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

PDF

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