How to Create Courses with Accessibility
What is accessibility?
Accessibility is the design of products, services, and environments to be usable by as many people as possible. This includes individuals with disabilities and those who do not have disabilities. Accessible design enables everyone to participate equally in the world.
How to make your courses accessible?
Creating accessible courses can be a difficult task, but it’s important to remember that making your courses accessible doesn’t have to be a difficult or expensive process. There are a number of easy and affordable ways to make your courses more accessible for students with disabilities.
1. Make sure all course materials are available in electronic and paper formats. This includes textbooks, lecture slides, online resources, and student handouts.
2. Make sure all course materials are formatted for accessibility.
There are many ways to make your courses more accessible for students with disabilities. Here are a few tips:
-Design your content and format your course materials so that they are easy to understand and follow.
-Make sure you have enough accommodations available in your course, such as extra time, transcripts, text versions of materials, etc.
-Train your faculty members on how to create accessible courses and provide them with the resources they need.
Creating accessible courses can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and strategies, it’s possible to make your courses as inclusive as possible. Here are five tips for creating accessible courses:
1. Establish your course goals. What do you want students to learn? What objectives do you want them to achieve? Once you know these things, it’s easier to design a course that meets those goals.
2. Break down the course content into manageable chunks.
There are a few things that you can do to make your courses more accessible.
There are many ways to make your courses accessible, but here are a few ideas:
-Use transcripts and ratings to determine which courses need accessibility modifications.
-Make videos and slides available in alternate formats, including audio only and large print.
-Create transcripts that list all the hyperlinks in the course materials.
-Develop a syllabus that includes information about which accommodations students may need, such as sign language interpreters or captioning for deaf or blind students.
If you are a lecturer or professor who is concerned about making your courses accessible for students with disabilities, you may want to consider following these tips.
1. Make sure that your syllabus is accessible. Include information on where materials can be found, how to request accommodations, and what forms should be completed.
2. Use inclusive language when discussing course material.
Tips for making videos accessible
The internet has made video one of the most popular forms of communication. However, making videos accessible can be a challenge. Here are some tips:
1. Make sure your videos have closed captions. This will ensure that deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers can understand what is being said.
2. Use descriptive titles and descriptions for your videos. This will help people with visual impairments know what the video is about before they decide to watch it.
3. Avoid using flashing lights and rapid changes in color or contrast as they can be difficult for people with seizure disorders to watch.
4. Place key information at the beginning and end of your videos so that viewers who only have a short amount of time can still get the gist of what you’re saying.
Tips for making audio accessible
1. Audio is an important aspect of many websites and can be used to improve the user experience.
2. However, if it is not accessible, it can exclude people from using the site or product.
3. There are a few things that can be done to make audio more accessible:
4. Ensure that all audio content has text alternatives that describe the content for those who cannot hear it.
5. Provide controls to allow users to adjust the volume or disable audio altogether.
6. Make sure audio content plays automatically only when desired and does not play inadvertently or unexpectedly.
7. Test audio files with a range of assistive technologies and browsers to ensure they work correctly for everyone.
8. Use clear, concise, and easy-to-understand language whenever possible.
Tips for making documents and slides accessible
1. Make sure all text is legible and easy to read. This includes using a standard font, such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, and avoiding fancy fonts that are difficult to read.
2. Use large font sizes (at least 18 points) for all text on slides and documents.
3. Avoid using small amounts of text – aim for at least 50-75 words per slide or document page.
4. Use clear and concise language, and avoid jargon and complex terms.
5. Break up text into short paragraphs and use headings and subheadings to organize information.
6. Use images and videos sparingly, and make sure they are captioned and have appropriate alt-text descriptions.
7. Test documents and slides on different devices and browsers to ensure they are accessible to everyone.
Tips for making webpages accessible
1. Making your webpages accessible is important for people with disabilities, as well as people using assistive technology.
2. There are many ways to make your webpages more accessible.
3. Some ways to make your webpages more accessible are by adding captions to videos, adding transcripts to videos, and using headings and lists correctly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, creating accessible courses is a process that takes time and effort, but the benefits are worth it. By following the guidelines in this article, you can make your courses more accessible to all students, regardless of their abilities.
Accessible courses not only benefits students with disabilities but all students. Teachers who create accessible courses find that their students are more engaged and learn more in the process. To create an accessible course, follow the steps outlined in this article and be sure to test your course for accessibility. If you have any questions, please contact the Disability Services office at your school.