Making course content accessible may seem like an overwhelming task, but starting with one small thing makes it easy! Creating accessible learning environments doesn’t have to be complicated. For more information, check out the article on Creating Accessible Learning Environments from Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching. If you are interested in additional facts about accessibility, this government website about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offers comprehensive information about website barriers and ADA accessibility requirements. Here are some small steps that can have a big impact on accessibility:
- Sharing Materials in Advance: Sharing materials in advance benefits all learners, not just students with disabilities. Sharing the materials before class allows students to familiarize themselves with course content. Are you worried students won’t pay attention if they have all the materials in advance? Consider hiding slides with group activities or discussion questions before sharing the materials. This will still allow students to feel prepared for class while keeping them engaged.
- Using Accessibility Checkers: Accessibility checkers will ensure your documents can be read by screen readers, thus making them accessible for your students. Scanned PDFs present themselves as images of text, instead of plain text so screen readers cannot read the document. For guided directions on using accessibility checkers, you can visit the UNCG Accessibility Resources webpage.
- Creating Slides and Presentations: When creating presentations to share during your classes, there are three easy things that you can do to make them more accessible. First, include clear concise language. Second, make sure the content is easy for students to see and read. That means it should be large enough and the color contrast should be considered when choosing font colors. Color should also be avoided to emphasize meaning for students. Last, you should limit your use of images to essential images only. Consider asking yourself: Does this image add to the lesson by clarifying a new topic? If not, the image is likely decorative and does not enhance a student’s understanding of the concept. If you decide to use images, include alternate text descriptions for each one. Additional information is available on the UNCG Accessibility Resources website on the Making Presentations and Forms Accessible page.
Which one of these tips resonated most with you? Which one do you want to start implementing this semester to take a step towards creating more accessible content in your course?