Content accessibility is one of those things that most people take for granted. Most people don’t think about it until they absolutely have to. For teachers, it normally comes up when they realize they have a student with a disability or when some policy is enacted because of a lawsuit or pressure from their administration. I work in an environment where most people don’t think about until it becomes an issue. Ensuring accessibility for all content delivered online can be expensive – both in time and money. The cost to close-caption every recorded lecture posted to an online course can wipe out the budget of any department. However, it is very necessary to ensure content accessibility. If for no other reason, it s just the right thing to do.
My interest in digital accessibility is personal. I have a mild visual impairment that makes it difficult to read certain online content that is not designed with accessibility in mind. I also feel compassion for those individuals who can’t enjoy the same online experience that the majority users of can. Having an awareness of the factors that affect accessibility informs the way I approach content design. It also helps me guide faculty in their use of digital tools for content design.
Desire2Learn (D2L) is the primary tool that the faculty at my institution uses to create and deliver online course content. A few weeks ago I attended a workshop on D2L accessibility. The presenter asked us to watch an eight-minute YouTube video about using screen readers with D2L. The video featured Carin Headrick, a D2L Accessibility Tester, and her guard dog, Tansy. This video puts an awesome perspective on online course accessibility provided by a person who depends on it every day of her life. I hope you enjoy.
My interest in digital accessibility is personal. I have a mild visual impairment that makes it difficult to read certain online content that is not designed with accessibility in mind. I also feel compassion for those individuals who can’t enjoy the same online experience that the majority users of can. Having an awareness of the factors that affect accessibility informs the way I approach content design. It also helps me guide faculty in their use of digital tools for content design.
Desire2Learn (D2L) is the primary tool that the faculty at my institution uses to create and deliver online course content. A few weeks ago I attended a workshop on D2L accessibility. The presenter asked us to watch an eight-minute YouTube video about using screen readers with D2L. The video featured Carin Headrick, a D2L Accessibility Tester, and her guard dog, Tansy. This video puts an awesome perspective on online course accessibility provided by a person who depends on it every day of her life. I hope you enjoy.