Web Accessibility means creating online content people with disabilities can access.
When it comes to online learning, it means creating course content that’s usable by all your students.
Who web accessibility helps
There’s a range of disabilities accessible content supports:
- Auditory
- Cognitive
- Neurological
- Physical
- Speech
- Visual
It also benefits people without disabilities:
- Someone using a mobile phone with different input methods and a smaller screen
- Older people who experience technology differently as they age
- Temporary conditions like a broken arm
- Situational conditions like a user who can’t hear audio in a loud room
- Users with poor internet connection
How web accessibility helps
Students with disabilities may use assistive technologies like screen readers, dictation software, zoom software, or physical aides to help them interact with a computer.
They also use alternative ways to interact with content like using only a keyboard or reading captions instead of listening to audio.
Web accessibility standards
Content needs to follow certain standards so students with disabilities can access it through assistive technology or alternative ways. For example:
- Images have alternative text
- Videos with audio have closed captions and audio descriptions
- Links are descriptive
- Properly use headings to organize content
- Text and graphics have proper color contrast
- Tables have the correct HTML
- PDFs are tagged and have the correct reading order
Students with disabilities rely on us to use web accessibility strategies like these so they can access the content.
More resources
Ready to start making more accessible courses? Check out these resources:
- Web Accessibility Training
- Tips for Getting Started