The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights provides a video series on a variety of topics related to digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology along with identifying and remediating barriers to access. This short video describe the significance of using contrasting colors when conveying information and how to check for adequate contrast.
Category Archives: Accessibility & Usability
Supports to help make materials work for everyone
Recommended Practices and Tips for Digital Accessibility Video
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights provides a video series on a variety of topics related to digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology along with identifying and remediating barriers to access. This short video shares some helpful strategies when considering how to provide quality online experiences for everyone. Strategies discussed include but are not limited to developing a plan, learning from people with disabilities about what works for them, and evaluating materials manually and using an accessibility checker to determine if alterations are necessary.
Limitations of Using Color Alone To Convey Information Video
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights provides a video series on a variety of topics related to digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology along with identifying and remediating barriers to access. This short video shares the limitations of using color alone to convey information and provides suggestions about how content can be created to provide multiple ways to share the same information.
The Importance of Alternative Text Video
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights provides a video series on a variety of topics related to digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology along with identifying and remediating barriers to access. This short video shares why alternative text is important for those who cannot see photographs and graphic images.
Logical Reading Order Video
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights provides a video series on a variety of topics related to digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology along with identifying and remediating barriers to access. This short video shares what can go wrong when web pages don’t follow a logical reading order for people who rely on keyboard navigation and screen readers.
Introducing Reading Coach in Immersive Reader
Microsoft has recently added a new reading fluency practice feature to Immersive Reader called Reading Coach. Using a tool that has Immersive Reader such as Microsoft Word, a learner reads a passage aloud. Reading Coach then analyzes the audio to provide specific, personalized feedback to the individual including five target words to practice. The feedback includes measure of a percentage of accuracy, time spent reading, and words read accurately per minute. Learners can keep a record of their scores and use it to document progress over time.
Feedback from Reading Coach
This video provides a quick demonstration:
Keyboard Access and Visual Focus Indicators Video
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights provides a video series on a variety of topics related to digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology along with identifying and remediating barriers to access. This short video explores fundamental concepts behind how some people might access materials using a keyboard and utilize visual focus indicators.
How Some People With Disabilities Use Technology Video
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights provides a video series on a variety of topics related to digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology along with identifying and remediating barriers to access. This six minute video shares real-life examples of how some learners and parents with disabilities access and utilize technology to have an equitable experience.
Digital Accessibility: Three Points About The Law Video
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights provides a video series on a variety of topics related to digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology along with identifying and remediating barriers to access. This six minute video describes the basic principles within two federal civil rights laws relevant to digital accessibility in the educational context: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Student-led Maker Projects to Design and Create More Inclusive and Accessible Experiences
Students in the Spectrum program at J. Michael Lunsford Middle School practiced learning how to make meaningful contributions to the world by participating in a redesign challenge to make educational tools (Assistive Technology) for peers with disabilities. The students visited with peers in a variety of environments including physical education, art, and other classrooms to learn about some of the equipment used to access instruction. They then went to work designing, redesigning, and making resources that would provide alternative ways to participate in the learning experiences. 75 projects were created which were then shared with students, staff, and the community. Staff from the Digital Media and Engagement office were invited to join a few classes to experience students presenting their projects. The collaborative efforts were also featured on the local news. Check out the segment featured at https://www.fox5dc.com/video/1145266
“AT Twister” by Cooke, B., Lisak, C., Bishen, R., and Podugu, T. (2022) is an example of one of the projects. Players are invited to target circles using multiple senses. People need not rely on one sense to play the game. A player can reach for a target based on color, a tactile descriptor (bumpy, soft, round), and/or number of items (three blue circles, five white cotton balls, etc.) making the game more accessible to the varying abilities of potential players.