QUESTION: I'm looking for information on accessibility as it relates to online learning. Can you suggest any sources?

Accessibility's been a hot topic since the recent enactment of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which mandates accessible technology, including Websites, for the federal government and its contractors. At this point, there is no law specifically requiring that private Websites be accessible to people with disabilities (although people have brought suits against companies under the Americans With Disabilities Act), but it's smart to make your site accessible all the same. Features that are added or adapted to accommodate people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities also help users who don't have the latest and greatest technologies. And designing with the needs of diverse audiences in mind will help increase the usability of your site for everyone.

To start making your site accessible, ensure that it includes these features:

• compatibility with screen-reader programs
• option to use keyboard commands instead of mouse navigation
• ability to use style sheets or other tools that override system-design settings
• text alternatives for animations and alt tags that describe images
• no use of color as the sole feature indicating information or aiding navigation
• audio and video captioned or transcribed.

Here are some links to help you learn more about accessibility and usability.

General accessibility

• Accessibility: What You Should Know
• A full list of accessibility resources from the UK,
  www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/eclipse/Resources/accessible.htm
• Accessibility information and links from North Carolina State University, lts.ncsu.edu/development/accessibility.html
• Official Section 508 Website, www.section508.gov
• Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI), www.rit.edu/~easi
• WebCT offers information on accessibility as it relates to their product. Much of the information can be applied generally, however. See "Bringing Your WebCT Course into ADA Compliance" and WebCT Course Design and Accessibility.

Accessibility and train-the-trainer

• Take a Web-based course on accessibility, todl.anteon.com/508
• Learn about EASI's online certificate program in accessible information technology, offered in partnership with the University of Southern Maine, www.rit.edu/~easi/workshop.htm

Accessibility tools

• Macromedia Section 508 Accessibility Starter Kit, www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility/tools/accessibility_kit.html
• Adobe Acrobat Accessibility, www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/solutionsacc.html
• Media Access Generator (MAGpie), ncam.wgbh.org/webaccess/magpie
• Free demo of Jaws screenreader, www.freedomscientific.com/fs_downloads/jaws_form.asp

Usability

• e-Learning 1.0: Web Course Usability
• Answer Geek
• Effective User Interface Design: The Four Rules

Published:January 2002