As instructors at a land-grant university, it’s imperative that OSU faculty members strive to create inclusive learning environments. These are classrooms where students of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities are equally valued and respected. In addition to selecting course materials from diverse authors, using in-class examples that represent a variety of cultures, and providing a classroom free from political and religious bias, instructors should also strive to provide educational materials that are accessible to all learners. When materials and technologies are referred to as accessible, it means individuals with and without disabilities can utilize learning materials to meet education, employment, and community goals. Here are twenty basic guidelines for making your courses more accessible:

 

1. Use clear, consistent layouts and organization schemes for presenting content.
2. Use the built in features of Canvas, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint to present a logical order within course materials
3. Caption videos and transcribe audio content.
4. Use descriptive wording for hyperlink text (e.g., "Lecture 19 Resources" rather than "click here."
5. Avoid using PDF documents, especially those presented as images (i.e., the text cannot be copied and thus inaccessible to someone using a screen reader); if a PDF is used, design it to be accessible or create an accessible HTML or Word version as the primary source and link to the PDF as a secondary source to the content.
6. Provide concise text descriptions of content presented within images.
7. Use large, bold fonts on uncluttered pages with plain backgrounds.
8. Use color combinations that are high contrast and can be read by those who are colorblind.
9. Make sure all content and navigation is accessible using the keyboard alone and choose IT tools that are accessible.

 

With respect to instructional methods, consult Equal Access: Universal Design of Instruction and follow these guidelines:

 

1. Do not assume students have a wide range of technology skills and provide options for gaining the technology skills needed for course participation.
2. Present content in multiple ways (e.g., in a combination of text, video, audio, and/or image format).
3. Address a wide range of language skills as you write content (e.g., spell acronyms, define terms, avoid or define jargon).
4. Make instructions and expectations clear for activities, projects, and assigned reading.
5. Make examples and assignments relevant to learners with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.
6. Offer outlines and other scaffolding tools to help students learn.
7. Provide adequate opportunities to practice.
8. Allow adequate time for activities, projects, and tests (e.g., give details of project assignments in the syllabus so that students can start working on them early).
9. Provide feedback on project parts and offer corrective opportunities.
10. Provide options for communicating and collaborating that are accessible to individuals with a variety of disabilities.
11. Provide options for demonstrating learning (e.g., different types of test items, portfolios, presentations, discussions).

Adapted from:

University of Washington and DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology), which serves to increase the successful participation of individuals with disabilities in postsecondary education and careers. More information can be found at washington.edu/doit.

 

Canvas Accessibility Options and Resources

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Canvas Accessibility Checker

The Accessibility Checker tool in Canvas can help ensure that your content meets accessibility guidelines, and easily fix errors and discrepancies when they occur.

 

Adding Captions to Studio Videos

The Studio tool can create captions for videos with roughly 85% accuracy. Captions can be edited after they are created, and custom third-party captions can also be uploaded to an Studio video as well.

 

Information on Canvas and Accessibility Standards

Ensuring an accessible and pleasant experience to all users, regardless of disability, is a key element of Canvas software. The Canvas platform was built using the most modern HTML and CSS technologies, and is committed to W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative and Section 508 guidelines.

 

Canvas Feature Options

Canvas allows users to specify default options such as Auto Show Closed Captions, Enable High Contrast User Interface, and more that can help make content easier to use and navigate for all learners.

 

High Contrast User Interface

Information and screenshots related to the High Contrast User Interface option in Canvas that can help users see content more clearly.

 

Digital Tools and Materials

Simply Said: Understanding Accessibility in Digital Learning Materials

This video introduces some basic concepts about digital learning materials, and helps instructors understand the importance of selecting materials and resources that are usable by all their students. It explains basic principles of accessible web design as a way of explaining why accessibility is so important in other fields such as education.

 

Accessible Color Wheel

This tool helps faculty members ensure that the colors they use in their PowerPoints, graphics, and documents are readable for individuals with color blindness.

 

Flexible Learning for Open Education

This website has an array of tools and services to help faculty understand more about the importance of inclusive design principles, and how to apply them in their teaching.

 

Universal Design of Information Technology in Postsecondary Education

A comprehensive list of technology, software, and multimedia tools to help make sure that technologies are accessible for all college students.

 

Enable VoiceOver on Apple Macintosh Computers

Macintosh computers have built-in software that reads on-screen text, menus, and commands. It can be enabled and disabled with a simple keystroke command.

 

Use Narrator on Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows has built-in software that reads on-screen text, menus, and commands. It can help students and instructors read documents, navigate the web, and use other tools on their computers.

 

Apple Accessibility Website

A detailed breakdown of the various tools and options built into iPhones, iPads, and Macintosh computers to help all users be able to utilize these technologies.

 

Microsoft Accessibility Website

A comprehensive list of products, tools, and services built in to Microsoft software to make technology more accessible to everyone.