Title: Why and How to Create an Accessible Online Learning Environment
1Why and Howto Create an Accessible Online
Learning Environment
Sheryl Burgstahler Terry Thompson AccessIT,
University of Washington
2AccessIT
- National Center on Accessible Information
Technology in Education - Co-sponsored by
- DO-IT
- UWCTDS
- www.washington.edu/accessit
3Pacific ADA IT Center
- One of ten regional U.S. technical assistance
centers - www.pacdbtac.org
- 800-949-4232
4Agenda
5Why Create an Accessible Online Learning
Environment?
6Its the Right Thing to Do
- Sheryl and Norm
- Randy
- Katie
7Legal Framework
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- Section 508
- State laws, policies and standards
8Universal 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
9A 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
10Reduced 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
11Approaches to Access
UniversalDesign
vs.
Reactive
vs.
Proactive
12How to Create an Accessible Online Learning
Environment
13Examples of Distance Learning
- Print Media
- Video
- Audio video conferencing
- Web
- Courseware
- Email
- Webcasts
- Instructional Software
14Draft WCAG 2.0 Guidelines
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust
15Standards 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
16Standards 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
17Standards and Guidelines
- Access Board Standards for Web Accessibility
- Based in part on WCAG Priority 1
- 16 standards
- http//www.access-board.gov
18Standards and Guidelines
- State Institutional Standards and Guidelines
- Examples
- California Community Colleges Distance Learning
Guidelineswww.washington.edu/accessit/articles?18
5 - University of Wisconsin MadisonWeb
Accessibility Guidelineswww.washington.edu/access
it/articles?140
19Draft WCAG 2.0 Guidelines
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust
20An Evolving Web Beyond HTML
21Client 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
22Java
- Java Accessibility API
- User must have supporting assistive technology
- www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?24
23Flash
- Flash MX Accessibility Panel
- User must have supporting assistive technology
- www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?23
24XML
- 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
25PDF
- An open standard various implementations
- Three general types
- Unstructured
- Structured
- Tagged
26Tagged PDF
- Supports alternate text for graphics
- Allows explicit control of read order
- Supports text reflow when content doesnt fit in
window - Built or updated with Acrobat 5.0 or higher.
- Few authoring tools support tagged PDF.
- User must have supporting assistive technology
27Courseware
- 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
28How to Learn More
- AccessIT
- www.washington.edu/accessit
- Disability and Business Technical Assistance
Centers (DBTACs) - http//www.adata.org/dbtac.html