An Overview of Accessibility Specifications for e-Learning

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An Overview of Accessibility Specifications for
e-Learning

• Sharon Perry, CETIS.
• 23rd June 2004.

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CETIS-TechDis Accessibility SIG.

• Partnership with TechDis.
• Accessibility specifications/guidelines IMS, W3C
  (World Wide Web Consortium), etc.
• Discussion dissemination forum (good practice
  in making learning technology accessible to all).
  
• Membership open to all.
• Meets quarterly in various locations.
• Next meeting 6 July 2004, Sheffield.

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IMS Guidelines for Developing Accessibility
Applications.

• Set of recommendations and resources.
• Describe adjustments to make e-learning
  accessible e.g. design, communication,
  interfaces, testing etc
• Available from www.imsglobal.org/accessibility/ac
  cessiblevers/index.html

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IMS ACCLIP (Accessibility for Learner Information
Package) Specification.

• Describes how learners can interact with online
  environment based on their preferences access
  for all.
• Display - defines how the interface and content
  should be presented to the learner.
• Control - defines alternatives ways of
  controlling the technology.
• Content - defines content preferences.
• Accommodations - defines what a learner may use
  in an exam or test situation.

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What does ACCLIP do?

• Access for all regardless of reason for
  preference.
• Different preferences at different times and
  locations.
• Learners can specify an interface.
• Learning materials can be displayed in the style
  best suited to learners needs.
• Available from http//www.imsglobal.org/accessibi
  lity/index.cfm.

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How could ACCLIP be implemented?

• Initial interface needs to set up for capturing
  preferences
• Issue Where and how should such information be
  stored?
• Smart Card Web-4-All

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Screen Shot 1 from Web-4-All Preference Wizard
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Screen Shot 2 from Web-4-All Preference Wizard
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IMS Accessibility Metadata

• IMS ACCPRF (Accessibility Profile)
• Metadata for Accessibility.
• Currently at Base Document Stage.
• Will be released soon as Public Draft.
• Tagging learning objects with accessibility
  metadata.

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W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).

• WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative)
  http//www.w3c.org/WAI/.
• ATAG (Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines) -
  http//www.w3.org/TR/ATAG20/.
• UAAG (User Agent Accessibility Guidelines) -
  http//www.w3.org/TR/UAAG10/.
• WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) -
  http//www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/.
• XAG (XML Accessibility Guidelines) -
  http//www.w3.org/TR/xag.

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Why Do You Need Accessibility Specifications in
E-Learning?

• Improved usability for all students access for
  all.
• Interoperability.
• And, if thats not enough.

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Legislation

• SENDA (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
  Act) 2001.
• Reasonable adjustments must be made to ensure
  that disabled students are not placed at a
  substantial disadvantage in comparison with
  students who are not disabled
• Educational institutions must not discriminate
  against disabled students in the student services
  they provide.

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Further Information.

• Contact Sharon Perry, s.perry_at_bangor.ac.uk.
• Website www.cetis.ac.uk/accessibility.
• Discussion List
• www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/cetis-accessibility.html.