Making Online Courses Accessible
Online course accommodations often mirror those that are provided face-to-face, but how they are provided can vary due to the different technologies that must be used to communicate, facilitate, and engage in an online course.
ACCESSIBLE DOCUMENTS, IMAGES, & TEXT
| Accommodation | Why it Matters | Learning Object/Activity | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessible Text | Text can be read aloud by screen readers; size, spacing, and font can be adjusted | Text and symbols (including math/scientific formulas) | Accessible Text Descriptive Hyperlinks Math & Scientific Formulas: Contact Web Accessibility Coordinator |
| Alternative Text | Describes images to users who are unable to see them | Images displayed on a computer screen | Create Accessible Canvas Pages Create Alternative Text |
| Color Contrast | Users with low vision and color deficiency issues can view content displayed on the screen | Digital text and image | Checking for Color Contrast |
| Headings | Provides order and structure for users who navigate the screen by keyboard only | Canvas content, documents, presentation slide shows | Structuring Documents Improve Heading Accessibility Video |
| Text Conversion for Reading Materials (Printed and Electronic) | Assistive technology can read, navigate, and interact with the content | Textbooks, PDFs, ePubs, publisher content | Contact OARS |
LIVE PRESENTATIONS
| Accommodation | Why it Matters | Learning Object/Activity | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Captioning/Sign Language | Provides synchronized text of spoken words and sounds in real time; sign language interpreters provide real time American Sign Language interpretation | Lectures, live streaming, synchronous class meetings | Contact OARS |
| Notetaker | Sensory disabilities make it difficult to operate assistive technology while taking notes Cognitive disabilities also make it difficult to take notes while listening to/viewing information | Lectures, live streaming, synchronous class meetings | Contact OARS |