web_admin.htmlGuidelines for Administrators

• http://www.lighthouse.org/accessibility/design/accessible-print-design/effective-color-contrast Designing for People with Sight and Color Deficiencies

• http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Learn/Resources/Accessibility.aspxBlackboard’s Commitment to Accessibility

Dr. Rebecca Ingramrvingram@troy.edu

Gayle Nelsongnelson@troy.edu

www.troy.edu