What is Web Accessibility?

Web accessibility is the practice of creating websites, technology, or other digital course materials that are usable by people of all abilities or disabilities. According to the US Census figures for 2000, 20% of Americans have a disability that impairs access to websites and internet content. "Web Access" enables individuals to use, understand, navigate, communicate, interact with, and contribute to the web.

Designing your course with accessibility in mind from the beginning is beneficial to everyone and it makes maintaining technology information, such as Blackboard or other websites, more effective. Implementing accessibility is an ongoing process. Remember, you want to convey your information to an audience. You may not know who will be using your technology resources, so it is best to plan for the broadest audience from the beginning, rather than retrofitting all of your documents and websites when a request comes around.

Here are two demonstrations of what it is like to navigate an inaccessible media:

An inaccessible websites using a screen reader (students with print disabilities, such as dyslexia or blindness)
Using Automated captions (students who are Deaf/hard of hearing, second language learners, students with reading disabilities)

Accessible Web Content is:

Perceivable - Content is available to the senses (sight, hearing, touch). There are text alternatives for images/videos and time-based media. Information can be viewed on multiple devices without using content; information is easy to see.
Operable - Controls and navigation are operable; one can navigate by keyboard. There is enough time to read the content; content does not blink, which could potentially trigger seizures.
Understandable - Web pages appear in predictable ways; text content is readable. Users can correct mistakes.
Robust - Content can be used reliably by a wide variety of users, including users of assistive technology.

How does this apply to Lewis University?

Blackboard - Course Design
Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, PDF documents
Web Pages
Any electronic media

Why is it important?

Equal Access and Equal Opportunity
Compliance with the law
Positive User Experience
Good Course Design + ADA Compliance = Good Teaching for all Students!