Allison is teaching an online course for the first time. Three of her students have disabilities, and they report that they're unable to access all of the class materials.
Click each student's name to learn more about the access challenges they face in Allison's course. (  Each link opens in a new window.)
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Understanding Accessibility
Each of the students described above is confronting a different problem with Web accessibility. Accessible Web design is the process of ensuring that users are able to use a Web resource—such as a class Web site—without further modification, regardless of abilities and disabilities. The way Allison presents the information in her Web-based course inadvertently shuts out Baruch, Carole, and Jim from participating fully. To fix these problems, Allison needs to understand how her students access the Web and what special needs they may have.
Accessible Design and Good Teaching Practices
Does a fully accessible online course eliminate additional accommodations that may be required by students with disabilities? No. In many situations, accommodation needs may arise after a student with a disability enrolls in a course. For example, if Allison usually allows students to engage in small group work using audioconferencing, she may now need to utilize an alternative such as e-mail so that all group members can communicate effectively. Accessible design requires that you consider all types of disabilities when designing online course materials, but it does not remove the likelihood that further accommodations will be needed during the course itself.
Because accessibility is part of both the planning and implemention of a Web-based course, it is important that faculty members teach with accessibility in mind. Making accessibility a strong element in the design of your learning materials and in your own teaching practices will improve the quality of your online courses.
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To make Web-based courses accessible, it is important to consider in advance how all types of students access online content. Always provide an alternative way for students with disabilities to access the same content. For example, provide transcripts of audio files for potential participants who may be deaf. |
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Getting Started
This Web site provides an important first step for online faculty who want to change their teaching so that it meets the needs of all students. You will have an advantage that faculty members like Allison didn't have—you will learn how to ensure that your students have equal access to the information in your Web pages. After reviewing this site, you will understand why accessible Web design is so important and you will know how to incorporate it effectively in your own online learning materials. You will see examples of how other online instructors have made their courses more accessible, and you will be ready to move forward towards a community of practice in accessible online teaching.
This first section of ADE (What is Accessibility) describes basic accessibility concepts, including the benefits of accessible design for all students and seven basic principles of accessible Web design. A basic understanding of accessibility concepts will be helpful as you explore the rest of this Web site.
