The LTC/LEARN Center hosted the first session in the Accessibility in Action (AiA) Workshop Series. The first session covered lecture slides, which are a common instructional resource. Unfortunately, some students are left out due to a lack of accessibility. In the workshop video below, Erika Schock, LTC/LEARN’s newest Teaching Consultant, introduces accessibility, why it matters, and the legal requirements and best practices when building slides. Below are some key takeaways from the recording.
Key Takeaways
What is Accessibility? “Accessibility means that an individual with a disability can acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as an individual without a disability, in an equally integrated and equally effective manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use” (NCAEM, 2023)
Why does Accessibility Matter? Adhering to accessibility best practices ensures that all students, including those with disabilities, can fully engage with and comprehend course content. This practice benefits students with visual, auditory, and cognitive impairments by providing alternative ways to access information. Also, accessibility improves learning for everyone by enhancing clarity, organization, and usability.
Legal Requirements
- Section 504 of the ADA prohibits disability discrimination in federally funded programs like public universities, requiring reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to education and services.
- Section 508 mandates that all electronic and information technology used by federally funded institutions must be accessible, including websites, course materials, and digital communications.
- The Department of Justice has updated Title II regulations of the ADA to require that web content and mobile applications be accessible to people with disabilities. These updates mandate that digital content meet or exceed Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1 Level AA standards by April 2026.
Best Practices for Lecture Slides
- Layout and Navigation: Design slides with consistent templates and headings, and include slide numbers to improve screen reader accessibility. Limit one idea per slide to prevent cognitive overload. This approach maintains a readable text size and helps all users navigate content more effectively.
- Text and Font: Use sans-serif fonts such as Arial and Calibri at minimum sizes of 22pt for text and 32pt for headings. Avoid placing text over busy backgrounds. These choices significantly improve readability for people with visual disabilities.
- Color and Contrast: Maintain high contrast between text and background while avoiding color-only information indicators. These practices ensure that content remains accessible to people with visual disabilities who may have difficulty perceiving certain colors or low-contrast elements.
- Accessible Visuals and Graphics: Provide alt text for all visual elements and minimize decorative graphics. Ensure that diagrams have clear elements with sufficient contrast. Critical visuals should be verbally described during presentations and/or include descriptive text. This approach helps students with visual disabilities access important visual information while also benefiting all students through improved clarity and comprehension.
- Multimedia and Embedded Content: Ensure multimedia has high audio/video quality with descriptive titles, and always provide closed captions or transcripts. This practice makes content accessible to people with hearing impairments and provides alternative ways for all users to access information.
Supplemental Resources
Upcoming AiA Workshops
- Canvas Courses: Ensure your course meets accessibility standards through practice at 1 p.m. on March 13th.
- UDOIT: Learn how to use UDOIT to check your Canvas courses for accessibility issues, time during the session to check your courses at 2 p.m. on March 13th.
Have more questions or want to schedule a workshop for your department or unit? Reach out to the LTC!