Accessibility

Overview

Accessibility is developing solutions to meet the needs of all users, with and without disabilities. Universal design, a concept now widely used in the private sector, provides a path for federal agencies to shift to this broader focus.

Here are some sample questions on accessibility and access that you may want to ask your students when going online:

• What time zone(s) do you expect to be in for the next few weeks?

• I’m working on best ways to use technology. Do you have any considerations you’d like me to bear in mind?

• What aspects of our in-person classroom experience would you prefer to retain?

• Do you anticipate having regular access to wifi/internet and a computer with audio and video capability?

• I’m sure there are questions and issues that will arise and need attention. What questions and concerns do you have or foresee about our shift to online, the syllabus, the next few weeks of class, etc.? I welcome your input.

• Are there any other topics you'd like to raise, or reflections you'd like to share, on how this period is going for you?

File Accessibility Checkers

• Windows Accessibility Checker

• Acrobat Pro Accessibility Checker

• Grackle: Google Docs Accessibility Too

Live Closed Captioning via Google

More Info

• Assessment and Accessibility episode of Anne Fernald and Steve D'Agustino's Twice Over podcast